The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (2011)

89% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(331 ratings)

Argot Pictures is proud to present the US theatrical release of 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls' a documentary by Leanne Pooley. Winner of numerous awards, including Best Feature Documentary at New York's NewFest 2010 and the Cadillac People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film… More Argot Pictures is proud to present the US theatrical release of 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls' a documentary by Leanne Pooley. Winner of numerous awards, including Best Feature Documentary at New York's NewFest 2010 and the Cadillac People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival 2009 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls' tells the story of the world's only comedic, singing, yodeling lesbian twin sisters, Lynda and Jools Topp, whose political activism and unique brand of entertainment has helped change New Zealand's social landscape. In the process they have become well-loved cultural icons. The film will open in New York at Cinema Village on May 13. Other cities will follow. This is the first time that the irrepressible Kiwi entertainment double act, Jools and Lynda Topp's extraordinary personal story has been told. As well as rarely seen archive footage and home movies, the film features a series of special interviews with some of the Topp's infamous comedy alter-egos including candid chats with the two Kens, Camp Mother and Camp Leader, the Bowling Ladies and the Posh Socialite sisters, Prue and Dilly. The Topp Twins have attained a unique status within New Zealand culture, and their fans range from hard core political activists, to sheep farmers and 'Ladies who Lunch'. Their ability to relate to all kinds of people, and their natural gift for humour, has helped them cross from the fringes to the mainstream. It has often been said that if the story of the Twins was fictional nobody would believe it. From rural backwaters to busking on the streets of Auckland, to performances at the Rugby World Cup and London's West End stage, their appeal is infectious. From support act to Split Enz, Billy Bragg, and Midnight Oil to headlining their own hugely successful tours in Australia, Canada, the USA and Britain. The twins have morphed from radical activists into Kiwi 'national treasures', 'cultural ambassadors', and finally, according to the Glasgow Herald, into New Zealand's 'finest artistic export since lamb cutlets!' 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls' follows the girls from their happy childhood on a Waikato dairy farm - where they grew up singing to the cows - to the Territorial Army where they quickly became the Vera Lynns of their battalion. They came of age performing on the streets of Auckland during the heady days of the political protest marches in the early 80s, and quickly joined the forefront of progressive social change campaigning for a Nuclear-Free NZ, Maori Land Rights, a halt to the1981 Springbok Tour, and Homosexual Law Reform. By 1998 only a decade later, Lynda Topp, as Camp Mother, came close to winning the mayoral elections in Auckland, and the Topp Twins were firmly entrenched in the bosom of Kiwi culture with their own prime time TV Series 'Do Not Adjust Your Twinset'. 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls' is not just the story of two sisters but also of 50 years of New Zealand history. Half a century of cultural changes and the foundation of a national identity. Part concert film, part biopic, part historical record, part comedy, the Twins share their journey from "coming out‟ to Jools' recent brush with Breast Cancer with much laughter, honesty and wisdom. It is a film about two truly unique New Zealanders, which ends up saying as much about us as it does about them. 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls' is directed by award-winning ex BBC documentary filmmaker, Leanne Pooley. Director of Photography role was shared by Leon Narbey ('Whale Rider'); one of New Zealand's most acclaimed cinematographers, and Wayne Vinten, (Best Cinematography NZ Screen Awards 2008). The film was produced by Arani Cuthbert of Diva Productions, who has also managed the twins for much of their career and produced their popular TV series. -- (C) Argot

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Leanne Pooley
Genres: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: May 13, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Nov 7, 2011
Studio: Argot Pictures

Critic Reviews

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
With a cheeky attitude and a live-and-let-live message, the Topps are irresistible ambassadors for New Zealand, where a daft sense of humor appears to be a key natural resource.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
A fond, uncomplicated love letter to two irrepressible good-time Charlottes.
David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle
Sometimes corny, often funny and just as often touching, their act has been wowing Kiwis for decades.
Mark Jenkins, NPR
One secret to the Topps' widespread acceptance is in plain sight: their remarkably old-fashioned act.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
They've been performing for 30 years and it's safe to say that if they had any appeal here, you would have heard of them by now.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Merging old-fashioned comedy routines with up-to-the-minute politics - all of it enabled by fun-loving personalities and a gift for rousing original songs - the ladies emit a genuine warmth that reels audiences in.
Charlotte O'Sullivan, This is London
Pooley could have been more probing in her interviews with the twins and their supporters. But the fact of the duo's success is so astounding you're gripped all the same.
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
The more you learn about the twins the more of a fan you are likely to become and The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls is the very essence of a crowd-pleaser.
Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK]
Jools and Linda left my giggle chain unyanked and their backstory, for all its nuance and aspects of tragedy, failed to stir my soul.
Joe Walsh, Little White Lies
Warm and charming, if hardly essential.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
I cannot imagine anyone who would not like the Topp twins.
Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix
Pooley's approach is a bit paint-by-numbers, but her film is upbeat without being calculatedly feel-good.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
The talent, the humor and the dedication of these amazing sisters is a gift to the world.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Take the Indigo Girls and spice them up with some k.d. lang, Dame Edna, Minnie Pearl, the AbFabers, Monty Python and Rodney Dangerfield then apply kiwi accents and you might begin to get an idea of what the Topp Twins are like.
Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
A film that is shot straightforwardly -- to the point of being visually unimaginative -- but that benefits enormously from the overflowing charisma of its subjects.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
Although claims of their having "an extraordinary effect on people, from all walks of life" may be exaggerated, the world needs to hear these two.
Leslie Stonebraker, New York Press
I dare you to leave without the title song firmly stuck in your head.
Diego Costa, Slant Magazine
Given most people's unfamiliarity with New Zealand idiosyncrasies and politics, much gets lost in translation here.
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
Terrifically entertaining documentary about New Zealand's lesbian Topp Twins and their extraordinary career is a heart-warming eye-opener that provides insights into so much more than the sexual orientation of its two remarkable subjects.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
The Topp Twins' vibrantly innovative music and indefatigable personalities have a universal charm.