Critic's view
The Age
Thursday March 17, 2011
Winners & Losers: premiereChannel Seven, 8.30pmSHOULD the prospect of a high-school reunion provoke feelings of excitement or paralysing anxiety? For the four female friends in Channel Seven's new Australian drama series, it's the latter and a major reason for their trepidation is the bitch who made their teenage lives miserable (Michala Banas).The 10th reunion of classmates from Renwood Girls High is the smart springboard for Winners & Losers. Fullbright scholar Frances (Virgina Gay) has become a capable businesswoman. Sophie (Melanie Vallejo) has not realised her ambition of becoming a doctor and is a personal trainer with an energetic sex life. Rebecca (Zoe Tuckwell-Smith) runs a beauty salon and has maintained her friendship with Jenny (Melissa Bergland), who still lives at home.They all go to the reunion carting their emotional baggage and find themselves reminded of the impulses that united them at school. And so a series about gal pals (and a lottery ticket) is born.The wholesome domestic drama of Packed to the Rafters has been a consistent crowd-pleaser for Seven, so even though the network has noted the enthusiasm for Sex and the City and wants a piece of that action, it also wants to cater to its existing audience. So this gal-pal tale also features a true-blue Aussie component provided by Jenny's family, the Grosses.Sadly, not wanting to stray too far from known territory is one of the show's problems. It wants sass and sex appeal but it also wants the Rafters' viewers. Boxes are dutifully ticked in an effort to attract a large audience.The central quartet is standard: sweet, pretty blonde; glamorous, troubled brunette; daffy redhead; and all-purpose, socially awkward career woman. There's a regrettable clumsiness to the opener: at times, it's played too broad. Far from being charming, Jenny's relentless clinginess is frequently intolerable and the Grosses veer too close to caricature.Despite its desire for a sheen of sexiness, the show is essentially driven by warm 'n' fuzzy heartland stuff. The winners in life's lottery, it suggests, are those fortunate enough to have loving friends and family.But Winners & Losers has promise and a solid base on which to build. There's juice in the set-up and appeal in the characters and cast.
© 2011 The Age