Trailer parks are synonymous with two things – old film sets, or people living very close to the breadline.
Back when movies were shot without CGI, directors would actually be on set when they shot the film. These sets could be located anywhere and trailers were used to house the actors and the crew.
In some places trailers represent neighbourhoods where residents struggle to afford proper housing.
So when you see the title, Trailer Park Boys, for a TV show, you can’t help but wonder where to place it; with the actors, or the poverty-stricken residents.
But before you get too excited or melancholic, Trailer Park Boys is a mockumentary about two characters, Ricky (Robb Wells) and Julian (John Paul Tremblay), who are trailer park residents fed up with the harsh life of poverty. To escape they have to come up with schemes, legal or otherwise, to get rich and leave the poor man’s life.
While they always almost seem to succeed, their success is hindered by the overzealous supervisor of the area, Jim Lahey (John Dunsworth). The fun is in seeing them plan around this social prefect. You will find it funny that the beginning of an episode sees them being released from jail, while the end has them back in the can. It’s like that bittersweet ending that always happens in Everybody Hates Chris where Chris never evades the wrath of his parents.
The dialogue will have you chuckling from the first to the last line. Given that we are only on the first season, and this show runs for seven, we are in for a good laugh for a long time.
• Trailer Park Boys airs Mondays at 8.30pm on Comedy Central.