Stan continues its Boxing Day tradition of new originals, this time it’s crime comedy Sunny Nights.
The series focuses on American siblings Martin (Will Forte) and Vicki Marvin (D’Arcy Carden), who have come to Sydney to set up a spray tan business – Tansform, a tan in a can – a destination they’ve chosen based on the rates of skin cancer in Australia.
This seems like a smart business decision, but former risk analyst Martin has an ulterior motive- his ex-wife Joyce (Ra Chapman), a clickbait journalist, now lives in Sydney, and he’s desperate to rekindle their relationship and win her back. Self-sabotaging Vicki, however, just wants to prove that she’s not destined to be a loser by starting a successful business.
A big beauty convention sees the pair check into the questionable Sunny Nights motel, and hustle for a retail partner to get their spray tan stock on the shelves. Martin meets the seductive Susi (Jessica de Gouw), who isn’t as innocent as first perceived, and the next morning the siblings are left scrambling to find ten grand to pay off a blackmail on Martin from the erratic Kash Monroe (Miritana Hughes), unaware their extortion is pulling them into Sydney’s seedy criminal underworld. Things only snowball from there, leaving the Marvins facing the dangerous consequences of their transgressions… and an exploding reptilian mess.
Mony’s (Rachel House) reunion with her beloved brother upon her prison release is destroyed when she discovers Kash is missing, and her warpath for vengeance makes her extremely fast. Aided by her henchmen, Dentist Dave (Matuse), whose specialty needs no explanation, and Dreadlock Pete (George Mason), Mony’s quest puts her on a collision course with the Martins.
While Martin and Vicki experience highs and lows with their new company, Susi and former footballer turned Kash’s muscle, Terry (Willie Mason), must find a way to cover up theirs and the Martins’ involvement in Kash’s disappearance- a task not easily done against the bloodthirsty Mony. But the revengeful criminal isn’t the only one on the case- Joyce chases the exploding croc story, adamant it’s the big break her career needs to get back on track, joining forces with animal wrangler and amateur sleuth Nova Tulua (Megan Wilding). Will her career hopes derail Martin’s plans to rekindle their relationship?
The cast are all given a chance to shine with Forte and Carden nailing the comedy while House excels by being simultaneously terrifying and hilarious.
Nick Keetch and Ty Freer create a hilarious crime caper that fills the weird week between Christmas and New Year with something entertaining and thrilling.
4 stars
Sunny Nights releases Boxing Day on Stan
