Quick-witted Pax comedy packs punch

Much-loved Kiwi funnyman’s biographical show is a mix of traditional nostalgia and Bro’Town, writes

Everybody loves Pax Assadi. From his popular stand-up shows, to appearances on Kiwi comedy staples like 7 Days, TVNZ travelogue series Frickin’ Dangerous Bro... On the Road and sassy, tongue-incheek voice-over work for 2 Degrees, the firstgeneration Kiwi has charmed audiences with his quick-wittedness and smart observations.

Now, he has deservedly gained his own show, the six-part comedy Raised by Refugees inspired by his own, formative tween-age years growing up in Auckland around 20 years ago.

In some ways, it’s an overly familiar premise. Everybody Hates Chris, The Wonder Years, The Goldbergs, Moone Boy, Young Sheldon and Young Rock have all mined the same mix of nostalgia and awkward school and family interactions for laughs.

But although you can also see how much young Pax was influenced by his beloved Fresh Prince of Bel Air in his approach to life and moving from West Auckland to the North Shore, there’s a Kiwi sensibility and swagger about the show that reminds one of Aotearoa animated classic Bro’Town.

In some ways though, the schoolboy stuff is the weakest section of the show. Newcomer Kenus Binu is a likeable lead and the intermediate-age ‘‘relationships’’ and rivalries are believable and enjoyable, but Raised by Refugees really sings when focused on the next generation up.

Played by Assadi himself, young Pax’s Iranian father Afnan’s attempts at assimilation are particularly hilarious, especially when he provides each of his new colleagues at Bruce’s Appliance Hut with a signed (by him) copy of Jonah Lomu’s autobiography and urges his son to be proud of his culture ‘‘and his nipples’’.

Likewise, Pax’s Dr Phil-quoting Pakistani mum Safia (played by a scene-stealing Kalyani Nagarajan) is the heart and soul of the family and this comedy as she coaches Pax through a

conversation in Urdu with his uncle from Pakistan and gets the house ready for a visit from Afnan’s ‘‘judgy’’ family for dinner.

While the initial episode has an almost Adrian Mole-meets-Will Smith vibe about it, a key 2001 global event that the family watches on their TV clearly foreshadows some dramatic potential among the more knockabout, easy laughs.

Raised by Refugees debuts on Prime at 8.45pm on Thursday. It will also be available to stream on Neon and Sky Go.

Pax Assadi, above, plays his own father Afnan in Raised by Refugees and his younger self is played by acting newbie Kenus Binu. The other family members are Safia (Kalyani Nagarajan), Mahan (Adam Lobo) and grandfather Masood Assadi (Reza Matez).