Fancy frocks sat beside mullets and checked shirts in Invercargill yesterday as fans and stars braved the weather for the much-anticipated premiere of Two Little Boys.

Australian actor Hamish Blake - who plays one of the main characters, Deano, in the film - declared it to be a "tropical" evening for "Invers".

While Blake was enjoying the "warm snow", his partner-in-crime and co-star Bret McKenzie was having to deal with sign envy.

The Flight of the Conchords star said he felt a little jealous when he spotted a giant poster with "We Love Hamish" on it.

McKenzie had to settle for a wee placard that simply read "Brett". At least it had an extra "T".

However, both actors said they were excited about the film's premiere and thanked fans for their support.

"Some of the fans have been waiting outside in the cold for hours," McKenzie said.

Two Little Boys' director Robert Sarkies said he hoped moviegoers would fall in love with a "truly Kiwi film".

"It is packed with some great New Zealand actors and some fantastic Kiwi music," he said.

The Southland scenery was also an integral part of the film's charm, he said.

Maaka Pohatu, who plays Gav, appeared a little uneasy with the star treatment on the night but said he had a great time during the making of the film.

"It was my first real film experience," he said.

Before the arrival of the stars, fans who had purchased tickets to the gala premiere had the chance to dress in their finery and stroll down the red carpet.

The Wellington International Ukelele Orchestra, of which McKenzie is a member, kept the crowd musically entertained.

Those brave fans who did not have tickets to the film lined the barrier and waited in the cold and drizzle hoping to glimpse the "Two Little Boys".

Katherine Robertson and Kendal Cosgrove, both 15, arrived early and were rewarded when they got a chance to grab a hug from Blake and McKenzie.

Last but not least, after the actors had their chance to shine, Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt led a group of dignitaries, including his partner Asha Dutt and Southland District Mayor Frana Cardno, down the red carpet before the party moved inside the Civic Theatre.

STARS DROP BY FOR PREMIERE

Y-front undies, a red bomber jacket and stirrup tracksuit pants are just a few of the hot clothing items Bret McKenzie and Maaka Pohatu sport in the movie Two Little Boys, which premiered last night in Invercargill.

In an interview with McKenzie and Pohatu yesterday, the Oscar-winning Flight of the Conchords' star said Invercargill op shops would stock some of the acid-washed gems that appear in the dark comedy, set in Invercargill and the Catlins in 1993.

While the Y-front undies scored high for both men, Pohatu said he wanted to keep the red bomber jacket he wore in the bromance. McKenzie said he was partial to the adidas tracksuit look.

In Two Little Boys, McKenzie plays Invercargill banker Nige, who enlists the help of his estranged, slightly psychotic friend Deano (played by Australian comedian Hamish Blake) to get rid of the body of a backpacker Nige accidently kills.

Matters become more complicated by the arrival of Nige's affable new friend, Gav, played by Pohatu.

McKenzie said he was nervous and excited to see how the audience would react to the film, directed by Robert Sarkies and written by Robert's brother, Duncan.

"The opening of the film is right on the main street [of Invercargill] with the big statue of the soldier and there's a lot of familiar spots, like Cosy Nook and all of the Catlins looks amazing. It'll be fun to watch the locals react to it."

Pohatu - who featured in the New Zealand play Strange Resting Places and was named "One to Watch" by Downstage Theatre in 2010 - said making the transition from stage to screen was not a problem.

The role just required that he said "Ahhhh," a lot, and "Ahhh, yeah?" - and generally be easy-going, he said.

"In real life I'd probably be more forthcoming [than Gav]."

A memorable bonding moment for the actors was the scene at Curio Bay when they had to frolic in the surf wearing "budgie smugglers" as the crew - dressed in clothes suitable for an Antarctic expedition - filmed the action from the beach.

"We did that for four hours, running back to this generator that had a blow dryer [attached]," McKenzie said. "We'd blow dry the family jewels between takes then go back out."

McKenzie said he had been touring with Flight of the Conchords in the US when he first read the script.

"I was reading a lot of [scripts for] Hollywood studio comedies then . . . so many comedies you usually don't remember. This one made me laugh out loud. It felt original."

- © Fairfax NZ News