Jemaine new film highlight

Conchords star Jemaine Clement has broken into the international film market with Gentlemen Broncos, released yesterday in America.

The science-fiction spoof by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess features Clement in a main role as pompous science-fiction novelist Ronald Chevalier.

This is Clement's first major role in an American film. Yesterday he was paid the double-edged compliment of being named as the "hilarious" highlight in a "slack" movie, in a review in Wired magazine.

Clement's career has gained momentum in the past few years, acting, writing and directing films and gathering positive reviews for his lead in Taika Waititi's quirky comedy Eagle vs Shark.

He has attracted an international following for his deadpan performances in Flight of the Conchords, which has also launched the international careers of his co-stars.

Clement married his long-time girlfriend Miranda Manasiadis last year. He lives with her in New York and they had a son, Sophocles Iraia, last October.

Clement is also lending his voice to an animated comedy - Despicable Me - due to be released next year.