Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Movie review - "A Few Best Men" (2011) *

Appalling comedy which nonetheless grossed a healthy amount at the Australian box office - a tribute to the skills of the marketing people and also audiences' desire to see an Aussie comedy. It's just awful. None of it seems real, or funny - Senators who "give" their seat to their daughters, the importance of prize sheep for a political campaign (?), special VIP treatment at customs.

Jokes which might have raised a half smile on their own are flogged mercilessly so the humour is bashed out of them (it's like they keep recapping jokes) - drawing a pair of tits for a speech, Olivia Newton John doing coke, kinky shenanigans with a sheep, Tim Draxl's ex going out with a guy without a penis. Some dreadful performances, such as Kris Marshall, Kevin Bishop and Laura Brett (to be fair none off them have much of a character to play; Kris Marshall looks really old and haggard, like he's done a lot of living). Why is Tim Draxl's character even in the film? (He's an extra groomsman, but spends almost the entire film drunk and asleep). Rebel Wilson is totally wasted too. Jonathan Biggins is too lightweight in a role that requires someone scary (a Bryan Brown, say).

Occasionally this hits the right note, such as in a visit to drug dealer Steve Le Marquand, the soundtrack of crappy wedding songs was cute, and the Blue Mountains photography and locations was stunning. But this was fairly hideous.

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