Reviews

That's the point. They won - despite the odds. And when that is no longer the basis for an interesting film then we might as well all give up. Whether you agree with their politics or not, the stand they took, the obstacles they faced and the dirty tricks pulled by Maccas make this the perfect subject for a documentary. What bugs me most about the people who are on here criticizing this movie is the line that these "do-gooders" are profiting from this movie's release. Unlike people like you, making money is not the only motivation in this world and if you saw this film, you'd realise it is way down the list of priorities for these two people. Sometimes just getting the message out is the most important part. But I guess that wouldn't even occur to some people.

Wil Ferrell passing as both a writer and a movie star is the only funny thing about this movie. If that man ever had an amusing thought it would die lonely. I love a good spoof movie - you can't beat the original Airplane - because they usually involve a large amount of gags. This movie makes absolutely no effort to be funny. It just assumes that we all think a boring white bread man with bad hair is amusing no matter what he does. Obviously with all the good reviews a lot of people do think he's funny which means this is one of those times in life when I wonder if I'm not living in some parallel universe - the same feeling usually arises around election time. I find it quite depressing that Wil Ferrell is what passes for a filmstar these days. No wonder no-one goes to the movies anymore.

All the stars were in perfect alignment for this movie. Laurie Metcalf, one of the greatest comic talents of her generation, is in sparkling form here. Throw in Madonna and you've got a recipe for gay icon heaven. The wit is quicker than in any movie since Preston Sturges was around and no-one, thankfully, takes themselves too seriously, including Madonna who oozes cool through every fishnet. If you want to see why this woman has become the most important female cultural icon of the last 30 years this is the best starting place. Every time I watch this movie, and it's fairly often, I want to be there, with those people, eating popcorn and dancing badly to that brash '80s soundtrack. In a decade known for its bad taste, this is the supreme example of the opposing argument. All this and Into The Groove. Impossible to resist.

Truly original movie. Newman proves yet again why he's the best actor of all time in this seedy, hilarious little slice of hockey heaven. Plenty of great movies since owe a debt of gratitude to it, including Fargo and Almost Famous. This movie really tells it like it is in a way that seems to have been forgotten. The script zings along like they're all just making it up off the top of their heads. Truly inspired and probably slightly shocking to today's audiences. Even better, there are no clunky sentimental plot threads. The "romantic" story lines are realistic and touching in a blunt sort of way that really rings true. Fun and crazy sure, but also hugely influential and important. One of the ten greatest movies of all time, no question. Go the Hanson brothers!

This movie can lay claim to such a title - alongside Some Like It Hot, The Producers and Raising Arizona, all of which owe a debt to this crazy firecracker. The cast, as with all Sturges comedies, are all hilarious as well as lovable. Particular praise should go to the leading ladies Claudette Colbert and Mary Astor. They certainly don't making actresses like them any more. And then there's the man himself, the movie powerhouse that was Preston Sturges. His movies are almost alone in that the acting doesn't stomp all over his genius scripts. High brow, low brow and every brow in between. This movie makes life worth living.

This movie is a little gem in which all the odd ingredients come together to form a surprisingly spot-on depiction of Australian life for a large percentage of the population. It scores big points for depicting life in the fairly unglamorous and largely forgotten country towns. The two sisters, especially the Rebecca Frith character (why this movie didn't make her a superstar is a shock to me) are spot on. But where this movie makes the leap from good Aussie flick to comic gem is its lack of fear in being strange. I won't spoil the many surprising treats by giving any of them away here but I will say that if you're a fan of Preston Sturges, this movie is his unlikely Aussie bastard child.