Film reviews
Gone
Amanda Seyfried is uninspiring in this lazy thriller, which fails to mine its derivative premise for even the cheap thrills anticipated by audiences.
The Killer Elite
It’s formulaic, but it’s also packed with atmosphere, intrigue and the charm of a veteran action cast.
Tyrannosaur
It’s dark and tough-going material, but totally worth it thanks to the brilliantly gutsy performances and the hope of redemption always in sight.
Contraband
Derivative and undemanding, but if you’re after a cracking slice of cinematic escapism, this won’t disappoint.
search the site
newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive the weekly Filmink newsletter
A Few Best Men (Film)
Rating: MA
Running Time: 97
Country: Australia, UK
Director: Stephan Elliott
Cast: Tim Draxl, Steve Le Marquand, Olivia Newton-John, Xavier Samuel, Rebel Wilson
Distributor: Icon
Release Date: January 26, 2012
Film Worth: $16.00
FILMINK rates movies out of $20 - the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worthA crass but highly entertaining Aussie comedy that scores a generous share of knockout laughs.
A sheep in drag receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, a psychotic drug dealer gate crashing a reception, and a coked-up Olivia Newton-John swinging from a chandelier are just a trio of moments that give you a good idea about the tone of Stephan Elliott's crass but gut-busting comedy. A Few Best Men sees the polarising Australian director (The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, Easy Virtue) working from a screenplay by British scribe, Dean Craig, who penned Death At A Funeral. Those familiar with the latter UK hit will recognise that same formula at play here as we watch a solemn family ceremony - this time an Aussie wedding - upended by absolute anarchy...
The premise is simple enough: English boy, David (Twilight: Eclipse's Xavier Samuel), meets sweet Australian girl, Mia (Laura Brent), on vacation. After a whirlwind romance, the two become engaged and soon after, David flies to Oz with his three hapless mates (Kris Marshall, Kevin Bishop, Tim Draxl) for what turns out to be a society wedding, as Mia's father (Jonathan Biggins) is an uptight senator barely appeased by his trophy wife (Olivia Newton-John).
Never letting up for a moment, this cracking comedy mixes riotous gags and antics with a wicked Australian sense of humour. Essentially chronicling an escalation of disasters, Elliott deftly reins things in just before they bust from the seams, and the director puts forward a surprisingly polished comedy. The chuckles are also always rooted in a believable chemistry between the best mates, with the film ending on a true-to-form note of sentimentality. Admittedly, this doesn't have the same level of dark wit which made Death At A Funeral such a surprise hit, but this isn't aiming for social satire or high brow comedy. It has its sights set on big laughs, and as far as that goes, A Few Best Men is a knockout.