Jason KingA FEW BEST MEN: A Review
January 13th 2012 21:28
:
Why Xavier why???
Category: Reviews
In his smash hit, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, director Stephan Elliot put Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving in an ancient tour bus and flamboyant drag in the middle of the Australian outback. How can you top that?
YOU CAN'T. This film was a mammoth disappointment.
From the director of The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Stephan Elliot), and writer of Death at a Funeral (Dean Craig), A FEW BEST MEN features a stellar cast including; Xavier Samuel (September, Newcastle & Twilight: Eclipse), Kris Marshall (Death at a Funeral, Love Actually), Kevin Bishop (The Kevin Bishop Show, Spanish Apartment), Tim Draxl (Swimming Upstream, Tangle 2), Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, The Wedge), and Olivia Newton-John as the mother of the bride.
When English lad David (Xavier Samuel) announces he is getting married to an Australian, his hapless mates give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'for better or worse'! The chaos-filled wedding day tests their new marriage, challenges David's relationships with his three best men, and risks turning what should be the best day of their lives into the worst. A FEW BEST MEN is a culture clash between his friends and her family - because blood is thicker than water, and so are David's mates!
This film is a B grade rip off of Death at a Funeral with quite a few laugh out loud moments especially centring around Olivia Newton John doing some outrageous and unexpected things but then there is the pooh jokes and toilet humour around a sheep - it just went too far many times and just wasn't funny.
The film had me so excited since I heard about it - Xavier Samuel is easily my favourite Australian actor and ever since I saw him in a little art house film called September I predicted him for greatness, added to this he has gone from strength to strength and returns to Australian films in between his Hollywood commitments in things like Twilight Eclipse and most recently my second favourite film of the year for 2011 Anonymous. I have also never seen a male onscreen with skin so goddamn smooth - seriously the best skin on screen hahaha. It is hard for me to judge Xavier on film as I am totally biased - I found his acting fine in this film doing the best he could with a script and story that was not up to scratch - but have to say it is my least favourite film of his.
I was also beyond excitement at the setting of this film at a place called Yester Grange. I spent a year and half growing up in Leura and Yester Grange was my favourite place to visit - my mum used to really panic because of the huge pine tree at the front of the house as I used to always climb it to the top. The place is magnificent and I was looking at having my big 40 there this year but skipped it due to costs. In the film they make it out to be the family residence and also the place of the wedding - it saddens me that the location was used for a film of such low standards. If you fall in love with the destination then look it up - it is a museum to all things Blue Mountains, you can stay there and they do the best Devonshire Tea you can dream of.
From the opening scene of this film I was disappointed - every time Laura Brent (Mia) spoke I cringed and saw poor Australian film written everywhere and it did little to improve. Jonathan Biggins (Mia's father) was woeful as was many of the Australian actors in the film. Don't get me wrong - I love Australian actors and films but when you have someone like Rebel Wilson in a film and you never utilise that talent you let yourself down. UK actor Kris Marshall was also extremely under-utilised - he just came across as line reading and bored out of his brains. Kevin Bishop was a highlight for me as was Olivia Newton-John and, of course, Xavier Samuels.
Due to its trashy humour I fail to see what market this film will impress - teenagers (the biggest cinema market) won't watch it and the sheep fisting won't really appeal to grandmas nor will the cocaine usage. It's a crazy and out of control romp that loses the plot. Very sad for me - worth 4 out of 10. Releasing on January 26th this year!
YOU CAN'T. This film was a mammoth disappointment.
From the director of The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Stephan Elliot), and writer of Death at a Funeral (Dean Craig), A FEW BEST MEN features a stellar cast including; Xavier Samuel (September, Newcastle & Twilight: Eclipse), Kris Marshall (Death at a Funeral, Love Actually), Kevin Bishop (The Kevin Bishop Show, Spanish Apartment), Tim Draxl (Swimming Upstream, Tangle 2), Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, The Wedge), and Olivia Newton-John as the mother of the bride.
When English lad David (Xavier Samuel) announces he is getting married to an Australian, his hapless mates give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'for better or worse'! The chaos-filled wedding day tests their new marriage, challenges David's relationships with his three best men, and risks turning what should be the best day of their lives into the worst. A FEW BEST MEN is a culture clash between his friends and her family - because blood is thicker than water, and so are David's mates!
This film is a B grade rip off of Death at a Funeral with quite a few laugh out loud moments especially centring around Olivia Newton John doing some outrageous and unexpected things but then there is the pooh jokes and toilet humour around a sheep - it just went too far many times and just wasn't funny.
The film had me so excited since I heard about it - Xavier Samuel is easily my favourite Australian actor and ever since I saw him in a little art house film called September I predicted him for greatness, added to this he has gone from strength to strength and returns to Australian films in between his Hollywood commitments in things like Twilight Eclipse and most recently my second favourite film of the year for 2011 Anonymous. I have also never seen a male onscreen with skin so goddamn smooth - seriously the best skin on screen hahaha. It is hard for me to judge Xavier on film as I am totally biased - I found his acting fine in this film doing the best he could with a script and story that was not up to scratch - but have to say it is my least favourite film of his.
I was also beyond excitement at the setting of this film at a place called Yester Grange. I spent a year and half growing up in Leura and Yester Grange was my favourite place to visit - my mum used to really panic because of the huge pine tree at the front of the house as I used to always climb it to the top. The place is magnificent and I was looking at having my big 40 there this year but skipped it due to costs. In the film they make it out to be the family residence and also the place of the wedding - it saddens me that the location was used for a film of such low standards. If you fall in love with the destination then look it up - it is a museum to all things Blue Mountains, you can stay there and they do the best Devonshire Tea you can dream of.
From the opening scene of this film I was disappointed - every time Laura Brent (Mia) spoke I cringed and saw poor Australian film written everywhere and it did little to improve. Jonathan Biggins (Mia's father) was woeful as was many of the Australian actors in the film. Don't get me wrong - I love Australian actors and films but when you have someone like Rebel Wilson in a film and you never utilise that talent you let yourself down. UK actor Kris Marshall was also extremely under-utilised - he just came across as line reading and bored out of his brains. Kevin Bishop was a highlight for me as was Olivia Newton-John and, of course, Xavier Samuels.
Due to its trashy humour I fail to see what market this film will impress - teenagers (the biggest cinema market) won't watch it and the sheep fisting won't really appeal to grandmas nor will the cocaine usage. It's a crazy and out of control romp that loses the plot. Very sad for me - worth 4 out of 10. Releasing on January 26th this year!
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Comment by Samira
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Comment by Jason King
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I would prefer to watch Death at a Funeral again than sit through this one. But I do say I absolutely LOVE Xavier Samuel!
You didn't get confused thinking Will Anderson was in it because my next article was about Wes Anderson's new film?? My head hurts thinking about it haha