Strange Bedfellows (2004)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Dean Murphy

Writers:

Stewart Faichney (written by)
Dean Murphy (written by)

Release Date:

22 April 2004 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

They're close mates, but not that close.

Plot:

Two 'very straight' old timers have to learn how to pass as a loving gay couple after falsely claiming same-sex status to take advantage of newly legislated tax laws.

Plot Keywords:

Sydney Australia | Bar | Gay Interest | Man Pretending To Be Gay

Cast

Michael Caton	...	Ralph Williams
Alan Cassell	...	Stan Rogers
Andy Pappas	...	Post Van Driver
Paula Duncan	...	Yvonne Philpot
Roy Billing	...	Fred Coulson
Jamie Robertson	...	Carbo
Kevin Dee	...	Hughie
Paul Hogan	...	Vince Hopgood
Stewart Faichney	...	Sergeant Jack Jenkins
Simon Paton	...	Red
Shane Withington	...	Father Xavier Delaney
Monica Maughan	...	Faith
Jenny Dale	...	Local Lady
Kestie Morassi	...	Carla
Ashley Evans	...	Porn Site Boy

Also Known As:

I Now Pronounce You Vince and Ralph (UK) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Albury, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Instinct Entertainment

Trivia:

The film that Paul Hogan's character screens is The Last of the Knucklemen (1979) which also features Michael Caton.

Movie Connections:

Features The Last of the Knucklemen (1979)

Soundtrack:

Staying Alive

Six Laughs

Six laughs, Six. I counted them. Not so good for a comedy lasting 90mins +, is it?

The reviews I'd read for this movie on IMDb were overwhelmingly positive. It's why I bought it. Had never heard of it except that it was referenced as the inspiration for "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" but better, it was claimed, and being a fan of Australian cinema...

Well, I spent the first three quarters feeling vaguely uncomfortable but in the last quarter the film kind of redeemed itself - kind of.

It is, as Paul Hogan points out in one of the many DVD Special Features, neither pro or anti same gender partnerships. It was an unnecessary comment for him to make - but meant, one assumes, to reassure conservative Australians. I'm glad I saw this clip after I watched the film. I was not impressed.

It's not a bad film - its heart is sort of in the right place - but it just feels so old hat. A missed opportunity to do something both fun and progressive. A shame really.