“Though still quite watchable, and even a giggle here and there, “Stupid Mate” is akin to a piece of home-brand light cheese – still goes down OK, but lacks real taste” – Clint Morris

Angus Sampson, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Hunter, Madeleine West, William McInnes, Natalie Garonzi, Tayler Kane, Dave O’Neil

Um, they got it wrong. The Australian Film Industry needed a good ‘Kick in the Pants’ not an unwelcome ‘Kick in the Teeth’.

Having said that, the unashamedly stupid “You and Your Stupid Mate” is still, amazingly, watchable – but boy is it a poor imitation of the film we really need to pull the local film world out of the hole it’s stuck in. If anything, this middle-of-the-road effort just shovels a bit more dirt on top of the hole, making it harder for us to get out.

An Aussie reproduce of the U.S fave “Dumb and Dumber” (revenge for their blatant “Prsicala” rip-off, “To Wong Foo”, perhaps?), “Stupid Mate” teams Nathan Phillips (one of the countries best actors – deserving of much more than this) and Angus Sampson (that guy with the brows from “Greeks on a Roof”) as two slackers, living in a caravan park, who have no plans on getting a job. In short, they’re quite happy to sit home and watch their favourite Soapie, “Suns and Surf”.

When they get wind that one of their faves on the soapie (former “Neighbours” star West) is going to be killed off – they decide to take matters in their own hands in an effort to see the busty Emma doesn’t drown in the rough Sea.

More suited to a sitcom or short-film than anything, the thinly-written “You and Your Stupid Mate” can only be seen as a mild distraction that’s wasted much of it’s talented cast’s time. It’s sad enough seeing Phillips (“Australian Rules”) wasted – let alone the always dependable William McInnes, playing a Centrelink manager, or high-paid model Rachel Hunter eating up a chunk of the budget in the useless part of a fox that lives in the caravan park.

Though still quite watchable, and even a giggle here and there, “Stupid Mate” is akin to a piece of home-brand light cheese – still goes down OK, but lacks real taste.

Rating :
Reviewer : Clint Morris