Caffeinated Clint
By Clint Morris
When it comes to romantic comedies, Australia’s as much an expert as a forty-something virginal PHP programmer is at unclipping a maternity bra.
You know exactly what I mean. About the closest thing we’ve produced to a decent rom-com is ”Crocodile Dundee” (One might cite ”You and Your Stupid Mate” as a more recent example) – and Samantha Fox was riding the top of the charts when that was out. It’s not because we’re not as hearty, human and horny as our American counterparts, nope, not at all – in fact there’s probably a dozen couples smooching on the steps of Parliament House as we speak – it’s simply because rom-coms haven’t really worked for us in the past, so someone brought down the hammer. No, what works for the Australian film industry are quirky black comedies, hard-edged gangster pictures, and Paul Hogan movies thus, that’s about all we see these days. But thankfully television personality cum screenwriter Peter Helliar (“Rove”, “The Bounce”) was out kicking the footy around when the ‘Guns and Giggles Only’ memo got around, because he’s come out with a cute, cuddly and comical relationship laffer that’s gonna do up the laces on a genre that was tripping over itself long before Pearce and Karvan switched carriers.
Featuring a recognizable cast of local and international stars (great for marketing!), ”I Love You Too” tells of a thirty-something ladies man, Jim (Brendan Cowell) who, three and a half years after they first hooked up in a club, still can’t commit to his long-time girlfriend Alice (Yvonne Strahovski). Much to the delight of his indiscreet party-boy buddy Blake (Peter Helliar), who’s been hoping his wingman will return to his single ways, Jim finds himself on the sharp end of a break-up.
Upon his exit from a club, a rather-inebriated Jim attempts to steal a car. Before he can get the car out of reverse, the forlorn suburbanite spots a ‘love letter’ on its dashboard. We soon discover the letter’s drafter, a new-age dwarf (Peter Dinklage) with, ostensibly, an infinite supply of relationship tips for his sad new mate.
A Who’s Who of the Australian film and Television film industry fill the supporting slots – Steve Bisley is Jim’s Boss, Bridie Carter and Travis McMahon play Jim’s sister and brother-in-law, respectively, Supermodel Megan Gale plays the object of dwarf Charlie’s (Dinkage) affection, and radio personality Hamish Blake pops up as a hotel receptionist.
Those thinking ”Valentine’s Da”y or whatever polished turd Matthew-McConaughey had out last month is a happy snap of the modern-day relationship, might do themselves a favour and check out writer Helliar and director Daina Reid’s ”I Love You Too” – you’ll have more chance spotting yourself in it, than you would in anything directed by Garry Marshall. Sure, like most Aussie comedies it’s got it’s quirky side, and it wouldn’t be a local laffer without some ‘ocker’ humour (think ”The Castle”), but there’s an authentic intermingle of real relationships at the center of the film that brings it home. None of the characters feel fake (for that matter, none of the actor’s performers feel forced), none of the couplings seem ‘off’, and unlike a lot of Yankee rom-coms, the plot (and plight of the loveless) doesn’t come as artificial as Aspartame . Nope, for the most part, crazy jokes aside, this thing is a Polaroid of the contemporary Aussie couple – from his commitment issues to her constant feelings of dejection, it’s all pretty spot-on.
Even if your heart’s still in San Francisco, you’ll still get something out of ”I Love You Too” – it’s bloody funny at times, and there’s some corker jokes (Helliar thieving the majority of them), but more so, you’ll have the eclectic bunch of characters – there’s one in it for everyone; you’ve got the sexy (Yvonne), the squat (Peter Dinklage), the suave (Brendan Cowell), the sophisticated (Bridie Carter), the salivatable (Megan Gale), the screwball (Perter Helliar) – that’ll have you asking yourself, ‘Do I know him/ her from somewhere?’.
Hopefully this is the beginning of even better things to come for the genre – really getting sick of people assuming an Australian ‘date movie’ involves chewing dark fruit with your grandparents at the local Hoyts.
You won’t just like ”I Love You Too”, You’ll Love It.
Extras
Great little extras package Roadshow have rustled up for the home vid release – dual commentaries (one by the filmmakers, one by the actors), both of which are both entertaining and informative (particularly the track featuring Reid and Helliar); some deleted scenes; and a behind-the-scenes featurette that’s a tad more insightful than your typical studio-concocted epk.
