Top End Wedding

This isn't a terrible romantic comedy. I am certainly not the target demographic, and though I've given this film a 2.5/5 star rating, I think it's a film that people like my mom would like. There are movies out there that work much better for some people than they do for others, and the schmaltzy, cheesy romance stuff doesn't always work for me unless the characters are ones that I actually care about. In this film, I thought the characters were likeable, but I didn't care about them. The humor also felt a touch one note. The dad crying in the closet was a gag that was used repeatedly; at first it grew funnier with every time, but then the gag kept getting used, and it went beyond the realm of funny and into the realm of annoying. By the fifth or sixth time the gag was used, I wondered how many more times I would have to hear that bloody song before the credits rolled.

The story may be cliche but the cultural setting is, thanks to the indifference of dominant white culture in Australia, new. It's also lovingly authentic; Tiwi culture is lovingly embraced and explored. Plus I love that the Tiwi Sistagirls had a role in this film!

Miranda Tapsell leads us on a merry dance through all of the Northern Territory's most famous and scenic sights, from Nitmilik Gorge to Kakadu to the Tiwi Islands. There are credits to the Northern Territory Tourist Bureau, and they more than got their money's worth.

The story line is a bit predictable, but it is told with enthusiastic good nature and has a couple of less obvious twists that overall it hung together well enough that I didn't mind. It is the Miranda show and she inhabits the character so easily I wonder whether aspects of it might be slightly autobiographical. Gwilym Lee as fiancé Ned is a pleasant, slightly uncomfortable fish out of water in what to him must be such a strange environment. The extras, Aboriginal people in various places and particularly on the Tiwi Islands, give it a goodly dollop of authenticity and provides a reflective backdrop for many of the story's aspects.

In some ways, it's a bit like a visual equivalent of a musical - a not terribly plausible or important story that ties together not songs but images and impressions of Australia's Top End and the people that live there. If you've never been, this might just inspire you to go.

'Top End Wedding' is from the director of 'The Sapphires' and also stars Tapsell, this time as Lauren, an up-&-coming lawyer from Adelaide. She gets engaged to Ned (Lee), which sets in motion a whirlwind trip to Darwin to try and pull together a wedding in 10 days before she's required back at work, thanks to her demanding boss Ms Hampton (Fox).

Back in Darwin, we meet Lauren's Dad, Trevor (Higginson) and the twist that her Mum, Daphne (Yovich), has left to find her roots. This "mystery" forces Lauren and Ned on a roadtrip to find her, and allows us to see the spectacular scenery in Kakadu and Katherine, as well as eventually, the Tiwi Islands. There's plenty of funny moments along the way and interesting characters.

As well as the great settings, there's also some emotional reunions for Lauren and Daphne with their people and country on the Tiwi Islands - it's all handled really well and is very touching. It's fantastic to see Aboriginal actors and Australian settings on film - I wish there was more. Overall, a lovely film in terms of story, music, characters and settings.

10 points for being female-written, having a largely Indigenous cast, and showcasing some beautiful parts of Australia. Unfortunately I felt the story was a bit disjointed and some of the jokes fell flat. It was an enjoyable enough movie to see on Mother's Day and Miranda Tapsell is an absolute star, but this one didn't do it for me.