Josh Jarman

Josh Jarman is an awkward film indeed. The main plot feels terribly contrived and the sub plots are just so ridiculous that you can't believe that they were actually included. the central plot concerns the title character writing a play that is going to get produced and his own artistic dream is sacrificed as he sees the theatre directors make it more commercial. What on earth is Pip Mushin trying to tell us. That in order to have integrity and remain true to yourself you must shun any chance of success, fame and wealth that might come your way? Kind of ironic coming from the man who accepted a role in "King Kong" just so he could fund his next project, so I have heard. the sub plots are excruciating, and it seems that every possible sitcom cliché is employed. Does Jarman's girlfriend have an overly seductive mother who tries to seduce him. Yes. Does the straight Josh Jarman have a polar opposite roommate who is quirky and bounces off all his lines. Yer sir! This film is such a lazy effort that it is really no wonder that it flopped!

I was really disappointed with this film. It barely raised one laugh out of the entire audience. The main character was unbearable and became more and more grating as the film wore on, it was impossible to relate or sympathise with him. His acting was melodramatic at best, he was on geek overdrive. The flatmate character seemed to have been added for no reason, he didn't seem to serve a purpose. The film was made up of several random story lines that when thrown together was an incoherent mess.

I walked away from the film without much memory of it, I was lost for words. Maybe I just didn't get it, but it was probably the worst film I have ever seen, avoid it.

Australian films have a bad reputation, and this film is a prime example of why. It embarrassingly fails to entertain in any way whatsoever.

The sad truth is that it is not in any way funny. It uses some of the oldest and lamest comedy clichés imaginable. It was hard to believe this was written in the 21st century. I remember Australian comedy from the 70s which was more adventurous and cutting edge than this.

Seriously, when I think that the makers of this film are hoping that I will laugh at the use of rhyming slang, a bloke being unsubtly seduced by his girlfriend's mother and uncool dance moves, I'm insulted.

When i was about five or six, I might have been amused. The scary thing is that when I was five or six, I was indeed amused by pretty much the same stuff. It was called Adventure Island, a TV series that drew on pantomime theatre traditions.

Unfortunately, this is film designed for adults, and someone needs to explain to the makers of this film that the world has become a lot more sophisticated since 1970, and that grown- ups expect a bit of wit in their entertainment.

I attended the world premiere at the Melbourne Film Festival on spec and was most pleasantly surprised by this movie. Financed by a philanthropic local and filmed entirely in Melbourne, it is very much a local story. The acting is never less than very good and in a couple of cases it is quite excellent. The quality of picture and sound is well up to the best Hollywood sitcom standards and the whole show ran like clockwork.

Unusually in this age of excess, there is no foul language, brutal violence or pornographic sex. The dialog is full of wit and plays to Australian tastes with some good English rhyming slang, (which is very much part of modern Australian English), and even a taste of Jewish deadpan humor, which should go down well with Melbourne's large Jewish community. I will not give anything away about the story except to say it has a number of hilarious effects and twists that were well received by the enthusiastic audience. I think this film will appeal strongly to the younger set (16 - 45) but there is something for everyone. It should be a hit on the DVD rental market, not just in Australia but I could see good prospects in the UK and the substantial market for British / Australian comedy in America. Try it, its fun.

I saw this film in March this year when I was in Austin, Texas. It was playing at the SXSW Film Festival and I went along cause I was a bit homesick for Australia and wanted to see an Ausie film. I'm so glad I did! This film was so much fun. There were lots of laughs and it also managed to be a bit moving at times. The audience seemed to love it, and were laughing heaps. Marcus Graham was sensational as the struggling playwright. It was great to see him in such a character role. The director from Australia was there (can't remember his name) and answered questions at the end, and the audience were so positive it made me proud to be an Ausie. Lots of people commented that it was one of the best films they'd seen at the festival in the last five years and wanted to know if it would be released in America.

A great feel good film.