Goddess

Well, I have never written a review before, but after just seeing it at the Orpheum and chatting over it with friends, six of the seven of us really enjoyed it. At first I though we had a 'chick - flick' on our hands (well it is) and was prepared for a a bit of shut eye. It was however well worth seeing. The film warms up well and had me engaged completely from about fifteen minutes in.

Its a story about life, relationships, choices and sacrifices made, played out is a pleasing way. I kept on feeling the plot was going to turn down a less savory/disappointing path and it did not. The end result was better than that.

The wardrobe showed a very retro fifties/sixties feel and like the movie was light and fun.

It was light and fun ! The music was original, and performances excellent. My wife was very impressed with Dustin Claire, recently on TV's Spartacus. He sings pretty well too.

Magda Szubanski is a bit of an Aussie icon, and she was great, cast into her role brilliantly.

It was a musical, and I usually avoid musicals, but the sung parts were key to the movie, ie they didn't feel tacked on, and performed well.

I liked it, and it is worth seeing, but take your wife/girlfriend !

The trailer they made for this movie is a total winner. If only the movie lived up to that. It just did not translate as funny as the trailer. Still it was cute. The lead actress has a great voice. But the movie really is mostly singing with some story wedged in. It is shot beautifully. Everyone looks good. The countryside looks lovely. The idea is so good I wish it would of been a bit more of a comedy movie with some songs. But worth a watch online or DVD. I just did not realize this is really a musical. It feels like a Broadway show they translated to a movie. It is a cheerful upbeat movie that kids might like too.

The first time I saw this when it was released, I was in a different head space and I absolutely adored this little film.

Twelve years later it felt overcrowded.

Tasmania was photographed beautifully, I like the whales, I liked all the songs, I liked the singers and I liked the actors. But something doesn't sit right.

I think it was just all too much, somehow. Perhaps I'm not a musical fan. I still haven't watched Mumma Mia because I know I will despise all that over singing and noise.

I like the story plot. It wasn't quite comedy but more romance, which was fairly cliche. Maybe that's the problem. This movie was delightful but also one giant cliche. What a shame. It was otherwise potentially a 10.

Let's start with the good. The main actress sings well and there's plenty of colour and rhythm with all the dance routines. (She can't lip sync to save her life, but she's a musical theatre actress not a popstar, so it's probably to her credit). Generally it's solidly acted by all the cast.

The bad: the grotesque "moral" of this story. Basically you can't have a glittering career if you're a mother. Despite the fact that your husband is working away from home for months on end enjoying his glittering career, and that there would be no issue whatsoever with taking two pre-school age kids to the US with a nanny for a couple of months: no, your husband will go off with someone else, so you must go back to the remote rural town in Tasmania you've inexplicably chosen to reside in, put your rubber gloves on, and be a small town stay-at-home mom.

I watched with increasing heart-sinking as I saw the ending of this approaching, knowing exactly where it was going, and I hated it every bit as much as the similarly dismal ending of View from the Top (2003).

What a great way to spend a couple of hours on a Friday night. My girlfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed this fun-filled, feel-good film. The cast are sensational and the music a revelation. I hope we hear more of Joanna Weinberg. If you loved The Sapphires, Muriel's Wedding, Strictly Ballroom or Priscilla, you will love Goddess. The production value is amazing. Sydney and Tasmania look sensational as does Magda! I couldn't believe it when the audience broke into spontaneous cheering and clapping over the closing credits. I thoroughly recommend Goddess to anyone who wants a to enjoy a great little pick-me- up. I am still singing a couple of those fantastic songs.