Backyard Ashes

It was an excellent movie. Short summery a 'whinging pommie' and a 'dinkum Aussie' sort the differences in backyard cricket. The movie itself was a good small budget comedy that unlike others really delivers not only a good laugh but conveys a message about how a person who you don't like can become a friend. The whole setting is a typical Aussie setup none other than backyard cricket. They have nicknames based on popular cricketers such as Dougie waters 'Dougie Walters' and 'pidge 'pigeon aka Glenn McGrath' the whole movie is basically dedicated to the Aussie bloke who loves playing or have played backyard cricket with mates. A must see for a comedy fan!!!

Overall 10/10 A good laugh and a great small budget film!

Backyard Ashes looks like a low budget movie with a big budget relation to real life. Being an Indian and playing cricket with friends and family, I can truly relate to this movie. This was my 1st Australian movie that I have watched and I must admit it hit the right cords. Big budget movies generally focus more on the big names but this focused on everyone in the movie. It was a simple yet very honest movie. Loved ones getting together, playing a good game of cricket, the annoying and unfriendly neighbors, the old couple upstairs, the entire locality and the craziness that comes along. Its a good watch for a nice lazy afternoon....

A mate in Australia recommended this movie to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's light-hearted and silly and packed with loads of subtle cricket references (Jardine, Dexter, Harlequin caps, impersonations of famous commentators etc.) which keeps the narrative moving along at a very predictable but steady pace. The story is a bit weak but it's never less than highly entertaining. At times, the stereotypes are a little obvious but remember folks that this is a COMEDY. It's meant to be funny and in the manner of the typical Australian cinematic style (and its refreshing non-conformity to a PC strait-jacket), it entertains without offending.

The premise got me in, and then having started to watch it and read these reviews, I stuck with it and except for the the final seconds of the last scene and effectiveness of the credits in identifying the actors (should be obligatory for animated movies!!) I have to agree with the panning of this movie.

Hostile to some and so predictable. As Rossini may have once said of Wagner -wonderful moments, dreadful half hours - and I think there may have been three moments.

And yes, this too is my first review - similarly moved as another reviewer. That said, at $285 000, how poor is the standard hourly rate for acting?

This was a Tuesday night movie mid-February 2025. Watched on ABC iView.

A nostalgic trip down memory lane of Australian comedies and cricket. We're in "The Castle" (1997) territory here. The banter and ribbing between friends is pushed to the limit here, seemingly too much at times, but I think that is the point.

Parody is the game here, alongside cricket! Even the title is a pun.

And yet there is a wonderful warmth in the acting and storytelling. The villain is indeed villainous, and our hero is struggling and almost gives up. But watch this to the very end - as it weaves its tragic, groan-inducing, hilarious magic - it ends surprisingly well.

This is a celebration of everything Australia once was and a wistful ode for contemporary life.

Highly recommended.

No animals were harmed in the writing of this review.