Dallas Doll

urgh! 3 things a movie needs: a good script, a good plot and good casting. i watched this movie expecting it to be hilariously terrible and was unfortunately disappointed when it was just plain terrible. I lost the will to live halfway through. The only thing which stopped me from stabbing my eyes out with a fork was Rose Byrne (who was the reason for me watching it in the first place). She did a good job as Rastus and her appearance hasn't changed much since she was 13. it was a fantastic first effort in a movie. the dog was also very good. both did a great job with such awful material. Sandra Bernhard i think was the biggest mistake of the movie. she was completely miscast, and i don't think she ever quite got the character.

I give the movie 2 out of 10 - and thats only because of Rose.

Solid acting from the studly Blundell elevates this confused feature from turkey to flawed classic. During the steamy love scene, who wouldn't like to swap places with the lucky, lucky Bernhard (or to be one of those weird voyeuristic ravens at the very minimum)? Aussie high-jinks at its most quirky and incomprehensible - what a rush! I'm just glad I came along for the ride.

The film wouldn't be worth comment if it weren't for the utterly gorgeous, heart-melting Jake Blundell. Move over Sandra B!

But Jake Blundell is not just eye-candy for the ladies! He has this magnetism, a studied intensity that carried the film, which is quite frankly a little lacking in plot. Future film stardom must be assured for this talented young buck.

I saw Dallas Doll many years ago at Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian film festival. It was the Closing Night film. DGA1 (the theater) was packed and the audience absolutely ate this film up. It was a laugh-fest. It's such a crazy, wild, fun ride and so very Australian in its comedic sensibilities. Like all films, one can find things to criticize - this is far from a perfect film. But, personally, Dallas Doll has such a crazy spirit I was able to forgive it's blemishes. One of the things I enjoyed about the film is the writer-director's romanticism of Texas and Texans. It's a hoot to see a non-native's take on Texas. So pick apart this film if you must but I think it is absolutely worth watching!