Spin Out

This was a cute film. Everyone loves a party with crazy happenings. The characters are likeable and quirky.

Not for those looking for complexity during their fun flicks. This ones just FUN!

Australian filmmaking stands tall amongst the best in global cinema. We have so many iconic works across all genres that show our love of land and respect for its traditional owners, mock our idiosyncratic humour and explore the spirit of adventure that has driven the creation of this island nation. Disappointingly, there is not a hint of any of this in the coming of age rom-com called Spin Out (2016). It is difficult to even guess why this film was made and why it had to fall so short of our Aussie film traditions, given the resources at its disposal.

The story centres on the fading outback customs of the ute muster and the Bachelor and Spinsters ball, both of which are struggling for survival against insurance costs and the social disintegration of traditional life in remote rural areas. The ute muster is a competition between ute stunt drivers who perform a variety of high risk manoeuvres in a mechanised rodeo setting, and the B & S ball is the bacchanalian booze-up that happens after the show. Billy (Xavier Samuel) and Lucy (Morgan Griffin) are stunt-driver teammates and childhood friends. After another display of Billy's immaturity, Lucy announces that she is heading for city life and leaving all of this behind. The rest of the story is about Billy's realisation that his teammate has become the girl he loves and he needs to grow up fast, a theme that is echoed amongst several of Billy's mates in their inept courting rituals. The dominant take-home memories from this film are the roaring dust storms of spinning utes and the inevitable consequences of non-stop drinking.

One can only hope that anyone seeing this film overseas realises that it is a grossly exaggerated caricature of rural stereotypes and not a portrait. The dialogue is so corny starched that many scenes read like a high-school play with acting performances that scream inauthenticity. The only shining light comes from Morgan Griffin who, despite the script, fills each close-up scene with pleasing warmth and maturity. Xavier Samuel is wasted here, especially after his fine performance in Love and Friendship (2016). Otherwise, the cast is entirely young white adults without even a nod of respect for the Indigenous inhabitants of the land so ruthlessly being ripped up by white mans' machines. The humour is puerile, fixated on stunted sexual development and a variety of bodily functions that could have been rendered funny but are not. The narrative theme of young people's progression to adulthood in the harshness of outback Australia is entirely lost in a messy confusion of juvenile slapstick sketches.

'Spin Out' offers the audience a chance to sit back, relax and enjoy a fun ride as they witness a feel-good coming-of-age story. The film is littered with Australian themes and discourses that are common among some of the nation's most successful films - mateship, larrikinism, the Aussie battler, small country towns and the outback.

Everything in the film is solid without being exceptional. There are some nice performances from the leads, Xavier Samuel and Morgan Griffin, but the film truly belongs to supporting actor Travis Jeffery. He brings to the screen an admirable blend of humour and pathos that really becomes the connection between the audience and the story.

The co-direction of the film by Marc Gracie and Tim Ferguson works well and is rather cinematic considering their backgrounds in television. Ferguson and co-writer Edwina Exton seem to genuinely love their characters and have worked to blend an array of small country town figures and issues in an effective way to give the majority of supporting players a chance to shine.

I think the film is best summed up by another reviewer that stated it is 'sweet but parochial'. It is a generally fun, if slightly flawed, film that I really enjoyed watching. Sometimes movies should be just about having a good time with good characters and this is one of them.

This movie makes me feel good. The soundtrack is the best, and Morgan Griffin is such a cute actress that is romantic. I haven't seen this in cinemas, This is one of the best Australian Comedy of all.

It's a predictable and enjoyable flick, revolving around the (good) look and the (good) acting of its rising star, Xavier Samuel and his partners, Morgan Griffin in the first place.

Frames are full of sun, fresh and good feelings, beer and cars (utes…): as stated in the synopsis it requires a young heart to enjoy it but it's well made, with good care for details and a general good taste.

Even if you cannot refrain from asking yourself what is the point of drawing circles in the dirt with you car's wheels, its current rating on IMDb (4.5 at the time I'm writing) is too low (on my opinion).

It deserves a 6. And BTW, in case you never heard Dave Baxter's 'Love Love Love' before, I'm sure you'll love it, as i did.