I Love You Too

I found the sub-plot of the character, Charlie (played by Peter Dinklage), to be more interesting than that of the boring main characters. I'm not sure if it was the story of Charlie's life, or the way that Dinklage portrayed the character. But Dinklage's performance, mannerisms and emotions where underplayed to perfection that I was hooked in by him, while the other characters just lost my interest for the lack of realism and depth. The only time those Aussie actors seemed decent was when they were sharing the scene with Dinklage.

There were highlights in the film thanks to Peter Helliar's comic script, but a majority of the actors let it down. The direction was of interest, capturing moments in clever camera framing (or was it the camera operator/DP?). Maybe a few rewrites of this, and perfect casting, would have given it justice. I wonder if the Yanks, or the French, can turn this into an interesting remake?

I think Australian movies are fantastic. I loved this movie. It was Aussie and funny and my opinion is that anything Brendan Cowell is in is going to be good. People seem so used to these polished over American movies that we're fed that they forget we have a fantastic, under-appreciated film industry right here in Australia. And then they complain and say Aussie movies aren't funny because they're waiting for the canned laughter to show them when it's funny. Personally, I couldn't stop laughing! I loved the humour, I loved the random cameos (Angus Sampson was hilarious, as always), and Brendan Cowell was so ditzy and open that you couldn't help but laugh. Loved it!

It's not everyday that we see an Australian romantic comedy on Singapore screens, so if you're game for a smaller film that takes a more heartfelt look at modern love and relationships, with lovable characters each with their own quirks, then look no further than I Love You Too, its title playing on the 4 words that the commitment phobic try to avoid all the time. For some, asking them to proclaim their love for another is sounding the death knell, with Freedom being kissed goodbye...

Peter Helliar's story is perhaps what made I Love You Too quite refreshing, focusing on various aspects of love instead of a sole romantic one, such as that between two siblings who have to fend for themselves for almost two decades when their parents perished in a car crash, a married couple facing a new entrant into their lives, the brotherly love between two best buddies, and that instant connection and bond shared between two strangers who start off on the wrong footing, but find in each other's company strength and the beginning of a genuine friendship. Such is this tale that we'll find nuggets of character aspects that will appeal to, and identify with.

Essentially it's the story of a break up between Jim (Brendan Cowell) and Alice (Yvonne Strahovski), two unlikely souls who meet in a bar and their one night stand had carried onto 3.5 years. With that kind of a relationship comes the expectations of progressing further, such as uttering that three word phrase, a long awaited proposal, and marriage. But to Jim, a man-child who refuses to grow up and works in what was once the largest miniature train in his father's co-owned theme park, having to commit means getting Alice a commitment ring at best. Disappointed, Alice breaks up their relationship on Jim's birthday, and so begins Jim's quest to try to woo her back.

The beauty of the story comes from the many friendships and relationships between the ensemble characters. There's Jim and his best buddy Blake (Peter Helliar) who more often than not plays his wingman when they hit the bars, and opens up that blokes like him can only hope to feed off the scraps that Jim passes of. Blake is the kind of tragic character who does a lot to get noticed, and like all best buddies know how to pull the other up when the chips are down, although sometimes leading to hilariously disastrous situations.

While that between Alice and Jim is supposedly set to be the strongest relationship on display here since this is almost primarily their story, the one that I enjoyed most was that between Jim and Charlie (Peter Dinklage), a vertically challenged man who got to know Jim when the latter broke into his car. Reading a letter Charlie made out to a "Francesca", Jim is adamant that Charlie assist him in being his Cyrano, pestering him to come up with the perfect letter to woo his lady love back. These two soon grow in their friendship, and in a tit-for-tat manner, Jim decides to return the favour by hand delivering Charlie's letter, which opens up a delightful yet bittersweet subplot that runs parallel to Jim's quest for love. Saying anything more will ruin the surprise package, but I suppose one will be hard pressed not to experience some heart-wrenching moments, especially when we see how Charlie, through no fault of his own, constantly become the butt of harsh comments, and him having a heart way larger than his physical stature.

Blessed with a wonderful soundtrack, I am growing to admire Peter Dinklage's performance, where he brings forth that quiet dignity of a character given receipt of the short end of the stick in life, and his Charlie's story arc turned out to be more engaging as you'll inevitably root for good things to happen in his gamble, versus the one that Jim has to win back, to which feminists out there will probably go up in arms over with how the finale was treated, treading very close to a combination of implausible coincidences and convenience. Still, I Love You Too is recommended, for its take on friendship, relationships, and how a network of family and friends help to provide some sanity check, as well as to pick you up when you fall down.

I saw this film on a flight from Darwin to Canberra so I'm assuming it was modified for the flight (I am pretty sure there was a lot of swearing removed). I was going to pull the plug after a few minutes of Peter Hellier. Normally I think he's funny, but not as a movie actor. It turned into a great and funny Aussie comedy once Charlie was introduced. I just wonder if they should have had Megan Gale's name in the opening credits. It would have added a little more mystery to leave it to the end. Otherwise I would go out and watch it again when it comes out on DVD so I can see the bits which were cut. At the beginning the main male character had me thinking he was a jerk, but after the reason for his reticence was explained it all made sense.

I was pleasantly surprised by this Aussie comedy when I saw it on a plane flying home to Sydney. There is a continuous tingle of surprises coming up in every scene & all the actors deliver that special warmth that comes from good movie direction and consistent acting. There is a wonderful sense of reality in the plot that shows a man who is finally able to understand how to grow up and face the fact that if he leaves his family home & his dinky-die mates he will be OK.

Sure, he may need to work hard to keep the new found girlfriend's touchy-feely relationship & hit upon true love with his special girl but in the end he finds it is worth the hard yards. The part played by small person Peter Dinklage (from "Death at a Funeral"-UK & USA versions) is particularly delightful & adds a certain touch of sparkle to the whole movie. Try & see it if you can.