How to Meet Girls from a Distance

I was so impressed with the standard of acting and being a local, loved the scenery. There were lots of places I recognised which made the movie special for me. Having said that, overseas audiences would not feel left out as there are no specific local references or New Zealand specific jokes. The characters were easy to relate to and so many of the scenes were funny. Unless you knew beforehand, you would not realise this film had a low budget and a tight time frame for shooting. There was some tasteful adult humour too- probably not a good first date movie! It was nice that the story had a romantic side to it as well as some dating disasters.

It's unnecessary to say this film was made with a ridiculously short amount of time and money, because it didn't matter. It is side-splitting funny, with some truly brave and clever comedy! I was hooked from beginning to end. The film is completely surprising. It kept me guessing, but provided a feasible bread-crumb trail of clues to result in a truly satisfying ending. I was fully engaged in the character's quirky lives. The script is brilliant, and the performances charming. Although this is a Kiwi film, it's not encumbered with any culture other than the universal trials of love. Highly recommend this film for anyone who's ever tried dating.

We went along to this not knowing what to expect, and came away thrilled. You know you have been to a good movie when the following day you are talking and still laughing about it. It was a quirky movie but it will still appeal to a mainstream audience. We loved the soundtrack and it helped the movie skip along at a exciting pace. The acting was genuinely excellent for such a low budget film. There were some very very funny scenes in this movie. They will stay with us for a long time and we are already reciting them to each other and breaking out in laughter. Really enjoyed the Wellington location and views of the Wellington skyline and windy, hilly roads. Creative imagination makes up for lack of high-tech special effects. Would have liked to have perhaps a few deep or meaningful messages sprinkled in there to give the movie a 10 - but still a fun night out :-)

Overall, a pretty funny movie but I felt like the time between most of the jokes was a little bit long. There certainly were some funny moments, but in between there were some fairly flat periods with characters that did little to excite. I would still say the movie is worth a watch, but it lacks some strength as a compelling example of film in any category. The fact that the movie is from New Zealand does add some interest, providing a refreshing and different take of life (fans of Flight of the Chonchords may recognize some of this). The movie also has an interesting soundtrack, although mostly for it's variety rather than any hard hitting performances. In summation, it's a worthwhile effort that shows promise but ultimately seems to be missing the finishing touches that make for a great movie.

With a budget of just $100,000 and a ridiculously short shooting time of 17 days, you would expect this film to be a steaming pile of plan nine from outer space poo. It is a credit to all involved that it isn't. While not perfect, some two thirds in it gets a bit soupy, the charm and laughs of this independent film keep the audience rollicking along to the end. I was lucky enough to attend the premiere, and I would say that without exception everyone in the cinema walked out with a smile on their face.

The storyline centres around a young man who has been unlucky in love and so he decides to get a little information on his next prospective date, suffice to say that rooting through her recycling and following her home dressed in disguise, may be taking it a little too far. Although it has a creepy premise the empathy we have for the genuinely likable character and the madcap supporting cast carries this movie through to a immensely satisfying and non-Hollywood romantic comedy ending.