mgoodhew

At first glance it looks like and action/comedy. But after a few minutes you realize there are no laughs and there's not a single action sequence that has any believability. If I hadn't seen it in my own lounge room, I would have walked out after the title sequence. The comedy is a combination of slapstick and sight-gags that didn't make it into Benny Hill shows combined with word-plays and wit of a somewhat sub-Shakespearian magnitude. For example - it turns-out Drew Barrymore's character changed her name from "Helen Zass" (Just imagine me elbowing you in the ribs and winking wile you read that). Also, with all the subtlety of an "I'm with stupid" T-shirt, it's revealed that not only did Cameron Diaz's character wear her high school's mascot costume: "Beaver", but her recently moved-in boyfriend wore his high school's mascot costume: "Cock" (oh the humanity)! Anyway, take my advice, don't even watch this one free-to-air - it's too expensive.

This production has the humour, pathos, wit and intelligence of Cold Feet (1997) (TV) combined with the interesting double-perspective on the story along the lines of Mystery Train (1989) or Go (1999). It's a riveting and fulfilling TV show concerning friendships, relationships and existentialism. Unfortunately it's been given a ghastly and unattractive late-night time slot by Channel 10. Despite the traditionally crippling curse of being Australian made, this show's quality easily qualifies it for primetime.

Elliot Gould has some absolutely priceless dialogue. The film may appear dated and the concept's a bit passe (we all know the US government will lie with great extent to us at the drop of a hat), but other than that, it's surprisingly good.