By RETER CALDER
(Herald rating: * )
Addressing the preview audience of this film on Monday, Caton (The Castle's unforgettable Darryl "Tell him he's dreaming" Kerrigan) told us to tell our mates if we liked it and "if you don't, keep it to your bloody self". Sorry, Michael, but it's me job,
mate. So here goes: I hated it.
As an utterly charmless comedy about two true-blue Aussie blokes who pretend to be gay to get a tax break, it's bad enough. But there's something almost obscenely dishonest and ingratiating about it.
In short, it wants it both ways. It purports to be a film about how we should love and tolerate each other and how the world - and Australia in particular - would be a better place if all the homophobes got in touch with their feminine side. But first it must wring every last laugh from the tired stereotypes - a sub-plot in which our heroes are taught to mince and strut is simply the most offensive of many - and every odious appellation: poofter, pansy (I stopped counting at nine).
Caton plays Ralph, a mechanic in Yackandandah in northern Victoria, who agrees to help out his lifelong mate, Vince (Hogan), whose divorce settlement has left him with the local cinema and five years of back taxes.
They decide to take advantage of a law change allowing gay couples to income-split, but when an inspector (Postlethwaite, who looks like he phoned his performance in) comes to check, they have to look like, you know, poofters, while not letting the gossipy townsfolk twig.
Though it must be said that a few in the preview audience were doubled over with mirth, I was not among them.
The film certainly proves what we had all long suspected - that Paul Hogan can't act to save himself. As a result, the genuinely talented Caton looks better than he really is.
Otherwise, it's a slightly depressing confirmation that poking fun at poofters is easy. If you can give the impression you actually like them, it's a bonus.
CAST: Michael Caton, Paul Hogan, Pete Postlethwaite, Roy Billing
DIRECTOR: Dean Murphy
RUNNING TIME: 97 minutes
RATING: M
