A Few Best Men (2012)
Strong crude humour and drug references
| Director: | Stephan Elliott |
| Actors: | Xavier Samuel, Rebel Wilson, Olivia Newton-John, Kris Marshall, Kevin Bishop, Steve Le Marquand, Laura Brent, Jonathan Biggins |
When English lad David announces he is getting married to an Australian, his hapless mates give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'for better or worse'! The chaos-filled wedding day tests their new marriage, challenges David’s relationships with his three best men, and risks turning what should be the best day of their lives into the worst. A Few Best Men is a hilarious culture clash between his friends and her family - because blood is thicker than water, and so are David's mates!
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 97mins |
| Origin: | AUSTRALIA |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
Boysmaids
by Richard Haridy, 23/05/2012 2:54:00 PM
Here is your poster quote: I don't hate A Few Best Men. The film is too facile and inconsequential to hate. Rather, A Few Best Men made me sad. As the credits rolled I felt a deflated sense of emptiness after having experienced 90 minutes of cinema that was so routine and uninspired it made the 'based on a board game' Battleship seem creatively profound. David (Xavier Samuel) and Mia (Laura Brent, charming despite an unforgivably contrived role) fall in love and get engaged after a whirlwind holiday romance. David returns to London, collects his three best friends, then heads to Australia for the wedding. Jonathan Biggins and Olivia Newton-John star as Mia's parents while Rebel Wilson occasionally appears as Mia's lesbian sister. From most vantage points, A Few Best Men seems like a re...
Here is your poster quote: I don't hate A Few Best Men. The film is too facile and inconsequential to hate. Rather, A Few Best Men made me sad. As the credits rolled I felt a deflated sense of emptiness after having experienced 90 minutes of cinema that was so routine and uninspired it made the 'based on a board game' Battleship seem creatively profound.
David (Xavier Samuel) and Mia (Laura Brent, charming despite an unforgivably contrived role) fall in love and get engaged after a whirlwind holiday romance. David returns to London, collects his three best friends, then heads to Australia for the wedding. Jonathan Biggins and Olivia Newton-John star as Mia's parents while Rebel Wilson occasionally appears as Mia's lesbian sister.
From most vantage points, A Few Best Men seems like a real movie. It has a "story," "characters," and even scenes that superficially appear to contain "jokes," but many sketches are ultimately just that; sketches that stop short of offering moments of wit. The sight of Olivia Newton John doing cocaine and acting crazy is meant to be funny in and of itself. No jokes necessary. Death At A Funeral writer Dean Craig pillages the exact formula of his earlier screenplay in such a shameless, cut and paste way that, again, just made me feel sad.
The saddest part of watching A Few Best Men is knowing that director Stephan Elliott (Adventures Of Priscilla, Easy Virtue) can do so much better. One moment in particular involving Steve Le Marquand (the best thing about the film) and the Skippy theme reminded me fondly of Elliot's much maligned Welcome to Woop Woop. If only more of this picture channelled that kitschy, grotesque quality.
Whilst the film has isolated glimpses of imagination it ultimately left me hollow and depressed. A Few Best Men is not bad enough to actively despise but there's a stilted, perfunctory sensation in watching this predictable cavalcade of errors play out. By the time I reached the obligatory 'happily ever after - let's dance!' ending I wondered if the preceding 90 minutes ever even happened. A true Zen experience if I ever had one.
2/5
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Member Reviews (63)
63 Member
Reviews
lyne
says
This is hilarious I got it for hubby as I had already seen it it was just as funny the second time around and he thought it was really funny too
Janette
says
Quite funny though very predictable. My teenagers enjoyed it. An extra star for the fabulous Blue Mountains scenery.
AnneRz
says
Such a fun film. I can't believe some people hated it. I watched it twice and will go back for more. Its not rocket science....its just a good rollicking fun movie!
Jumbuck
says
Only [just] the presence of Kris Marshall raises this waste of time/space/plastic/celluloid from bloody awful to awful!!!!
Raj
says
Waste of time
Pig McGee
says
It's only funny because things keep going wrong. After a while it annoys you how dumb the characters are.
Darren
says
I really enjoyed this movie . It great story . It so funny . All wedding day nightmare , everything goes wrong . Loved Olivia Newton John , great to see on sceen agan .
ALM
says
A good light hearted funny show. Good, also, to see it filmed mainly in Australia
Felicity
says
It gets really funny about 1 hour into it... worth the wait!
cazzam
says
Didn't enjoy this movie at all....worst acting ever by Olivia Newton-John, partly due to the deplorable script. one star for the magnificent blue Mountains scenery.
nicky b
says
I watched this film at the cinema and hadn't laughed that hard for ages. Couldn't wait to see it again and it didn't disappoint!
says
A very unfunny movie. Thought it was supposed to be along the line of Bridesmaids. Not even close! A complete waste of the brilliant Rebel Wilson, with the best parts and acting going to Olivia Newton-John. Some of the scenery was breathtaking but otherwise, don't bother with this one.
Lisa
says
It was ok for a light hearted Aussie comedy - we got a lot of laughs even if it was a bit silly in parts and predictable but I'd definately recommend it for easy viewing and a good laugh
paul o
says
Probably not the best comedy around,but definitely not the worst.
Cindy
says
Slightly better than I was expecting, but then again, I wasn't expecting very much at all. A few laugh out loud moments, but the hammy performances and predictable, paint-by-numbers script were a disappointment.
jenetta
says
A good film, funny but boy are these guys idiots. If you can take the frustration of watching someone's supposed best friends really mess up a wedding its a good film. Very funny but a bit stupid.
Linda
says
I enjoyed it. Pretty funny, a bit predictable, but not bad.
Jojo
says
This film is one that is not meant to be taken too seriously (in my opinion) had some genuine laugh out loud moments and some very cringe worthy ones - not a brilliant movie by any stretch - but if you can take it for what it is - an over the top comedy with a bit of 'toilet humour' thrown in - it is fun and funny!
says
We loved this movie. From start to finish lots of funny parts.
S.Huscroft.
says
Just not funny,nice location
andrea
says
omg this is a really funny movie,enjoyed it immenseley.One of the best films i have seen in a long time.olivia NewtonJohn was great,not at all what i expected.
says
watched at cinemas im without a doubt watching again good comendy.
Brian
says
This is possibly the worst movie that I have ever watched. It was like having sand paper rubbed across your eyeballs. It lack any depth, had no real story, was not funny, and portrayed stereotypes that are just wrong. The Simpsons do a better job with a story line
Matthew B.
says
Funny, crass and predictable. Better than expected.
Anie
says
What a waste of time! I didn't even finish watching this one.... too predictable, too stupid and been done too many times. Avoid!
AZD
says
Dissappointing, a bit boring, yes it had some funny bits but very predictable.
says
This movie was disappointing and pretty silly. Not half as funny as The Hangover. Easy watching, but not one I'd recommend
says
One of the worst movies of all time!!!
You have been warned.
says
Not good at all.. didnt even bother to watch the end. Not funny, vulgar, cringe worthy.. just bad. Disappointed.
says
Not really impressed with this movie...sheer vulgarity isnt really comedy, I wonder if the people making this film realise the difference? All in all the weak storyline was just that - weak!
lynnyloo
says
Want a good laugh? Our sides were splitting watching this flick. Recommend it
Sil
says
Same old same old, not very funny. Heavily relies on being as vulgar as possible.
Kazza
says
Quite funny, though expected a bit more laughter by the shorts. Still worth a watch.
Melzy
says
Suprised Olivia Newton-John and a few of the other actors put their name to this script. To compare it to bridesmaids I don't think so, maybe the credit roll call? lol Pretty pathetic. Had a few laughs but felt like they were over the top and cliche just to get the laugh. *sigh* whats with all the crappy movies.
M
says
predictable. Smothered with cliches and stereotypes.
Melski
says
Laugh laugh laugh!!!
Lisa
says
Another great movie for the Aussies yeah - i really enjoyed this one it had everything in it - good and bads things happening mixed in with a few laughs definately well worth watching
Miss A of the North Shore
says
Predictable. A few laughs but more than a few groans. Yes, a complete rip-off of the Hangover....surely Australia and the UK together could do better than this. But yes, so long as you've nothing better to do.
Wen
says
Predictable & annoying. Olivia Newton John's face looked wrong & colour awful - shame really - great cast terrible movie
kim
says
One of the all time worst movies I've seen....a shocker, don't waste your time!
T Rex
says
Unfortunate, but this movie never did really lift off for me. I guess you need to be a huge fan of this kind of genre to really get into the cliched comedy. Rebel Wilson is a comedic genius, yet did not get a chance to show this at all and her lines were kept to a minimal. Shame as she would have been so much more funny than the four boys put together, Xavier Samuel is the only one that shows any real performance in this movie, ad off course as always he is easy on the eye
elizabeth
says
i did not enjoy this very much and was embarrassed with olivia newton john's acting and portral
JaneS
says
We are big fans of "Nick" who used to be in My Family. It should have been funny. It wasn't. Great ad for the Blue Mountains, though...
rebeccabec
says
I laughed so hard at this movie - Worth 5 stars!
Izzy
says
What a load of rubbish. An obvious plot backed up with dreadful acting (stick to singing Olivia) and barely a smile cracked. Gave up watching after 40 minutes because it became an irritation.
Laura
says
Funny. Bit of a chick flick but with plenty of catastrophe and humour for guys to like it as well.
Tate
says
Wow - how bad can you get with a decent cast. I am sure the script seemed funny but something in it just did not work - what a disaster....
Cameron
says
The movie wasn't funny and not interesting at all.
Elizabeth E
says
Ho Hum! - - we got a few laughs from it - but glad we didn't go to the pictures to see it - would have been a total waste of money.
Kelly
says
Not as funny as I was expecting, but still enjoyable.
Heather
says
I turned this off after 45 minutes when I realised it was predictable and stupid and a hangover rip off.
Nick Cave
says
*********** EXTRAORDINARILY BAD ********* Terrible script, bad acting, lame jokes. I am amazed by the good reviews people are giving this. One minute in I thought 'this looks rubbish', ten minutes in I wanted to switch off but was compelled to keep watching because it was so bad. Twenty minutes in I couldn't take any more. I swear, they just made this film up as they went along - it was so awful.
gerd
says
Goes to show that an Aussie movie can compete with the likes of The Hangover and Bridesmaids, and indeed do it much better. It's over-the-top, ridiculous and mindless sort of stuff, but with a few good laughs.
Ann E.
says
This was a really great surprise. . . . . I don't usually like movies that are very 'Aussie' stereo type and I certainly dislike movies that turn stupid 'drunking' school boy humour into comedy. . . . . .but this is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time, the story line is different and the acting brilliant, Olivia Newton John is absolutely fabulous and so 'NOT' her type of character. I enjoyed every minute and would recommend it for a fun, laugh filled, light evening of comedy with just enough 'romance' for the girls but not too much to turn the guys off!
leeper
says
THE funniest movie, that I have seen in a long time, worth 5 stars
jk
says
It reminded me of a British/Aussie version of The Hangover.... I loved it!
jtbug
says
Pretty funny. Low brow all the way but gets a few successful laughs out of the audience. Very reminiscent of The Hangover and Death At A Funeral, not that that's a bad thing if you enjoyed those comedies.
Chris
says
rubbish! turned it off at about 50 minutes!
poshreany
says
such a good movie one of the best comedies ive seen, great from start to finish,heaps of laughs... well worth a 5 star rating...
Kim
says
Good, fun, entertaining and funny movie. If you like 'Death at a Funeral', the English version is the only one to watch, and you will love this one. Along the same humour lines, just a story travelling along and then the bathroom door opens to one with his arm up the sheep’s bottom and the other sitting on top of it with their mate standing next to them waving a gun around (no spoiler as this is nothing that hasn't been seen in trailers). Laugh out loud funny. I did find the end a bit corny because of the fake outback scenery. My husband would agree with Khole's review.
Khole
says
I couldn't disagree more with the previous reviews. Julien and Nick you must have had sand in your vaginas.
At no point does this movie take itself seriously - it's one of the few comedies that i've literally had tears POURING out of my head as I fall about in absolute hysterics. From the moment the future Bride and Groom reunite in Australia off the plane you will know whether this is your kind of film or not.
5 stars. Five big fat insanity filled stars. It's not high brow and its not 'bum jokes'. It's fantastic 'how the hell did they end up in this situation' comedy. Of the Fawlty Towers painful variety.
Its just good old fashioned STUPID comedy. With ludicrous characters played nonchalantly.
If you can't see humour in Liv doing fat lines of coke, and the best man having a Hitler mo at a society wedding you don't have a funny bone in your body.
Nick
says
Pretty much garbage. Cliche after cliche. Olivia Newton-John seems to be wearing a mask of Olivia Newton-John. Forget A Few Best Men, a few good jokes would have been nice.
Julien
says
It is not a bad movie, it just feel like deja vue. It is a sort of the hangover. It is slow to start and it is really short on the dialogue side. there are some good moments but not enough to be an unforgettable movie.