Strange Bedfellows
There are only three things I found attractive about this
gaysploitative venture from co-writer/director Dean Murphy: a national
legal acceptance of same-sex relationships, a Travolta-like stride
down Oxford Street in a glitzified Sydney and a purpose made photo of
two guys in a porno website. The rest - and it feels like there's lots
- hangs over like love-handles over happy pants.
Vince (Paul Hogan) and Ralph (Michael Caton) are two meat-pie and VB
blokes from a picturesque town resembling an idyll to John Howard.
When same-sex laws are officially enacted, Vince sees a way of evading
a tax problem generated by his recently departed "bitch" wife.
And so Vince and Ralph "move in together, but only on paper" or so
they'd like to think. The local biddy is soon at it, spreading rumour
like wildfire, which is apt, considering they're both also firemen.
The taxman is not convinced and so will arrive to audit the validity
of their same-sex union. Panic. They must act and appear gay. They
scamper in all sorts of directions to achieve a fitting illusion, even
ending up in ever-glowing Sydney where they are befriended by some
charming queer stereotypes-dykes on bikes… need I say more?
The fact that not one real gay character lives in Yackandandah is
frustrating for Vince and Ralph. They have to take their tips on
appearing gay from a camp hairdresser who is also pretending to be
gay. Perhaps my annoyance arises from the fact I was expecting too
much. This is a film about queers for non-queers, not a film by us for
us. The film tries to explain away lofty ideas like acceptance and
diversity in the clumsy guise of a rural Australian comedy. Quite
frankly, if 2003 is anything to go by, our filmmakers should back away
from this genre. I suspect like a fair few out there, I'll hold my
breath and quietly await the next Priscilla.
Andrew Staker
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