pondi_1999 Brilliant Aussie movie... A little slow at the beginning, but once it gets going you can't stop laughing. When I originally saw the movie I vaguely knew the plot line, as I am not sure if many people are aware that this movie is based on a true story, and more so in particular, the director and his mother (obviously names have been changed). I only knew this fact as the director is a friend of a friend of my family. When I saw the movie, somehow my stepmum kept it secret that we were to meet Matthew Newton after the screening... Such a nice gentleman (except for a particularly nasty incident with his ex)! Brillian casting as well with Sam Neill and others! A great reason to keep supporting the Australian film industry

bob the moo Since the death of his father, David Kennedy has lived with his mother Frances (Frank) and has suffered with her suffocating "care" for him and inability to move past her loss. After embarrassing him one too many times, David snaps and rants at her about getting a life and getting out of his. However when Frances takes this to heart, we decides to enrol at an University to take a degree in BA with a major in poetry. Thing is though, she enrols at the same Uni as David.The plot summary makes it sound like a straightforward comedy and for a while that does appear to be what it is trying to do. However gradually the film moves into more of a character drama were the dynamics within Frances' family changes a bit. Both approaches work reasonably well but neither one is actually that good. The comedy side doesn't really work as it isn't that funny but the bigger falling down comes in the dramatic side of the narrative. The thread with Professor Mortlock doesn't really go anywhere and it is the same with the major of the character interactions; I didn't feel convinced or touched by them or what was happening to them.What makes the film better than it deserves to be is a passionate performance from Cusack. The script and direction may leave her without the support structure but she gives her all in a difficult character. Newton does reasonably well alongside her and rises to the challenge when the material gives it to him – which sadly isn't that often. Neill drifts around in the background with a simple performance but not really adding much value.Overall then an average comedy drama that doesn't really work that well in either regard. The comedy is light but never actually that funny while the drama offers things happening but not in a manner that engaged my head or heart. A couple of good performances carry it along more than it deserves but the final impression is to shrug one's shoulders and say it was "OK".

Keith Williamson I saw this film purely by chance. It was shown very late, or more correctly very early one morning on television. I had woken up and was having trouble getting to sleep and this film came on.It deals with a subject covered many times elsewhere (it certainly isn't as good as Educating Rita, despite a couple of additional twists) and has a very predictable ending.Despite its very obvious shortcomings I did enjoy the film and this was thanks to the acting of some of its players rather than the story or the piece as a whole.I am a big fan of Sam Neil and have seen him in many different films including: Dead Calm; The Piano; Sirens; Children of the Revolution; Event Horizon; Bicentennial Man and the ubiquitous Jurassic Park. He was very good but he could have played this part with his eyes shut.Some of the acting was, in my opinion, dreadful Rose Byrne for example and some of the elusions were rather heavy handed (all the board woman in empty lives all dressed totally in white for example).However, two actors (who I hadn't, or don't remember, seen before) impressed me a lot Sinéad Cusackn as Frances (Frank) Kennedy, and especially Matthew Newton as her son David. He, in particular, was very convincing and I would like to see a lot more of him.

rhthesinner-1 Just when I thought I knew where this whimsical Australian embarrassing mother comedy was taking me, it threw me a curve ball that stopped me laughing and started me feeling - a curious juxtaposition that possibly would have worked better had the film been played either funny or straight.There's plenty to enjoy along the way though: a performance from Sam Neill that proves what a good character actor he is, two of the best fun nuns I have seen on screen, some wonderful all too brief appearances from some waspish "ladies who lunch" and some fruity pantry explosions!Not one of Australia's best, but streets ahead of anywhere else's worst.