I Now Pronounce You Vince and Ralph

Following in the footsteps of "The Castle" and "Crackerjack" comes another sweet-humored Australian comedy.

Normally, the thought of having to put up with Paul Hogan for two hours would be enough keep most people away from a theatre, but Hogan and Caton as the affectionate 'squabbling old-couple' friendship is a highlight.

The premise is not overly original, a small town theatre owner (Paul Hogan) convinces a mechanic friend (Michael Caton) to pretend they are a gay couple to claim tax advantages. What follows as they try to hide their scheme from the other townsfolk, while trying to learn how to be 'gay' for the tax inspector, are the highlights of the movie. Hilarity ensues when our heroes travel to Sydney for the (gay) mardi-gras to study gay culture.

The climax is very predictable and somewhat unsatisfying, but overall the slapstick style is worth the cost of admission.

This is the funniest movie I've seen come out of Australia. It has a laid back sense of humour that you don't see too often. It's got a great location. Funny jokes without being in bad taste. The two leads Paul Hogan and Michael Caton are a great pairing. The support cast does the job well.

The movies has great scenery and the movie flows well, not one scene is wasted. The humour flows throughout and it's not a one joke movie. Accessable to all ages. This is the best work Paul Hogan has done since Crocodile Dundee and is ironic that this famous Australian seems to do his best work when he makes Australian films in Australia.

This would have too be one of the best Aussie movies I have seen in a while. It has everything that works. The story keeps moving along very well, no dull moments, it doesn't try hard to get a cheap laugh and you can't go past the pairing of Caton and Hogan, two of the best. The best scenes in the movie are probably when Vince and Ralph(Hogan and Caton) are taught how to act gay and then hit the big city to learn a bit more than they expect! The soundtrack is also pretty good and a great aussie support cast is included in Paula Duncan, Allan Cassell,Roy Billing and Glynn Nicholas. English actor Pete Postlethwaite also plays the tax investigator sent to review their application and performs well. If you want to have a good laugh, see a quality movie then treat yourself to Strange Bedfellows, you won't be dissapointed!

Synopsis: A fictional and unlikely Australian Tax law has recently passed which allows all bona fide couples (including same-sex) to be treated with equity. In a small country town two good mates (men friends) have claimed desperately needed tax-relief and now must convince a Tax Inspector of their status, while trying to avoid creating a scandal in their close-knit community.

Comments: Strange Bedfellows is surprisingly enjoyable and rewarding. `Surprising' because I had dreaded that somehow Paul Hogan would stuff it up, but he does very well indeed as Vince, a man who hasn't ever fancied another man and really doesn't know where to begin. Michael Caton's Ralph is just as inexperienced in relating sexually to men, but hints at being more open to the possibility (though NEVER with Vince).

There are plenty of genuine laughs for gay & straight alike (though not always at the same time), and a rather high cringe factor in a few scenes - especially when the men are sampling `gay culture' during a whirlwind visit to Sydney.

Strange Bedfellows has it's heart in the right place, is decidedly LGBT friendly and has the same Australian cultural authenticity that made "The Castle" work so well. Of course the same strong element is shared here in the undeniably unique acting talent of Michael Caton.

This is a warmly entertaining film about the value of love and friendship. It probably qualifies as being a romantic comedy - but when Vince and Ralph share sweet memories about each other with the Tax Man you'll find there is no love lost. (8/10)

If you are looking for a gentle comedy with a warm, feel good underbelly, this is it.

Although I am a fan of the three lead actors in the film (Paul Hogan, Michael Caton and Pete Postlethwaite), I confess that before the film began I was slightly anxious that this would be a bit of a toe-curling cringe-making event that relied on wheeling out cardboard character stereotypes and putting them in lots of unbelievable 'not going to happen' silly scenarios. I was very pleasantly surprised. There are certainly some moments when I almost cringed a little too more than you are supposed to as part of the comedy but in my view the blanket of warmth running through this film carried them off.

The lead characters are backed up very well by some fine supporting performances. In particular, I liked the parts played by the hairdresser and the straight 'pub' and gay 'club' mates.

In terms of criticism, I think the script could have been a bit stronger in places and, in some parts, you have to disable your cynicism sensors when looking at the leads' very old-fashioned notions of how they think they should act to blend in as 'gay people' (but then I suppose this could fly on account of their country upbringing/lack of exposure - no offence to country folk meant here).

I would not quite rate this film as a classic in the sense that "The Full Monty" may have been, but as with that movie, I did feel quite a bit happier from the experience of watching it. If you are in the right mood for this film, you will find it very enjoyable.