FilmFest Australia — A–Z of films

Anthea may be dull, but she’s nice. Michael may be passive, but he’s sweetly charming. You care enough about them to wonder whether they kiss better than camels on heat.

In a watertight script, no option available to the characters is left unconsidered, and each has its deadly downside, leaving viewers to wonder what they themselves would have done.

It may be brash and a slightly biased but it nonetheless offers a fascinating insight into this surfing society.

A touching and honest look at awkward teenage romance under the disapproving eye of mum.

A terrific tale.

By injecting such serious issues with a killer dosage of humour, Petty keeps the whole thing energised and interesting.

Like girls who rely on their beauty to get what they want, Rose has faith in her ability to charm men into bed and, if required, move in with her and pay the bills.

Despite the subject matter, it is remarkable there are almost no puerile toilet jokes, with most of the laughs coming directly from the characters and situations.

Interwoven strands of the plot are handled neatly, dialogue is sharp and there is not a dull performance to be seen.

This is one of those films I will tell all my friends they MUST see, especially if they’ve been having a bad year.

Builds up an emotional head of steam that draws audiences towards it.

As a two hander, the film eases gently towards acceptance, even affection, until a melodramatic ending blows it to smithereens.