User reviews

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.

Forget Chuck and Larry. When you have Ralph and Vince, you have it all. These two made for some of the funniest comedy I have seen out of Australia.

Vince (Paul Hogan) has tax problems and the Australian government has just passed a law that allows same-sex couples a tax break - and it's retroactive. Scheming to save his arse, Vince convinces his best mate Ralph (Michael Caton) to pretend to be a same-sex couple to get the break.

Laughs ensue as they try to hide their secret from the local town folk, and get ready for an audit to prove they are actually gay. They enlist the help of the only know gay in town, predictable the hairdresser, and find out a clever secret he has been hiding. He helps them, and they go to Sidney to immerse themselves in gay culture before the tax man cometh.

While this is going on, Ralph's daughter is coming for a visit to introduce her partner. Everything comes together at the Fireman's Ball with Ralph and Vince, the whole town, the hairdresser, and a select few from Sydney, and, oh yes, Ralph's daughter and partner coming together.

Great fun!

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.

I like a good farce. It's a very simple formula, you wonder why so many films get it wrong. It starts with a small lie... and then a slightly bigger lie to cover the first one, and so on and so on. The secret is to make the underlying situation very serious. In this instance, the threat isn't being "outed" to the township, it's taxation fraud and the potential of being sent to jail that underpins the frantic farceurs.

I watched the DVD of 'Strange Bedfellows' tonight with my partner and we both laughed like hyenas throughout. Even though most of the plot twists are obvious, half the pleasure comes from predicting what's going to happen next, and then seeing it actually happen as poor Vince and Ralph are plunged deeper into their charade. Michael Caton is brilliant, and Paul Hogan shines too, a few slightly wooden scenes notwithstanding. The rest of the cast allows anyone who's grown up with Aussie TV to play a quick game of "Ooh, isn't that...?"

The tax law reform which sets the plot in motion is very improbable - now moreso than when the film was made just last year - but it's clearly just a mcguffin to get the plot rolling, and it's not worth slamming the film for it.

Some people have been saying that the film is full of negative gay stereotypes; since the only part of the film with "real" gays (as opposed to Vince and Ralph's hilariously inept mincing) is set in Oxford St Sydney on a Friday(?) night, it's hardly surprising everyone's all frocked up for a night out. The important lesson here is that once Vince and Ralph sit and talk with them and get to know them, the gay guys are just, well, guys. Which is pretty much the moral of the story. Strip away the glitter and the glam, forget about who does what to whom in the bedroom - if you just stop and look, people are all just people.

I loved this - it's the Australian 'In And Out'. More like this, please.

Set in the heart of country Australia, with a short journey to Sydney in the middle of the film, Strange Bedfellows tells the story of two close friends, Vince (Hogan) and Ralph (Caton) who cook up a plan to take advantage of a new law that gives tax breaks to Same Sex Couples. Trouble is, Vince and Ralph are as totally straight and must 'camp it up' it order to convince the government's tax inspector (Postlethwaite).

The laughs come thick and fast as Vince and Ralph, do what it takes to learn how to appear gay. The reaction of the locals and the great scenes set in a Sydney gay disco are only some of what makes this movie a winner. However the jokes, even the outrageous ones, are never at the expense of the gay community.

This is the funniest movie Paul Hogan has starred in since the original 'Crocodile' Dundee. He and Caton are a wonderful double act, supported beautifully by the rest of the cast, including a manic band leader in the final scenes, set against the back drop of some of Australia's most picturesque countryside. The ending works very well with all the loose ends, twists and all, being tied up.

Paul Hogan was a TV star in Australia long before the world met 'Crocodile' Dundee. Michael Caton is also well known to Australian TV viewers with memorable parts on many shows, from soap operas to comedy.

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.

A movie with "Crocodile-Dundee" Paul Hogan in the leading role. It's the first film in three years for him. He even seems a bit younger than before...go figure. Anyway, the movie Strange Bedfellows starts off quite boring and I almost turned it off after ten minutes, but then it started to get a bit interesting. Two elderly men trying to pose as gay-men in a little conservative village...hmmm, that's a thought. Then at some stage of the movie I started to think about what gay people like when people are making fun, as it seemed, about the stereotype gay-man. I couldn't answer that, but when the film came to it's end, I was filled with a warm and pleasant feeling, and I really think it teaches something about friendship and tolerance, which there is nearly not enough of in this world of ours.

Six laughs, Six. I counted them. Not so good for a comedy lasting 90mins +, is it?

The reviews I'd read for this movie on IMDb were overwhelmingly positive. It's why I bought it. Had never heard of it except that it was referenced as the inspiration for "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" but better, it was claimed, and being a fan of Australian cinema...

Well, I spent the first three quarters feeling vaguely uncomfortable but in the last quarter the film kind of redeemed itself - kind of.

It is, as Paul Hogan points out in one of the many DVD Special Features, neither pro or anti same gender partnerships. It was an unnecessary comment for him to make - but meant, one assumes, to reassure conservative Australians. I'm glad I saw this clip after I watched the film. I was not impressed.

It's not a bad film - its heart is sort of in the right place - but it just feels so old hat. A missed opportunity to do something both fun and progressive. A shame really.

I avoided seeing Strange Bedfellows at the cinema after reading a couple of less than favourable reviews, so it was with some trepidation that I hired the DVD, however it is wonderful! As a gay man I was terrified the film would fall into gay bashing and ridicule and whilst there are some strong stereotypes represented the overall charm and message of the film is delightful. Michael Caton is terrific as Ralph, a simple mechanic from small town Australian. Ralph is the type of bloke we all want as our uncle. Honest, dependable and while a bit conservative, a man with a heart of gold. Paul Hogan (forgive me all you Hogan haters) is wonderful! I can't believe I'm saying this but the man many of us have grown to hate gives a lovely performance as Vince, the local cinema owner. 'Hoges' surprisingly gives the film real heart and shows a vulnerability I haven't seen him show before in his other work. I won't go through the story points again, other than saying Strange Bedfellows is a hilarious, grossly underrated Aussie movie and one that I'm sure will find a very loyal audience from straight, gay, lesbian, transgender movie lovers who will see this film in the spirit the filmmakers obviously made it to be. Good luck to it!

Vince the local cinema owner and Ralph an expert on fixing motor bikes agree on a plan to reduce debt by cheating the taxation department. A same sex couple it seems gets certain privileges according to the new taxation laws (and what's more it's retrospective). In the closely knit society of Yackandandah where gossip abounds the two men venture on to dangerous ground by pretending they are a devoted homosexual couple.

While the story itself may not be original, some of the scenes are hilarious. Learning how to walk ( "left-right-left-right-turn and pivot"), seeking out the right clothes ( "You look divine!"), adopting new phrases ("Just sing the song and dance the dance and follow the yellow brick road!") all add up to a multitude of laughs. Boy, are THEY amateurs?

Michael Caton is excellent as a kindhearted mate willing to put himself out for a friend. Paul Hogan is acceptable as the debt ridden pal urging him on. One of the funniest scenes in the whole film is the interview conducted by the taxation officer (Pete Postlethwaite) to test the validity of their application. Glynn Nicholas as the straight guy covering his tracks by assuming a homosexual attitude gives an inspiring performance.

The mannerisms in this farcical presentation are greatly exaggerated. They provide most of the humour. The predicted ending is such a happy one that any offense is hopefully quickly forgiven. Helping out a mate seems the right thing to do but sometimes it can get you into a whole heap of trouble.

Simply one of the worst Aussie movies ever, and that's saying something.

Paul Hogan and Michael Caton star as a couple of mens men who stumble across a wacky idea. Vince (Hogan) is facing some business tax problems. One day he discovers there are some great tax cuts for gay couples. Desperate, he asks his buddy Ralph (Caton) to pretend they are living together and are gay so they can get the required tax relief. Sounds funny right? Wrong. You'd think these two Aussie comedy legends could pull this off with ease, but working with a pathetic script some homophobe probably wrote in 1962 made it tough. There were plenty of unbelievable scenarios thrown in eg Ralph's visiting daughter, a community dance, all of which fell flat on their face. I know of a few older people who appreciated it, but anyone under 39 who sees this will probably start giving themselves paper cuts just to break the boredom.

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!

I made a special trip into London to see this film on its outing at the Raindance Film Festival. What a waste of a train fare and my time. I had to keep reminding myself that this was not a film made in the 1950s but in the new millennium. The story had potential, but was delivered with such offensive heavy-handed "humor" that I had to wonder if Paul Hogan was terrified that if he introduced any subtlety into his performance someone might think that deep down he was gay. As for the truly talented Michael Caton, he looked throughout as though he wished he was anywhere but in this sad little film. It would have been interesting to see the same film made by the wonderful people who brought us "The Castle" and "The Dish". Or even to have handed it over to an experienced French director capable of giving the story and the characters a modicum of depth and shading.

If Australian viewers will cast their minds back to the seventies, they may remember The Paul Hogan Show, a variety show in which Paul irreverently played the larrikin host. The twist was that he would make a grand entrance wearing tight fitting black shorts and a rugby top – a caricature of a footballer.

In Strange Bedfellows almost thirty years later, he cleverly parodies this costume by dressing up in close hugging spandex shorts and a black figure hugging tank top. Paul is probably having a good old chuckle at himself, and we are too, because there's generally lot of laughs to be had in this irreverent, and funny, but never offensive Australian film.

This is the best film that Paul Hogan has made in years. He doesn't over-play it, he's instantly amiable and most of all, he's giving life to a character that fits him like a glove. But kudos should also be given to the talented Michael Caton, who at times, gently steals the movie from beneath Hogan's feet.

Hogan plays Vince, a theatre owner in the small Victorian country town of Yackandandah. Vince's wife has recently left him and now he's left with nothing, apart from the single-bed he sleeps on in the projection booth. When he gets a letter from his ex-wife's accountant ordering he pay back years of back taxes, he turns to his best friend Ralph (Michael Caton), the town mechanic, for help.

Vince has just read that the current government, in a race for electoral votes, is giving gay couples the same legal rights as married couples including a retrospective tax law that allows them to claim all the usual tax rebates for up to five years. Vince decides the best thing to do is become gay - at least on paper.

Ralph is initially hesitant, but once Vince explains to him that it's just form filling bureaucracy, and that no one in the small town need ever know, he decides to help his best friend out. Things seem to be going well, until a letter arrives stating that a representative of the tax office is coming to visit, in order to make sure Vince and Ralf really are a same-sex couple.

Vince and Ralf are forced to embark on a crash course in learning how to be gay. Enlisting the help of the local gay hairdresser, (Glynn Nicholas) they learn how to "place a hand on a penguin," wax lyrical over a photograph of Liberace and call each other "she" and "girl." They even take a trip to Sydney where they befriend a group of biker gays and drag queens.

When the reserved and seemingly threatening tax inspector (Pete Postlethwaite) is sent to audit their claim, Ralph and Vince must try and convince him that they are a loving homosexual couple in a small town who knows them as anything but. Adding to the shenanigans is Ralf's daughter (Kestie Morassi), who is coming up to stay from Melbourne; she's devoted to Ralf, and has a surprise in store for him.

What makes Strange Bedfellows work so well is the amazing script that never condescends to either the urban gay community or the country people of Yackandandah. Judgment is never passed, even though the rural folk might see the gays as "weird," while the gays might view the country people as homophobic. Stereotypes abound, but the tone of the film is such that one cannot take any of them seriously.

Paul Hogan as Vince seems to be having a great old time; he's empathetic to the gay community, and seems to be opening his heart to a segment of society that he knows nothing about, while Michael Caton delivers a wonderfully warm character with enough complexity and self-contradiction to be three-dimensional.

Detailed, effectively paced, Strange Bedfellows is crammed with characters you'll feel are old mates by the time the credits roll, but best of all, Strange Bedfellows is a terrific plea for tolerance and equality for the gay community, along with a kind of homage to the age old Australian tradition of mateship. Mike Leonard September 05.

I saw this movie today at a pre-release charity screening. I went on the strength that it was a charity screening with all proceeds going to charity. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to actually see this movie but I'm really glad I did because it was a laugh a minute. I went with my sister and mother and they had a ball.

While Paul Hogan was the main lead in this movie kudos to Michael Caton as the friend who decides to help a mate with his tax problems by pretending to be his gay lover. Michael was truly great in his role. Paul Hogan also does a good job and I'm glad to see him in this wonderful role after having made quite a few flops.

The cinema was packed out at the screening and I heard plenty of laughter during the show. Do yourself a favour and go see this little gem. It's definitely worth the ticket price.

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS is one of those films that plays like a TV sitcom without the canned laughter - especially now that gay themed shows have made it big on television. This film's main charm is its Aussie flavor and that forgives a lot of the shortcomings of a fluffy idea of a script.

Essentially, two men (Paul Hogan and Michael Caton) decide to avoid back taxes and take advantage of a new law that allows same sex partners to gain the rights of married couples by passing as a gay married couple. How they go about convincing each other that they can pass as gay in order to convince the authorities and then how they can learn to act gay and live a gay life to back up their story is the action of the movie. Many stereotypes are included but somehow the Aussies know how to pull this off with minimal offense.

The overall theme, after the story is all said and done, is one of tolerance and compassion for people who are in different societal climes. Hogan and Caton pull this off well, showing how really everyone they meet in their charade is just a 'regular guy' - and for that reason the film becomes more tolerable than the usual farces that deal with 'passing'. Not a great movie, but one with a wink! Grady Harp

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)

Paul Hogan again gives us a great lesson of tolerance and respect for the world around us - let it be the surrounding nature, animals, other culture or just other sexuality. Perhaps this is the best way to wake up the good qualities in us - by showing our silly fears of all that is different from us and by laughing at these fears. And Hogan does it in a very straight forward yet subtle way, without hurting anybody. The plot is quite simple, and we can foresee some expected difficulties the couple may meet on their way to succeed, and even though we know there should be a happy-end, we did enjoy every minute of the movie and it definitely left us in good humor and we will certainly watch it again when having a chance. Last but not least - all actors play really well.

To be part of a laughing cinema audience is a joy. Watching the new movie from Dean Murphy, 'Strange Bedfellows' with a mixed group of all ages, all constantly cackling was a fantastic night out. Wonderful acting by many easily recognised Australian faces, with a generous dose of local extras, makes this a perfect movie. This film shows one of our beautiful, small country towns, as Australian living at its best. The central theme of grappling with gayness is handled superbly.

I had to see this movie because it was filmed in my local area... Albury was used for the Sydney street scenes (no folks, that isn't actually Sydney!) and Yackandandah is an actual town about 20 minutes from Albury. I knew a lot of people who were extras in the film so the main reason I was going was to look for my friends in the film and try and ignore what I thought would be an absolutely terrible film.

However, I was surprised. I actually found the film somewhat amusing... the plot actually managed to distract me from searching for people I might have known in the background. While I would not say it is a great movie, it certainly isn't bad for a bit of a laugh.

Yackandandah is almost as beautiful in the movie as it is in real life and hopefully this film might help to increase tourism in the local area.

Hoges left his ability to act behind with his big knife in Crocodile Dundee I'm afraid, but playing an easy role such as this which didn't require much effort from him worked well. Caton was great... he really brings to life Aussie "characters" and did a good job in this film.

While the view of gay and lesbian culture may have been a bit skewed and over the top, the film is meant as a comedy so I think it can get away with it, because the whole notion of the film is fairly absurd so it just fits in with the tone of the film.

So overall, this film wasn't too bad. I would never have gone to see it though if it wasn't shot in my local area, but it wasn't a total waste of my $11 for the movie ticket.

I did not know what to expect when I went to see this movie at a Charity screening last Sunday. What I saw was such a wonderful, hugely funny film that had me gasping for breath at various times during the movie.

Hogan and Caton are magnificent. Hogan gives us the Hoges that we love and Caton provides a wonderfully acted performance. The two are just such a wonderful team and the comedy that produce together just made my sides hurt from laughing so much. The real joy from this movie is that it not only provides the laughs but it also gives a gentle message and touching moments within it. It left you feeling happy but touched at the same time.

I thoroughly recommend this movie. It's so good to laugh that much.

I really enjoyed Strange Bedfellows - I've always been a push over for small town movies - and when Paul Hogan was in it I had to check it out - in fact i enjoyed the movie so much - with the scenery of this small town, that i did a web search on this town to see if it really existed - hey it does - and now have plans to visit this small town when I make my next vacation plans - the plot was great - and trying to get Paul's friend in the movie to play the gay part was really funny - i probably would of done it the same way - i thought it was a funny movie - it was nice to see Paul Hogan on the big screen again - too bad Paul hasn't done more movies. I gave it an 8 cause i really enjoyed the plot - but the language took it away from family viewing.

I couldn't believe what I was reading about this film and decided that I would have to set the record straight somewhat, or at the very least add a little bit of balance to the comments index.

"Strange Bedfellows" is symptomatic of what is currently ailing the Australian film industry at the moment. It is a small film (has the feel of a film school assignment), with underdone production values, and a severely undercooked script. It's a raw, still bloody and pulpy, carrion of a script. The writer, excuse me, writers of this 'piece' would have done well to hire a professional to completely overhaul their basic concept paying special attention to the dialogue, as well as ramping up the joke to minute ratio (which was dire).

The film is a throwback to the 1950's, I have no problem with the use of stereotypes, but those pressed into service for this film were retired elsewhere on this planet approximately 40 years ago. I suppose the film was about two elderly gents who were masquerading as homosexual lovers so their innocence could, potentially have been genuine. But the stereotypes 'dug up' for this film lacked any form of comedic, or creative interest.

The lack of a creditable script and the uninspired use of stereotypes aside, this film could have been worthwhile had it been ripsnortingly funny, but alas, it was found lacking it that department also.

I have heard it before about a lot of Australian film and television product relating to the comedy genre. It is said by those in the industry that almost all Australian film and television comedies have one thing in common, "they're just not funny". "Strange Bedfellows" falls into that category, it just isn't funny.....enough. There are, admittedly a couple of funny happenings (the opening sequence when the mailman spins around and throws the mail sack at a newsagents was mildly amusing).

It was not a complete train wreck of an exercise (although it was pretty close), unlike a couple of other people, I actually thought Paul Hogan was one of the few protagonists who looked comfortable in his role. Glynn Nicholas, is also quite good as the towns hairdresser, in fact, as much as he could, I thought he stole the film.

As a long suffering Australian, please, in 2005 could we perhaps, instead of making five half-baked, insipid, quirky sleepers, could we pool the funds and make one decent tear-you-from-your-seat blockbuster.