Yeah, I know, it’s called Down Under but I just could not resist the pun. It may not be the most brilliant of lines but I have to say that neither is this movie. I was really eager to watch it simple because I like Nicole Kidman and I think Hugh Jackman is hot. These things aside, I really didn’t find myself that happy after watching the movie. It has been out for several weeks now but I am not surprised that it has been getting a lot of flak from critics and – if they are to be believed – it is also not a surprise that cinemas showing Australia are not crowded.
So what’s wrong with the movie? It was 165 minutes long. For a movie that long, I expected so much more. I expected to walk away understanding exactly what it is that the movie wanted me to know and feel. Good luck with that. I was left wondering what Lurhmann was trying to get across.
The beginning of the movie was not so bad – Nicole Kidman doing comedy, but that is probably only because I like her. But somehow – and I am surprised at this – she didn’t lift the movie up to the level I was expecting it to be. If anything, it was Jackman’s acting (and wonderful shower scene!) that gave the movie its saving grace.
I know I am sounding like one of those “expert” film critics – I am not one of them – but I just have to say, almost 3 hours worth of my time could have been spent on something better.