Sage

Glad Rachel Griffiths is back in Australia but this is so cliched and old-fashioned that I felt a bit sorry for her having to fall back on this for a local job. Good concept, beautiful location and scenery, but REALLY bad writing. I despair at the number of Australian writers who seem determined to aim so low with formulaic cheap laughs from supposedly loveable Australian characters. The swearing and crassness was just absurd and dumb rather than funny. Like being hit over the head with the ‘down to earth’ or larrikin concept. Likewise the over-use of irrational angry outbursts and a ditsy uptight sister. If comedy was the aim, it wasn’t anywhere near clever enough. Simplistic doesn’t ever mean funny. I wish they’d aimed for drama and developed the characters into more than one-dimensional caricatures.

It seems quaint and aspirational but becomes somewhat depressing. I think it’s because the ‘fantasy’ never eventuates. She didn’t just want a fancy dress, she was yearning for a more fulfilling life and relationships. The constant anticipation and build ups to her big break fall flat over and over again and she just ends up with the dress…Loved the dresses but I don’t think the writers took the main character seriously.