Sometimes it's nice to watch a movie with a happy songs, happy people, and happy endings. Reviewing this for DVD Snapshot was a pleasure, and I can't help but imagine this catching on with any kid who watches Grease or High School Musical.
Brand New Day
Official Synopsis:
Oscar-Winner Geoffrey Rush “is
awesome” (Ain't It Cool News) as a hilariously devout minister
chasing a runaway seminary student named Willie across the land down
under. As Willie tries to make it back to the girl of his dreams, he
embarks on a glorious, uproarious road trip filled with music, magic,
and foot-stomping fun. Based on a beloved Australian musical, Brand
New Day is “one of the most delightful, heartfelt and
crowd-pleasing musical comedies in years” (NYC Movie Guru).
Our Take:
Under it's original title Bran Nue Dae,
this was one of the most successful Australian films ever, and it's
easy to see why. Brand New Day is a light, colorful and
crowd-pleasing musical that somehow brings the lives of 1969
Aboriginal, rural, and hippie Australians (all of whom I admittedly
know nothing about) right into your living room.
“Boy Meets Girl” is the oldest
story in the world, and it's only the details that differentiate the
telling. In this case, it starts in fragments. Willie loves Rosie,
but he's in seminary while she's falling from the choir to the
honky-tonk (...and there is no way
good girls sang about condoms in 1969). Willie runs away to find his
drunkard Uncle Tadpole, meet some Aussie hippies and return to his
Rosie, with glowering Father Benedictus chasing him like a cartoon
villain.
This story skips like a stone across a
pond, from point to point and song to song like many musicals do. The
songs and visuals dominate here, which is the point. If a musical
can't play with style and good humor, there's no reason to make
movies at all. Geoffrey Rush
gleefully anchors the cast of mostly newcomers. These kids are
charming and clean cut, but only the more established actors sparkle.
The
only other Australian musical I've ever seen is The Adventures of
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and this is just as colorful and
nearly as campy. The songs are playful, sometimes even racy, and
never stop the story, though even at 85 minutes it threatens to drag
in places. Also, the dancing is always frenetically edited and
tightly framed. It's never allowed to breathe. However, as someone
who usually avoids musicals, I found myself tapping my foot, humming
along, and thoroughly charmed by the time Brand New Day was over.
Audio & Video:
The video is crisp and gorgeous, and
might lead you to believe Australia is all electric, candy colors.
The red Australian clay and blue skies here skirt being blinding.
With a Widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1, Brand New Day must have
been overwhelming on the big screen. Meanwhile, the audio is a crisp
English 5.1 dts-HD. The music and singing are well-served, even if
you only listen through 2 speakers.
Special Features:
For a Blu-Ray, a lack of special
features is always a disgrace. The only extras included here are
subtitles in English and Spanish and some Trailers. A shame, as they
might make this package more appealing and accessible.
Conclusion:
Perhaps not for the little ones, but
teens, families and music-lovers should delight in Brand New Day.
It's colorful and playful, and even won over this reviewer, who
usually has no use for Musicals. Is it great, no? Is it painless,
light fun? Absolutely.
Overall Picture:
Movie: B
Video: A
Audio: A
Extras: D
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