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.
