Rent Swinging Safari (2018)

Unfunny waste of talent - Swinging Safari review by AER

Swinging Safari is an unfunny madcap comedy with some great actors in. Stephan Elliott (A FEW BEST MEN / QUEEN PRISCILLA / FRAUDS) is a wildly inconsistent director who has made a string of nutty, commercial movies for nearly 30 years and this is pretty much the worst yet. Guy Pearce heads an ensemble of wooden child actors who have to carry much of the weight. With better performances, a less frantic pace and a funnier script this could have been pretty good but it has nothing to recommend it. Everybody in the adult cast is capable of way better things.

Set in the 1970s three families who live on the same street have an orgy (the adults) whilst the kids attempt to make a homemade sequel to Jaws when a dead whale washes up at the local beach. I got about 30 minutes in and gave up. I love Australian cinema but sometimes you will find a film that's a 'bit much'. It's bold, loud, shouty and unfunny - I won't say the obvious.

There are heaps of great Australian films that remain unreleased in the UK, how the *(&$ did Swinging Safari make it out?!?

Scattergun attempt at comedy, that rarely hits the target - Swinging Safari review by Sandy

Can't fault the actors in this. They know this is a comedy and do a decent job at trying to provide larger than life comic characters. The film is part memoir, part coming of age drama and comedy. It does have its funny moments - particularly the deathcheaters skits, but there are more misses in this than hits. The coming of age part seems tacked on, and slows the action down as we have to have some explanation - which probably isn't all that necessary It's difficult as I'm sure this is someone's first movie, and folk have got to learn somehow. There are moments of slapstick and comedy that will make you laugh, but there's funnier movies out there. If you want coming of age comedy, then Cemetary Junction is much better, as it Strictly Ballroom and Muriel's Wedding. That said, there is some talent behind this movie, and I hope they learn from their mistakes and do better - so we can see more of their work in the future.

Aussie Coming-of-Age Comedy - Swinging Safari review by GI

A brilliantly sly, clever and a bit crazy coming-of-age film from Australia set in the mid 70s in a small seaside town of Nobby's Beach. In one cul-de-sac live three families, ostensibly all friends and neighbours, but where the antics of the parents attracts the attention of their children. It's a film about the delayed effect of the sexual revolution on a group of daft adults who are behind the times. The story is told through the eyes of one of the children, Jeff (Atticus Rob), a budding filmmaker who captures the parents attempts at 'swinging', their silly parties and their efforts to become 'modern'. The arrival of a washed up dead whale on the local beach brings everyone together in some hilarious scenes that will have you laughing out loud. The entire film is a dig at Aussie stereotypes and whilst it's subtle and mad at the same time it also reveals a sadness in the unfulfilled lives of the generation on display. Guy Pearce and Kylie Minogue play one of the couples (Kylie as an alcoholic agoraphobic is just bonkers and her role is sadly underwritten) and the film takes tiny things like a beach umbrella and lets them loose in some crazy scenes. If you want a good chuckle then this is a comedy film that is daft and clever rolled in one and will have you entertained.