 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Strange Bedfellows
Directed by Dean Murphy
 Hoges and Michael Caton try to con us into believing they're a couple of old queens.
What do you do if the taxman is after you for a large amount of lolly? Declare yourself bankrupt? Hardly! How about declaring to the whole world that you're gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that of course, unless you're doing it just to exploit a new tax law. Which is the not-so-brilliant idea that financially desperate Vince Hopgood (Paul Hogan) comes up with when his ex-wife's' dodgy investments have the tax department breathing down his neck.
He takes a lot of convincing but eventually Vince's best mate Ralph (Michael Caton) agrees to be Vince's "spouse". On one condition. No one else in their little Victorian town of Yackandandah finds out about their partnership. Fat chance! Soon the cat's out of the bag and the whole town is gossiping about the odd couple. Could it be true? And it's their poker buddies and fellow volunteer firemen who take the news the hardest. After all, they used to go camping with Vince and Ralph! Not that there's anything wrong with that of course, but they did all sleep in the same tent together. Scary!
If that's not bad enough Vince and Ralph receive a letter informing them that a tax inspector (played by Pete Postlethwaite) is on his way to check out their claim and determine whether they are a legitimate couple.
Yikes! Now the pressure's on! Can the boys pull it off and fool everyone into believing they're a couple of old queens or will they just look like a pair of prize idiots. You be the judge.
Hoges proves once again why he's never won any awards for his acting but Michael Caton is terrific, as is Pete Postlethwaite. The rest of the Aussie cast, with the exception of Glynn Nicholas whose character Eric the poofy hairdresser is just plain embarrassing, are also great.
Strange Bedfellows won't have you wetting your pants and you may find yourself cringing during a few scenes, but if you're in the mood for a gentle, feel good comedy with a dinky di Aussie flavor then check it out.
Boyfriend's comment: Wake me up when something funny happens.
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