I LOVE YOU TOO
Australia, 2010, 107 minutes, Colour.
Brendan Cowell, Peter Dinklager, Peter Helliar, Yvonne Strahovski, Bridie Carter, Steve Bisley, Nicholas Bell, Marshall Napier, John Flaus.
Directed by Daina Reid.
This is a film that might grow on you as it goes along. 'Grow' is a key word because the film, an Ocker romantic comedy, is about growth and the possibilities for maturing for thirty-something Australian men. In the opening scenes we realise that, offputtingly, they have a fair way to go.
However, Jim (a quite effective Brendan Cowell who can do both the lout and the would-be romantic) is attracted to Alice from London (Yvonne Strahovski) and they live together for over three years. She would like to marry him, but he can't find the courage to say 'I love you'. Jim has relied for too long on his older sister looking after him, lives in a granny flat at his deceased parents' home (he always says, 'bungalow', and has had a job for ten years driving a model train at a playground (run by Steve Bisley). And he has relied far too long on his wannabe womanising mate, Blake (Peter Hallier who portrays Blake believably and who also wrote the screenplay). What to do – especially when Alice gets a job offer in London?
By accident (literally, because he crashes his stolen car), he meets Charlie, a diminutive man (played very interestingly by Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent, both versions of Death at a Funeral)) who is mourning the death of his love and writes charming letters (not sent) to a glamorous Italian model. Charlie reluctantly begins to help Jim, especially with letters. There is quite some pathos in Charlie's story, especially when the model arrives in Australia to promote her book. And there are some Australian versions of screwball comedy as Jim tries to woo back Alice.
In many ways, it is a hit and miss comedy, with some amusing moments, some corny moments and some moving moments. Ultimately, it is pleasantly thoughtful.
1. Comedy, Australian ocker style?
2. The city, homes and bungalows, the clubs, workplaces, the streets and suburbs? Realism? Musical score?
3. The title, for Jim, for Alice, for the others?
4. The ironic style and humour, tongue-in-cheek, Australian realistic?
5. Jim and Blake at the clubs, the introduction to them, their characters, immaturity, drinking, eyeing the girls, the pickups, Jim and the women, Blake and his unattractiveness, their age, lack of commitment? Seeing Alice, Blake’s reaction, Jim’s reaction, chatting her up, the sexual encounter?
6. The change, three and a half years passing, Jim and Alice in a relationship, in love, living ordinary life, at home? Jim unable to say ‘I love you’? Alice and her being hurt, moving out, her flatmate, the decision to go to London, the offer of a job in her company? Her character? Jim’s love for her but inarticulate?
7. Jim and the effect, the challenge, his life, his parents and their accidental death, his sister looking after him, his sister and her husband, getting the husband from the pub for the scan? In the bungalow? His job, the model railways, his boss and his assistant? His anxieties?
8. Neglecting Blake, pursuing Alice, drinking?
9. Stealing the car, the encounter with Charlie, the letter, crashing the car, asking Charlie’s help, the possibilities?
10. Charlie in himself, his height, the death of his loved one, mourning her, writing the letter to Victoria, not sending it? His manner, gruff but kind? His photographic skills? Jim accompanying Charlie, the various situations, helping Jim write the letters, Jim throwing away the drafts? Charlie keeping them and showing them to Alice?
11. The crisis for Marie, the scan, her husband absent, his coming back after the argument in the pub, the birth of the child?
12. Alice and her plan, Blake seeing her, his change of heart, deciding to help Jim so that he would be a better friend? The nature of friendship? Meeting Alice’s flatmate and falling for her?
13. Charlie, Jim signing the letter with Victoria signing the books, talking with her? Charlie and the phone call, going to Victoria at the hotel, the photo, imagining his love? His collapse, going to the hospital, his death? Everyone at the funeral?
14. Jim’s plan, the car and its being stolen, his having to run? The taxi and the jokes about the drivers? The older taxi driver, the various devices for delaying Alice getting to the airport? The banner over the bridge?
15. Jim saying ‘I love you’, the happy ending, for Blake as well? His leaving his job – and his boss urging him to go and make a new life?
16. Jim and having to grow up – an image for Australian males?
