Review: Top End Wedding

Posted on 3 May, 2019

Lauren and Ned are engaged, they are in love, and they have just ten days to find Lauren’s mother who has gone AWOL somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, reunite her parents and pull off their dream wedding. IMDb

‘Hold on to ya munchies, it’s about to get crunchy!’ – Lauren’s fabulous relative (I can’t say exactly who because, spoilers).

Actually, it’s about to get comfy – barring dirt roads. This delicious confection of a movie follows every convention of a Hollywood romantic comedy, including very attractive lead players (Miranda Tapsell and Gwilym Lee), a desperate quest, loyal but flaky friends, an end of the second act disaster and a ‘happily ever after’ by the time the lights go up. There is even a cute dog.

But…it’s ours. It’s our First Nations, our accent, our Top End, our actors (mostly) and our story. Even the map the tiny plane flies over to show their journey from Adelaide to Darwin is the map of Indigenous Australia familiar to most of us.

‘Our’ girl too – Tapsell is the cutest, most refreshing actor around. Sorry about the ‘cute’ – speaking as a vertically challenged woman, I suspect she hates it. Incidentally, she also co-wrote the script and chased the backers needed to get this made. Her sense of comedy is well-honed and the physical difference between her height and Lee’s adds to the fun, especially as there is never any doubt as to who is in charge (and it isn’t him). To use another analogy that I suspect she may dislike – she is a pocket rocket.

The film is a love letter to NT. The scenery is absolutely stunning, the friendly, relaxed mob that live there feel like family. The characters, however little time they have onscreen, are great fun. Even the director, Wayne Blair, makes a cameo in a tow truck. There is a real sense that a good time was had by all.

It’s also a showcase for the gorgeous fabrics and designs of the Tiwi Islands – where can I buy a metre or twelve? There is pride throughout the whole production, without apology or a slogan; just life, lived as it should be. Some dialogue and song is in language – and the whole soundtrack is just deadly!

It’s all great fun, but what really makes this special is the sub-plot of Lauren’s mum, Daphne, and her past. She left the Tiwi Islands to elope and has never been back. Through her yearning, the audience shares her sense of loss, which makes the ending so much sweeter.

Simple, loving, entertaining and good fun, I enjoyed every minute.

Ros saw this film as a guest of Limelight Cinemas Tuggeranong.

Feature image: Facebook