River Street Review

River Street

Director:

Starring: Aden Young, Bill Hunter, Tammy McIntosh, Joy Smithers, Essie Davis.

I find reviewing a mediocre movie to be the hardest task. For a movie that I hate, the vitriol just flows and when I love a movie, it's hard to contain the raves. River Street is in the mediocre category and, as such, it's hard to find much to say about it.

It would be hard to hate this movie. It is very earnest with solid acting performances. Its moral of looking for the good in everyone is quite a reasonable one and the settings are nicely presented: the exclusive side of Melbourne and a youth drop-in centre. The hero is a good looking young man, there are cute little kids, some street kids to give a bit of colour and a villain for everyone to hate.

The problem with this movie is that it ends up being a not very interesting story. We really don't get to know anyone very well, nor see why there are attractions between any of them. As far as I could tell, the romance happened because they were of the appropriate sex for one another and they were about the right age.

There was one scene that did raise a reaction from me when Sharon (Ms. Tammy McIntosh) slaps Ben (Mr. Aden Young). This is a stereotype that continues to be used in movies: when something bad happens to the heroine she expresses her displeasure by slapping the instigator of the bad. Apart from the specific problem of this particular character who runs a youth centre resorting to violence when something untoward happens, the whole idea of a woman slapping a man is demeaning to all concerned. (Of course, if it's in a movie where he slaps her right back then that's conveying a different message.)

The movie does look beautiful. The lush greenery surrounding the Yarra, the drop-in centre, even the Housing Commission flats are filled with colour and give the film real warmth. The music is moody and rich. Also in its favour is that fact that it's a low key, Australian movie, a nice change from the plethora of Hollywood, big budget, big name, action/special effects movies which have inundated our screens. I guess that all sums up as damning with faint praise.

Rating: P