Strange Bedfellows is a 2004 Australian film directed by Dean Murphy and starring Paul Hogan and Michael Caton as heterosexual men who pass themselves off as a gay couple in order to get financial benefits from the government. A stage musical based on the film ran at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne.
In the small Australian town of Yackandandah, Vince owns the local cinema and several other businesses, and is having trouble paying his taxes because his ex-wife got everything. The news of a new tax benefit for homosexual couples gives Vince an idea: he and best friend Ralph, a mechanic, can claim to be a couple and receive the benefits. Two complications develop: because of a careless mail delivery person, the postmaster sees their application for benefits and tells one person, and soon the whole town knows. Also, the national government is sending an investigator to make sure the men's relationship is legitimate.
Vince and Ralph take lessons in passing as gay from hairdresser Eric. They also visit Sydney and spend time at a gay club.
Russell, the investigator, shows up early, and so does Ralph's daughter Carla, who wants to introduce Peta, her girlfriend. It turns out that while Ralph is not gay, Carla is. Ralph and Vince redecorate Ralph's house and complete their interview, and they attend the local Fireman's Ball. Since Russell is there, Ralph and Vince have to continue their charade. Also, their friends from Sydney's gay club show up. Ralph makes a big speech about how his relationship with Vince is no one's business, and that their friends from out of town are normal people despite how they look. Carla is shocked by what her father has done, though Peta is pleased to learn about Ralph.
Russell tells the men he was not convinced in the interview, but he believes they are good people with a special relationship and should not be treated like criminals.
A very similar plot was later used in the American film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007), generating accusations that Chuck and Larry was a clone of Strange Bedfellows.[1][2][3] In November 2007 the producers of Strange Bedfellows initiated legal action against Universal Pictures for copyright violation.[4] The suit was withdrawn in April 2008 after the producers of Strange Bedfellows received an early draft of Chuck and Larry that predated their film, thus satisfying that they had not been plagiarised.[5]
Reception
Box office
Strange Bedfellows grossed $4,816,495 at the box office in Australia, which represented over 40% of the entire box office for Australian films for 2004. The film was awarded the Film Finance Corporation Australia IF Award for Box Office Achievement.[6]
Critical response
The Sydney Morning Herald took a negative view of the film, concluding that "[Paul] Hogan's "ordinary bloke" humour was originally based on the fact that he once was one. He still plays the same character, but with less and less conviction."[7]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film has a score of 80% based on 5 reviews, with a 6.7/10 average rating.[8]
References
^Morris, Tosia. "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry". Retrieved 23 May 2010.
^Sampson, Mike (18 July 2007). "Chuck & Larry a ripoff?". JoBlo.com. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
^"Retro Review: I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry". Stale Popcorn. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
^Maddox, Garry (24 November 2007). "Filmmakers take on Hollywood over comedy 'copy'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
^"Strange fluke, not plagiarism - Film - Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
strange, bedfellows, 2004, film, strange, bedfellows, 2004, australian, film, directed, dean, murphy, starring, paul, hogan, michael, caton, heterosexual, pass, themselves, couple, order, financial, benefits, from, government, stage, musical, based, film, prin. Strange Bedfellows is a 2004 Australian film directed by Dean Murphy and starring Paul Hogan and Michael Caton as heterosexual men who pass themselves off as a gay couple in order to get financial benefits from the government A stage musical based on the film ran at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne Strange BedfellowsDirected byDean MurphyWritten byStewart Faichney Dean MurphyProduced byThomas AugsbergerStarringPaul Hogan Michael CatonCinematographyRoger Lanser Sean McCloryEdited byPeter CarrodusMusic byDale CorneliusRelease date22 April 2004 2004 04 22 Running time100 minutesCountryAustraliaLanguageEnglishBox office 3 481 387 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Alleged plagiarism 4 Reception 4 1 Box office 4 2 Critical response 5 References 6 External linksPlot EditIn the small Australian town of Yackandandah Vince owns the local cinema and several other businesses and is having trouble paying his taxes because his ex wife got everything The news of a new tax benefit for homosexual couples gives Vince an idea he and best friend Ralph a mechanic can claim to be a couple and receive the benefits Two complications develop because of a careless mail delivery person the postmaster sees their application for benefits and tells one person and soon the whole town knows Also the national government is sending an investigator to make sure the men s relationship is legitimate Vince and Ralph take lessons in passing as gay from hairdresser Eric They also visit Sydney and spend time at a gay club Russell the investigator shows up early and so does Ralph s daughter Carla who wants to introduce Peta her girlfriend It turns out that while Ralph is not gay Carla is Ralph and Vince redecorate Ralph s house and complete their interview and they attend the local Fireman s Ball Since Russell is there Ralph and Vince have to continue their charade Also their friends from Sydney s gay club show up Ralph makes a big speech about how his relationship with Vince is no one s business and that their friends from out of town are normal people despite how they look Carla is shocked by what her father has done though Peta is pleased to learn about Ralph Russell tells the men he was not convinced in the interview but he believes they are good people with a special relationship and should not be treated like criminals Cast EditPaul Hogan Vince Hopgood Michael Caton Ralph Williams Alan Cassell Stan Rogers Andy Pappas Post Van Driver Paula Duncan Yvonne Philpot Roy Billing Fred Coulson Jamie Robertson Carbo Kevin Dee Hughie Stewart Faichney Sergeant Jack Jenkins Simon Paton Red Pete Postlethwaite Russell McKenzie Shane Withington Father Xavier Delaney Monica Maughan Faith Jenny Dale Local Lady Kestie Morassi Carla Ashley Evans Porn Site BoyAlleged plagiarism EditA very similar plot was later used in the American film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 2007 generating accusations that Chuck and Larry was a clone of Strange Bedfellows 1 2 3 In November 2007 the producers of Strange Bedfellows initiated legal action against Universal Pictures for copyright violation 4 The suit was withdrawn in April 2008 after the producers of Strange Bedfellows received an early draft of Chuck and Larry that predated their film thus satisfying that they had not been plagiarised 5 Reception EditBox office Edit Strange Bedfellows grossed 4 816 495 at the box office in Australia which represented over 40 of the entire box office for Australian films for 2004 The film was awarded the Film Finance Corporation Australia IF Award for Box Office Achievement 6 Critical response Edit The Sydney Morning Herald took a negative view of the film concluding that Paul Hogan s ordinary bloke humour was originally based on the fact that he once was one He still plays the same character but with less and less conviction 7 On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film has a score of 80 based on 5 reviews with a 6 7 10 average rating 8 References Edit Morris Tosia I Now Pronounce You Chuck amp Larry Retrieved 23 May 2010 Sampson Mike 18 July 2007 Chuck amp Larry a ripoff JoBlo com Retrieved 23 May 2010 Retro Review I Now Pronounce You Chuck amp Larry Stale Popcorn Archived from the original on 12 September 2012 Retrieved 23 May 2010 Maddox Garry 24 November 2007 Filmmakers take on Hollywood over comedy copy The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 23 May 2010 Strange fluke not plagiarism Film Entertainment The Sydney Morning Herald 6 April 2008 Retrieved 25 March 2011 Film Victoria Australian Films at the Australian Box Office PDF Archived from the original PDF on 23 July 2011 Retrieved 23 November 2010 Byrnes Paul 22 April 2004 Strange Bedfellows The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 23 May 2010 Strange Bedfellows 2004 Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved 23 May 2010 External links EditStrange Bedfellows at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Strange Bedfellows 2004 film amp oldid 1114409501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
