Rebel Wilson's The Deb Faces Box Office Disaster Despite Enjoyable Charm
Rebel Wilson's directorial debut, The Deb, has opened to shockingly low box office numbers, with the film taking just $237 per screen in its second week. This dismal performance has dropped it from 15th to 20th place on the Australian box office charts, a return that rivals a local lemonade stand's earnings. The film is an adaptation of the stage musical of the same name and follows the story of a woke city slicker, played by Charlotte MacInnes, who is sent to a small country town where her cousin, portrayed by Natalie Abbott, resides.
A Fun but Flawed Addition to Australian Musical Cinema
Despite its financial failure, The Deb is described as a fun, frothy, and sassy musical that opens strongly with the rambunctious teen anthem Fuck My Life. It abides by the crucial musical dictum of starting with a bang before settling into its narrative. However, the production has been plagued by legal dramas, casting a doomed aura over its prospects. It is possible that the film might find a second life on streaming platforms, though this seems unlikely given its current trajectory.
The film's poor performance does little to inspire confidence in the Australian movie musical genre, which has a history more flops than hits. Previous examples include the partly Australia-funded Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, which was fabulous but tanked at the box office, and 2016's Emo: The Musical, which always had niche appeal.
The Elusive Great Australian Movie Musical
The Australian movie musical has existed for almost a century, starting with 1932's His Royal Highness, a dopey, revue-like crowd-pleaser about a man who dreams of becoming king. Yet, the country is still awaiting a truly great entry in this genre. While some might cite The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as a contender, it is not a musical in the traditional sense; characters perform musical numbers but do not express themselves through song as part of their lived reality.
Australia has an eclectic history in toe-tapping, tune-heavy films. The most financially successful is George Miller's animated Happy Feet, designed for international viewers and not feeling particularly Australian. Similarly, Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! is a gaudy spectacle that ranks second in success but lacks a distinct Australian flavor.
Notable Australian Musical Productions
Quality-wise, Gillian Armstrong's Starstruck stands out as a neon-drenched 80s classic about a teenage girl desperate to make it as a singer. It features a plucky spirit and banging tracks, such as Body and Soul, performed in a pub scene that captures pure movie magic. Another significant production is Rachel Perkins' One Night the Moon, which includes music co-written by Paul Kelly and explores themes of land and ownership through a poignant song, This Land Is Mine.
However, at 54 minutes, One Night the Moon is not a full-length feature. Other examples include 1965's Funny Things Happen Down Under, starring a young Olivia Newton-John, but it is far from greatness, playing like a low-rent Disney tax write-off. Perkins also directed the spritzy Bran Nue Dae, with uplifting numbers and a bright aesthetic, while The Pirate Movie found a second life on VHS despite poor box office returns.
The Future of Australian Movie Musicals
Time will tell if The Deb can pull off a similar revival on ancillary platforms. Yet, even if it does, the search for the great Australian movie musical continues. The genre remains a challenging landscape, with few hits amid many flops, leaving filmmakers and audiences alike wondering if a breakthrough is on the horizon.
