Everyone experiences moments in their lives in which escape seems like the best option. You could jump in the car, hop on a plane, or just start walking and never look back. This is, of course, impractical and that is why we don’t do it. We escape in our daydreams or briefly on holidays or we escape by reading books or watching movies. Danny Deckchair is one such escape. Danny wants a holiday…needs a holiday…and just can’t wait to get away. He works a menial job and lives with a woman who no longer really loves him and when his planned holiday is ruined by the deceit of said woman he decides to rise above it all and escape, literally. With the help of friends he ties several large helium filled balloons to his deck chair and soars off into the great unknown. His return to earth lands him in the backyard of an eccentric traffic cop in a small town where he begins to live and breathe anew.
Danny Deckchair is a quirky romantic comedy from Down Under. Romantic comedies have been around as long as movies have been around and the formulas and cliches have remained largely unchanged. Personally that is what I love about romantic comedies. The reason that they continue to be successful is that people enjoy these fairytale escapes. There really is something to be said for a feel good movie. I say all that to say that Danny Deckchair is not a groundbreaking film. It is simply a film that makes you smile and feel good and in the end makes you think about the simple pleasures of life and encourages you to enjoy those around you. While not being a groundbreaking film there are some wonderful film techniques used on occasion and the films’ color is fantastic. The small town is also very idyllic and relaxingly beautiful.
The cast of largely unknown actors/actresses is really very good. Rhys Ifans plays the role of Danny Morgan and is a splendid actor. He does a great job from the very beginning of making you feel comfortable with and compassionate towards this very simple man. A man for whom pancake breakfasts and camping in a tent are nirvana.
Miranda Otto, fresh from Lord of the Rings stardom, assumes the role of town loner Glenda Lake in whose backyard Danny arrives. Australia continues to produce lovely and talented actresses and Miranda Otto is quickly moving up on my list of favorites. She is another of those actresses who appears very natural and normal which is very appealing.
The romance that blossoms between the 2 main characters is really fun to watch as is the way this nosy small town takes to the arrival of a stranger in their midst. The rest of the cast of small town folk is just wonderful and they make me nostalgic for my own small town upbringing.
There are parts of this movie that remind me of the Frank Capra movies of old. If you enjoy simple romantic comedies I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with Danny Deckchair.
You can watch a trailer for the movie here.
Neato, this looks like a great little movie. Miranda Otto is a righteous babe. She has that elvish chick beat bigtime!
Rhys extremely funny in a Charlie Kaufman movie called Human Nature. Very very bizarre but fun!
I’ve seen it in the video store a few times but walked on by.
I love a bit of simple smile-inducing escapism so I’m going to give it try. Thanks.
I didn’t click that it was Rhys Ifans either. Had I done so I would have watched much sooner.
Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes Carl. And … I happened to read the story of you saving you mother from that horrid bug. HA!
It looks like I have found another journal to read!
Thanks again. 🙂
You’re welcome Suzanna Danna! Glad you enjoyed my entomological adventures!
Is that what you wanted fixed, Rob? And yes she is.
This is the first thing I remember seeing Rhys in (although now that I think of it I believe he was in the Replacements) and I really liked him, he was great!
From his profile he looks like the roomate of Hugh Grant in Notting Hill, but I’m probably just losing it.
No, that was him. I saw on his filmography that he was in Notting Hill (another movie I haven’t seen but have been told that I need to see).
Looks cute and fun!!! Is it in theatres or did you get it on video? I haven’t a clue what’s playing at the theatre.
Julie, we got it on Netflix.
He was the funniest thing about Notting Hill – and it wasn’t a bad movie, either.
I really enjoyed Danny Deckchair. Yes, he was in Notting Hill; I had forgotten that. I liked his character in that movie also.
looks like a bit of rainy day fun!
what’s weird is that Rhys seems to have been in the strangest places – like hearing lots of songs and not realizing they’re all from the same band – he was in a cute irish movie called Dancing at Lughnasa
I’ll have to check that out Mysfit, I love Irish stuff in general…would love to visit there.
Last night I was watching the ‘making of’ portion of the DVD and Rhys, in describing his character, said “He lands in a small town where there is a group of people who have the same heartbeat as he does” or something to that effect and I thought it was a really neat quote that really did sum up why the character fit in so well with the townfolk.
I adore Rhys! Great review again – you’re really good at these!
That was a big draw for me to continue blogging was to be able to point people to movies that they may not generally find on their own but were definitely worth seeing.
i dig miranda otto.
she’s lovely & has a kick-ass name.
That she is….and that she does!