I just finished watching Queerstralia , which is a three-part documentary about the hidden history of LGBTQIA+ people in Australia. It’s hosted by a comedian named Zoe Coombs Marr. To be honest, I didn't know who she was before this, so it took me a little while to get used to her specific style of joking around. The show covers a huge amount of time, starting from when Australia was a prison colony for the British all the way to famous movies like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert . It looks at how being gay was treated as a crime, the stories of trans pioneers, and even "bushrangers" (outlaws) who dressed in clothes of the opposite sex. It also goes into the history of the Mardi Gras festival, drag culture, and how gay marriage finally became legal there. The host starts the show by jokingly saying, "I’m a comedian, I’m not qualified," which tells you right away it's not going to be a stiff or boring history lesson. Over three episodes that are an hour long...
Mario, a writer, lives in Porto Alegre with his boyfriend Fernando. He comes from a very conservative family, who think he is out doing his MBA. When he decides to visit home, he makes up his mind to come clean to his very conservative father. He confides in his brother of his plans. But to his shock, his brother steals Mario's limelight by coming out first at family lunch table, taking everyone by surprise. The father gets upset and kicks him out. Enter Ana, a consultant who was hired by Mario's brother to help the family's beer company. Oddly, Mario finds himself getting very attracted to Ana and end sup sleeping with her. When he is back home, he finds Fernando, his boyfriend has showed up as his friend and so have some other gays form his troupe, trying to figure out what has happened. When Fernando finds out the truth about Ana and Mario, he is upset and ends up sleeping with another guy. Its inly later he finds out that the person is none other than Mario's brother. Mario is super confused as to why he is falling for both Ana and still in love with Fernando. Meanwhile the brother starts falling for Fernando. Its a big mess, while the whole troupe prepare for a big beer launch party of a new gay pink beer.
The opening dance number kicks of the film to a festive and fun beginning. Mario's character is supposed to be this confused, goofy guy who is clearly very gay but also finds himself very attractive to this one very bossy girl. Somehow, as an actor I felt that Mario really couldn't portray everything that he was supposed to. Fernando was pretty good. Vincent, Mario's brother was alright but his part of the story is never really fully explored and is very half baked. The real fun begins when the gay friends show up this house pretending to be straight and the various hilarious incidents that follow. In fact, his father even starts falling for the drag queen. There is never an explanation given to reasons behind the father's hatred for gay even thought his niece keeps saying this is 21st century. I am glad that this was not a drama because somehow that would have not fit very well. Overall the film keeps you entertained with some mindless but fun comedy, which just takes a while to fully bloom. I wasn't bored but I wasn't laughing my ass off either. Somehow I expected a bit more once I realized where this film is headed. It's a decent watch. (5.5/10)
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