What The Critics Say

"Darhlings, I must tell you the news. I've just seen that dishie new comedy "Strange Bedfellows", and can I tell you, Paul Hogan in a short pants suit? Yummy! Michael Caton in rear view leather bum huggers? Oooh, I nearly died! These two are so delicious I could just ...; well I wish I just....; bugger me, it's so deliriously queer darhlings, for once I'm lost for words. And that Glynn Nicholas? He's one naughty little boy I'd like to get my hands on. A quick whisper. "Strange Bedfellows" is wildly gay and oh so wicked I came out of the theatre all hot and bothered. Now don't you go missing it sweetie." Frederick Munchemhoff THE GAY INVESTIGATOR "A charming surprise! A really funny and emotionally involving movie, that had the entire audience (and I mean everyone in the theatre) laughing. In fact it's the most positive audience response I've encountered since Something About Mary." Lisa McQ OUR BRISBANE

“A gentle comedy about mateship, Strange Bedfellows relies on its key casting of Paul Hogan and Michael Caton to squeeze every drop of goodwill and humour from its premise of two men pretending to be gay." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "Strewth! What's happening to our film industry? After a run of film bummers their now trying to have us believe Paul Hogan and Michael Caton are a couple of bum buddies in their latest comedy "Strange Bedfellows". Strange but true. These iconic comedians, who are normally straight as a die, play a couple of wanna-be poofs who are trying to rip off the taxation department. Some may see it as an afront to the gay community, but I have to admit it was funny even if it left me feeling a little queer all over. Not bloody bad, but don't go with your mates. Take your sister or someone may start a rumour." Marty King THE MOVIE PAGES

At A Glance After a period out of the limelight aussie icon and former Sydney Harbour Bridge worker turned comedian Paul Hogan is back on the big screen again, teaming up with another aussie icon, Michael Caton, in the Dean Murphy film, "Strange Bedfellows". Set in the very real, northern Victorian, National Trust classified town of Yakandandah the theme for this film is one red bloodied Australian will take an immediate shine to; riping off the taxation department. The big twist in "Strange Bedfellows" is that Hogan and Caton play two mates, Vince Hopgood and Ralph Williams, who must to pretend to be a couple of 'poofs' in order for Vince to dodge paying back taxes which will financially ruin him. It's a great exploitation of the 'good old aussie mate' theme taken to the most extreme degree. Two straight guys going gay because of they are mates in the true sense of the word. I know it's a mouthfull but it's not hard to swallow, is it? Well here's another true story.
Directed Dean Murphy once shared a flat with his friend Rob in West Hollywood, a well-known gay district in LA. One day a female tenant spotted him on his own and asked him where his 'other' half was. The tenant obviously thought Rob and Dean were 'a couple'. A couple of years later at Rob's wedding, Dean told his wife Sally the story. She suggested it " would make a great premise for a film." Dean worked on the idea and then came up with something right out of left field. He told Sally, "Imagine if it was my dad and your dad [two very straight farmers] in that situation. Can you imagine how they would be if people thought they were gay"? And that readers was the birth of Dean Murphy's film "Strange Bedfellows". A film with a theme only a cunningly wicked aussie mind could dream up. Next Dean put the idea to Nigel Odell, Shana Levine & David Redman at Instinct Entertainment. They'd all worked together on previous productions of the films "Muggers" and "Til Human Voices Wake Us". The idea of the film fitted into the focus their production company had to "develop a comedy that wasn’t teen focused." They took the idea to Cannes. The idea for the film received a good reception. It was enthusiasticaly felt that with the right cast it would fit the international marketplace. Murphy then enlisted the talents of Stewart Faichney and the two set about writing the script. The basis for the two lead characters were Deans father [for Ralph] and a local from the town of Kergunyah [for Vince]. Dean chose Yakandandah because it had, as he says, "a personal connection. Yackandandah were (our) rivals at football and everything else and I used to hate the kids from Yack…they were always so much taller than we were; but I actually like the people (from there) now," he explained. "It’s such a charming little town, it made perfect sense to shoot there." And, he makes no secret about what some of his work is based on. So what is It he is revealing? The fact is, he based some of his work on time spent in West Hollywood. "As a young man of 21 he left Australia for the bright lights of LA and found himself in a West Hollywood share house of about 9 people, 7 of whom were gay. It was an eye opener for a country boy away for the first time from his dairy farm home and suddenly in a big city." Dean says he, "occasionally found himself hanging out in gay bars with his housemates who found it ‘hilarious they had this naïve and very straight country boy’ in tow." Both writers wanted that tone for their film and that can be seen in both lead characters in the beginning of the film. They point out that they wanted the film to be charming and heartfelt in a believable way. "It’s not that they’re homophobic it’s just that they don’t know anything about gay life", they said. It would be two years before they got the script right. With funding secure, the production team set their sights on their first goal. They wanted Paul Hogan in the film. They sent the script to his management in LA. Hogan admits that he was surprised by his managements enthusiasm for the script saying, "Usually they don’t get this excited about anything." Then he read the script. "It’s the funniest script I’ve ever had sent to me", he said. Adding "All I have to do is enjoy it and add a bit if I can." Within a week Hogan was on the team. Next on the wishlist was Michael Caton. He too was "impressed with the screenplay’s comic skill and character development and quickly committed." Now all they needed was their Russell from the Taxation Department. Top of the list was highly accomplished British stage and screen star Peter Postlethwaite. According to the rumour mill, he was heading for Australia with his one man show Scaramouche Jones. Once he saw the script, they had their answer. Again, within a week, another star was on board. Murphy should have been delighted but admits he was nervous. Who wouldn't be with three great stars in the lead. He had some concerns, having "heard that Paul ‘has very strong ideas’ about his work and ‘so does Michael’ and then he read an article about Pete Postlethwaite in which Steven Spielberg described him ‘as the greatest actor in the world; you have to be on top of your game to direct him." Poor Dean, he needn't have worried. "In the end it couldn’t have been better. They all got along and bounced off each other." Even Paul Hogan was amazed. "I kept waiting for the turd to turn up. There’s always one." Not this time. Perhaps it was the charming rural town of "Yackandandah itself and its people, the setting of the film and the central location for seven weeks shooting." According to producer Nigel Odell says, "It was cold and hard but ultimately people loved being up there". That shows in the crisp finish the film has about it. It's a real charmer. A delightful little comedy that audiences will surely warm too. Cast and Crew Bytes "Strange Bedfellows" was .................
Directed by Dean Murphy ["Lex and Rory", "Muggers" and "Just Cruising"], co-written by Stewart Faichney ["Last Of The Nucklemen", "Snapshot" and "Muggers"] and Dean Murphy, produced by Nigel Odell & David Redman ["Lex and Rory", "Muggers", "Just Cruising", "Till Human Voices Wake Us" and "Takeaway"] with cinematography under the direction of Roger Lanser ACS ["Swan Song", "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Peter's Friends"].
"Strange Bedfellows" stars .................
Paul Hogan ["Crocodile Dundee I, II & III" and "Lightning Jack"], Michael Caton ["Last Of The Nucklemen", "Monkey Grip", "The Castle" and "The Animal"], Peter Postlethwaite ["Brassed Off", "The Shipping News" and "Amistad"], stage star Glynn Nicholas ["Kissing Frogs", "The Pirates of Penzance" and "Certified Male"], Monica Maughan ["Road To Nhil", "Golden Braid" and "Crackerjack"], Shane Withington ["A Country Practice"], Roy Billing ["Rabbit Proof Fence", "Thunderstruck" and "The Dish"], Alan Cassell ["Breaker Morant", "Puberty Blues", "The Honourable Wally Norman"], Kestie Morassi ["Dirty Deeds"] and the star of televisions "Cop Shop", "Number 96" and "Young Doctors, Paula Duncan ["Jenny Kissed Me"] as Yvonne Philpot.
The Story Vince Hopgood is in trouble. Big trouble. It seems that all the papers he signed for his wifes accountant weren't all ridgey didge. Now happily divorced and living in Yakandandah, Vince gets the bad news that a new ruling by the Taxation Department, disallowing a tax benefit on is 'companies' means he's liable for all the back taxes. He's resigned to being broke until he spots an article in the newspaper telling how gay couples have just been given equal rights. Even better, if they can prove their case to the Taxation Department they'll get an exemption going back five years on all taxes. First Vince has to convince best mate Ralph that they can pull it off. Then the next step. They have a week to learn to be gay. Thats when the Taxation Department will send an officer to investigate their gay claim. Vince is convinced they can do it. Ralph isn't too sure. Then the Postmistress discovers a letter has been damaged in delivery. While attempting to fix it she notes it's addressed to Vince and Ralph. It's a reply to their claim. The boys are outed. It seems everyone in the town now knows their gay. It's too late to turn back. The guys are committed to their plan. It's full steam ahead in the hope that all will be right on interview day. The Verdict "A light-hearted typical aussie comedy that relies on charm, setting and two stars to succeed. "Strange Bedfellows" is filled with recognizable face and none more so than Paul Hogan and Michael Caton. These two make an excellent pairing. Take this tip. Don't go looking for a big all out laugh-athon folks, because if you do, you'll be terribly disappointed. Well worth supporting." The Cast

Paul Hogan Michael Caton Pete Postlethwaite Glynn Nicholas Roy Billing Alan Cassell Shane Withington Paula Duncan Monica Maughan Kestie Morassi Stewart Faichney Kevin Dee Jamie Robertson Lucy Rechnitzer Simon Paton Rob Carlton Amanda Monroe Gary Down Chris Kirby Michael Carman Tim Hughes Tayler Kane Kentaro Hara Jim Wilshire Mark Murphy Tracy Bartram Myles Collins Scott Andrews Clay Dunn Jon Stephens Andy Pappas Robin Bisset Sally Plant Bill Plant

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Vince Hopgood Ralph Williams Russell McKenzie Eric Fred Coulston Stan Rogers Father Xavier Delaney Yvonne Philpot Faith Carla Sergeant Jack Jenkins Hughie Carbo Peta Red Monique Amanda Sales Assistant Tim Jon Neil Anthony Sam Singer of the Band Barman Bouncer #1 Justin DJ Passing Guy Vince Lookalike Young Post Van Driver Mrs Thomas Deb Farmer

The Crew Directed by Dean Murphy Produced by Nigel Odell & David Redman Executive Producers Shana Levine/Dean Murphy/Thomas Augsberger Written by Dean Murphy & Stewart Faichney Director of Photography Roger Lanser ACS Casting by Stewart Faichney Sound Recordist John Wilkinson Composer Dale Cornelius Film Editor Peter Carrodus Production Designer Ralph Moser Costume Designer Jeanie Cameron Art Director Kate Saunders First Assistant Director Richard McGrath Production Manager Amanda Crittenden Run Time 96 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2004 - Becker Entertainment - All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2004 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved