‘Audrey’ Is Guaranteed to Make You Squirm

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Every once in a while a comedy creates its own wacky universe.

Think “The Greasy Strangler” or “Napoleon Dynamite.”

As a cinephile, I must say that “Audrey” breaks the usual mold. Every actor seems to be following an entirely fresh, surreal script. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before!

The Australian comedy presents a daring and dark narrative, portraying a mother’s relentless determination to regain the limelight by any means necessary.

Anything.

Initially, the story starts off with an exciting and unique adventure, but soon loses momentum, resorting to excessive sexual content and questionable plot twists in an attempt to maintain audience interest.

Nothing doing.

Ronnie, played by Jackie van Beek, yearns to revive her acting past and simultaneously encourages her teen daughter to join the industry. However, the daughter, Audrey (Josephine Blazier), doesn’t share the same enthusiasm for a dramatic lifestyle as her mother.

Audrey had plans to travel to Nepal with her partner, but an unfortunate accident occurred where she fell from her house’s rooftop and slipped into a coma before they could depart.

Don’t ask.

It’s not feasible, Ronnie, as your girl has upcoming rehearsals. Consequently, she takes on the role of Audrey at her school instead.

In the meantime, Audrey’s father, Cormack (played by Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), performs odd jobs at a church that seems to be involved with spiritual material of a suggestive nature.

Don’t Ask, The Sequel.

In a surprising twist, Cormack develops feelings for one of the church’s prominent male figures, a situation that initially seems puzzling and becomes increasingly perplexing as the narrative unfolds.

As the narrative progresses, it seems to delve deeper into darkness, suggesting that the filmmakers may not have a clear idea about where they want to take their comedic tale. Is this perhaps a story revolving around a middle-aged mother who assumes the identity of her teenage daughter and the various humorous incidents that follow?

Yes and no.

Is this a dark tale of a stage mom on steroids? Sure, but not really.

Is it a depiction of a troubled marriage? Indeed, but primarily to include explicit sexual content which lacks humor or interest.

We’re left with that coal-black tone, too few laughs and a narrative that keeps pushing us away.

In the show, there are moments where laughter occurs, yet they don’t seem sufficient given the wildly imaginative setting. The family’s other daughter, who lives with cerebral palsy, is granted a wide range of emotions that not all actors with physical challenges typically get to express.

That’s a plus, and actress Hannah Diviney quietly steals a few scenes.

A hidden truth about the movie is that things improve significantly when Audrey isn’t around. This concept is intriguing, but screenwriter Lou Sanz often strays from this central idea, focusing on other plotlines instead.

In smaller settings, performances can be more impactful, much like Ronnie’s acting classes where he learns under a teacher who, in her unique manner, is just as eccentric as her prominent student.

In the role of Ronnie, Van Beek shines brightly with an insatiable hunger for stardom. Yet, her character’s journey might have taken a comically unpredictable turn. However, surprisingly, she becomes embroiled in a struggle to save her marriage in a remarkably traditional manner.

As a film enthusiast, I found that the third act brought the movie’s frenetic pace to an abrupt halt, leaving me pondering about the potential greatness that could have been achieved with the enigmatic character of “Audrey.

HiT or Miss: “Audrey” is so promising that the film’s eventual imposion is all the more painful.

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2025-04-02 22:03