Titled after the actual outback Victorian town where the story takes place, this Australian comedy circles around a British reporter who gets more than he bargained for when sent to Dimboola to write an article on small town life. His visits coincides with a couple of young locals getting married and between a hen's night (that he manages to attend by dressing in drag), a buck's party (where the groom gets it on with a stripper) and the wedding itself, the reporter finds a lot to write about as things hardly go smoothly or to plan. The film frequently feels like it is bursting with energy as all concerned really get into their characters. The humour is, however, very much of the hit-and-miss variety with pratfalls, drunkenness and the whole drag act worth little more than a roll of the eyes. There are, however, some greater subtler comedic moments too, such a reverend who cannot help but look when a teenager at the wedding reception lifts her dress up revealingly high to tap out a dance. The film's best gag though never feels like it is used for all it is worth as the groom's parents begin to suspect that he might actually be blood related to the bride. It is curious to learn that the play upon which the film was based never featured the reporter character in the first place as he is actually quite pivotal to the storyline here. Whereas without him, 'Dimboola' would just be a film about a kooky outskirts town, with him, it is about the townsfolk being unable to adopt the guise of "normal... dead normal" town and the reporter coming to still like the town and its denizens all the same.
6 Reviews
More like - DUMBoola
dallas_nyberg19 May 2010
I originally read this story as a novel and I liked the brash humor of it.. The movie, however, is an embarrassment to the Aussie film culture. Everyone tries too hard for laughs and the gags flop like a fish out of water. The production standards are pitiful... it looks like the movie was made for a $1000 and they had change left over. There are some good Aussie actors in this and they must now look on this dud and cringe. On the DVD version there is included a stage version of the story... it's actually more watchable than the movie....... This nightmare belongs in a Melbourne fringe art show.... which is pretty much near where it originated. yuk!
Mind-numbingly bad
gregorytodd200110 August 2012
There are so many reasons to leave this movie in the local video store discount bin where it belongs. Over-acting. Lit like a cheap 70's soap. Poorly-composed shooting. Awful sound. Cut like the editor didn't care.
It looks like something first-year film-school students would make on borrowed equipment for about $5K. Some have found it difficult to believe that it cost more than a third of a million dollars to make this dreck. I find it difficult to believe anyone would want their name associated with it. It should be Alan Smithee all round -cast and crew. I would be embarrassed to be in it. Heck, I was embarrassed just to be watching it.
Lest you think I'm being too harsh, and it was a "film of it's time, this thing was released in 1979. That's the same year as Mad Max. As Life of Brian, Kramer v Kramer, 10, The Empire Strikes Back, and Alien.
Dimboola is a mediocre film of modest ambition. It sets the bar very low, and then totally fails to clear it.
It looks like something first-year film-school students would make on borrowed equipment for about $5K. Some have found it difficult to believe that it cost more than a third of a million dollars to make this dreck. I find it difficult to believe anyone would want their name associated with it. It should be Alan Smithee all round -cast and crew. I would be embarrassed to be in it. Heck, I was embarrassed just to be watching it.
Lest you think I'm being too harsh, and it was a "film of it's time, this thing was released in 1979. That's the same year as Mad Max. As Life of Brian, Kramer v Kramer, 10, The Empire Strikes Back, and Alien.
Dimboola is a mediocre film of modest ambition. It sets the bar very low, and then totally fails to clear it.
An absolute pearler
bazza_mckenzie028 October 2004
A great film a little ripper Bruce Spence is at his hilarious best and really drives the film. And has a great supporting cast but the stand out of the film is the legendary Chad Morgan, the Sheik of Scrubby Creek an Australian country music legend his co starring role is hilarious worth seeing just for Chad's performance.It's just a shame this is the only film he made except for a short appearance in Newsfront.
The Whole cast does a great job with heaps of well known faces including that bloke who plays Beau in the Beaurepaires ads.A great little film about an outback wedding. Highly recommend!!!!
The Whole cast does a great job with heaps of well known faces including that bloke who plays Beau in the Beaurepaires ads.A great little film about an outback wedding. Highly recommend!!!!
A pearler of a film
bazza_mckenzie023 November 2004
A great film a little ripper Bruce Spence is at his hilarious best and really drives the film. And has a great supporting cast but the stand out of the film is the legendary Chad Morgan, the Sheik of Scrubby Creek an Australian country music legend his co starring role is hilarious worth seeing just for Chad's performance.It's just a shame this is the only film he made except for a short appearance in Newsfront.
The Whole cast does a great job with heaps of well known faces including that bloke who plays Beau in the Beaurepaires ads.A great little film about an outback wedding and the comedy that happens at the bucks party, very hard to find on video I saw it on Foxtel's movie channel.
The Whole cast does a great job with heaps of well known faces including that bloke who plays Beau in the Beaurepaires ads.A great little film about an outback wedding and the comedy that happens at the bucks party, very hard to find on video I saw it on Foxtel's movie channel.
Anthropoligical
edgeofreality27 June 2020
Approached as a study in Australian anthropology this starts to get funny. It's very cheapness adds to the sense of authenticity and even brings it close to the horror genre. Like a true comedy it ends with the successful consummation of the wedding and good old life going on. The Brit leaves town a wiser man. One imagines the play would have been more immersive, hence no need for the English reporter there. Some may not be amused, but you had to be there.
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