Describing this as a romantic comedy may not quite fit this film, however, its as close to a genre description you may get. Perhaps the first half of the movie is frustrating as each scene seems to be a repeat of the previous and the movie doesn't seem to be progressing. It then transfers from being comedy to drama but still it makes no sense. But when the movie enters its final phase it becomes a beautiful story and all the previous parts fall into place. Whilst it maybe difficult people should persist with the film and reach what is a beautiful ending.
99 Reviews
Low expectation, huge susprise
chinandchin6 October 2021
A very nice and uplifting movie
rbivgq173410 June 2021
I watched this movie with my wife and the both of us enjoyed it quite a bit. There were some nice funny parts, the 2 leads did a great job and I really enjoyed the story. It is so true that as humans we have a hard time grasping the true value of something until it is lost. The parts with Sam in the future made me a bit sad but I really enjoyed this movie and gave my wife a big kiss after.
Short Story
lynansaysingle16 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is a good effort for a Romcom. The concept though is not original is still entertaining. I would have liked a bit of background to Ted's earlier life before marriage to show how his life is so busy that he needs to be taught the lesson about "time". That would make more sense how he has been chosen, not just a random person in the cemetery. The lady in the cemetery that gave Ted the gift should look a bit more mysterious in my opinion. She did a lot of explaining about the reason. The show of time moving forward is okay except it is not consistent whether Ted actually have minutes or hours before "a year" passes again. Moving part of the story is when Sam dies. One thing that is not explained is why he does not actually remember anything at all. The time simply just moved too fast for him, it should not be all forgettable. Reminds me a bit of the movie Click with Adam Sandler, a weaker version but still good.
Don't understand the negativity to be honest
GrandoFernando3 September 2021
Rom com meets Groundhog Day
robcallawayvfr15 October 2021
Not my genre usually but after several glasses of wine I actually enjoyed it.
The acting was excellent, the story was good and kept me entertained even if you could second guess what the next scene was likely to be.
It was entertaining, don't try to analyze it too much.
The acting was excellent, the story was good and kept me entertained even if you could second guess what the next scene was likely to be.
It was entertaining, don't try to analyze it too much.
We only live once
ks-6050029 June 2021
For a comedy romance, I won't think this is topnotch, this movie totally shouldn't classify as this kind. Snapshot of 10 years in 30 mins is the ground of the story. We are busy for living, ignore the details, miss the precious time with closed ones, I feel is what the writer research many elder life stories. For a middle age man, I can't disagree so much about the blueprint and feel everyone should makes all our regrets controllable whatever it takes. That's not difficult, watch this movie makes you know how things can be done properly. This is not just a comedy but so many life physiology inside.
Resonates far more than I wish it did!
james-goddard16 September 2021
I can't understand the negative reviews on this at all and it's not like Click or GHD and at least in my opinion it is fairly different idea and a very important message.
Worth a watch definitely and about time some reviewers stopped using silly minor elements of a film as a justification for 1 star ratings.
Worth a watch definitely and about time some reviewers stopped using silly minor elements of a film as a justification for 1 star ratings.
Pleasantly Surprised
Chloebythesea13 April 2022
I genuinely enjoyed this movie. It's actually very engaging. There has not been a dull moment! Yes the concept might be "unbelievable" as in "how could it happen, it doesn't make sense", but same goes for Groundhog Day.
Love the backdrop of beautiful Sydney. The lead actor is brilliant.
Love the backdrop of beautiful Sydney. The lead actor is brilliant.
Just fell flat for me
starcraftbw8810 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Premise is kind of cool - made me want to watch it. MC is likeable, but nothing seems to come together in the extremely predictable end for me. There were some funny moments, but I never really bought into any of the romance or drama parts.
Nothing ever felt like anything was on the line as MC's actual goals were never established other than the imposed idea that we're to believe he needed to fight for a marriage he never experienced? Nothing ever felt established until conveniently necessary, such as the "love" the couple had that was never touched upon until the end of the movie or the idea that MC works too much - and the solution is he decides to take paid time off. Like, really? This was the result of his clairvoyance? That was what it was all for?
I'm still confused about what the movie is trying to communicate. MC seems like an alright fellow throughout the movie, he's never set up as someone in need of dramatic change or free, arbitrary, and unrelated insight into the future. It's really a mess.
Nothing ever felt like anything was on the line as MC's actual goals were never established other than the imposed idea that we're to believe he needed to fight for a marriage he never experienced? Nothing ever felt established until conveniently necessary, such as the "love" the couple had that was never touched upon until the end of the movie or the idea that MC works too much - and the solution is he decides to take paid time off. Like, really? This was the result of his clairvoyance? That was what it was all for?
I'm still confused about what the movie is trying to communicate. MC seems like an alright fellow throughout the movie, he's never set up as someone in need of dramatic change or free, arbitrary, and unrelated insight into the future. It's really a mess.
This movie changed my life ...
amirbadban29 September 2021
Good fantasy,thriller..!!
kamalbeeee17 June 2021
A guy had met one elder lady and his life became soo faster than he imagine..he spends every year withkn one hour...soo he faces lot of consequences and realized about life..finally once he relieve from that bad situation then he starts to spend time with his wife and children happily..
Must watch movie for young couples..
These reviews cannot be genuine
sealswheels5 September 2021
I personally can't believe the positive reviews of this movie can be genuine. We watched if after looking at the overall score and were very dissapointed. It's shallow, predictable, repetitive and with a badly set up plot at the start. It makes reference to groundhog day during the film, but frankly any reference to GHD is an insult to that film. The lead roles are unconvincing and we just could not buy into the characters or really care what happened to them. We stopped watching part way through so no idea if there was a happy ending and frankly don't care either way. Back to movie school for everyone involved!
A good take on Groundhog Day and Scrooge
thejdrage8 January 2022
I wasn't looking for a meet/cute movie, nor do I usually care for them, but it was next in the stream queue and I was too busy doing something unimportant to change it. It grew on me because I like the main actor/director/writer and his dad. The actor who plays Sam, the best friend, is my LEAST favorite comedian (I won't watch his specials, but that's my problem) but I really liked him in this role. He should stick to acting!! All in all a good thing to watch when you don't want to think about anything, but do like to crack a smile.
Really enjoyed this
kimmgould14 December 2021
I really enjoyed this movie. It was a great idea, and they spun it well. I wonder if you have to be a certain age to appreciate the message? The acting was good, and it wasn't schmaltzy. I know I enjoyed it because, long story short it was over so quickly!
PS. A house on Bronte Beach is worth multi-millions so no way could they buy that place without a serious heritance!
PS. A house on Bronte Beach is worth multi-millions so no way could they buy that place without a serious heritance!
Carpe Diem
AscendeSuperius20 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
For better or for worse, I came in watching this show knowing pretty much everything that was going to happen. (if you know Click you will get what I mean) While it helped to preempt me to experience all that joys and sorrows, the knowledge of what was going to happen also spoiled it. Alas, it was a decently executed replica of what happened in Click, with solid characters and okay acting to tie it all together. (though Click to me is definitely the better of the two)
Too Long a Short Story
tm-sheehan18 February 2021
Mr Review- Long Story Short.
My Rating 6/10
It's a shame that this Comedy Romance just doesn't work as it has the bones of something better. There are very few occasions where the Script /story writer , Director and Executive Producer also acts in his own film it's a huge task to achieve successfully. it worked for Charles Chaplain Mel Brooks and Woody Allen they all managed it but they were geniuses . Josh Lawson the creator and Director of this film doesn't manage to pull it off unfortunately and it's certainly not the fault of his cast they are all very good.
The plot is simple it's an adult fable about the value of our short time on The Planet, and the consequences of wasting the time we have life and also the value of maintaining relationships and friendships.
Teddy , payed by British Actor Rafe Spall (son of Timothy) wakes up the morning after his wedding to discover that every few minutes he's jumping forward to the next year of his life. Rafe Spall is excellent in a very big role as is Zahra Newman as Leanne his bride who each time Teddy jumps forward a year in time we see Leanne becoming more and more disappointed with Teddy's shortcomings and neglect . Noni Hazlehurst as The Stranger has a Cameo appearance and should have been used more ,she seems to wander Eastern Suburbs Cemetery as a Lesbian Witch handing out "The Gift" ,sound unusual ? It is.......
I've seen this story done much more effectively in Charles Dickens "Scrooge " same basic plot about ghost appearing in a dream to show the main character the error of his way of life and pointing to the future to show him the consequences if he doesn't see the error of his ways. In fact the final scene is straight out of "Scrooge."
I've seen many worse movies than this and it has some lovely moments and good performances. It's creator Josh Lawson was nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Live Action Short Film ,strangely I was actually thinking while watching "Long Short Story" that it would have made a much better short story movie. Perhaps it should be called "Too Long a Short Story." Is it worth seeing at the Cinema ? perhaps wait till it's streaming it won't be too long.
It's a shame that this Comedy Romance just doesn't work as it has the bones of something better. There are very few occasions where the Script /story writer , Director and Executive Producer also acts in his own film it's a huge task to achieve successfully. it worked for Charles Chaplain Mel Brooks and Woody Allen they all managed it but they were geniuses . Josh Lawson the creator and Director of this film doesn't manage to pull it off unfortunately and it's certainly not the fault of his cast they are all very good.
The plot is simple it's an adult fable about the value of our short time on The Planet, and the consequences of wasting the time we have life and also the value of maintaining relationships and friendships.
Teddy , payed by British Actor Rafe Spall (son of Timothy) wakes up the morning after his wedding to discover that every few minutes he's jumping forward to the next year of his life. Rafe Spall is excellent in a very big role as is Zahra Newman as Leanne his bride who each time Teddy jumps forward a year in time we see Leanne becoming more and more disappointed with Teddy's shortcomings and neglect . Noni Hazlehurst as The Stranger has a Cameo appearance and should have been used more ,she seems to wander Eastern Suburbs Cemetery as a Lesbian Witch handing out "The Gift" ,sound unusual ? It is.......
I've seen this story done much more effectively in Charles Dickens "Scrooge " same basic plot about ghost appearing in a dream to show the main character the error of his way of life and pointing to the future to show him the consequences if he doesn't see the error of his ways. In fact the final scene is straight out of "Scrooge."
I've seen many worse movies than this and it has some lovely moments and good performances. It's creator Josh Lawson was nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Live Action Short Film ,strangely I was actually thinking while watching "Long Short Story" that it would have made a much better short story movie. Perhaps it should be called "Too Long a Short Story." Is it worth seeing at the Cinema ? perhaps wait till it's streaming it won't be too long.
Hilarious and touching
TreasureHunterGirl11 February 2021
Long Story Short was hilarious, sweet and at times a little sad and touching.
It had a very small cast, but they were all great.
Rafe Spall was hilarious in what felt like a scene that ran for almost the entire movie yet was never boring or slow. He pulled off both the comedy and the tragedy of his character with his usual brilliance.
Zahra Newman and Ronny Chieng were perfect in their supporting roles, bringing a lot of emotion to the story and their characters.
Noni Hazlehurst and Dena Kaplan were both wonderful with strong portrayals of their characters despite having only a few scenes each.
Josh Lawson has done a great job with this quirky little film which he wrote and directed and appears in briefly.
It was refreshingly nice to see an Aussie made film that never focused on the fact that it was Australian. This really could've been set anywhere, but the NSW coastal setting was still very much appreciated.
A solid rom com which tackles the "curse with a lesson" device in its own unique way and succeeds. Highly recommend.
It had a very small cast, but they were all great.
Rafe Spall was hilarious in what felt like a scene that ran for almost the entire movie yet was never boring or slow. He pulled off both the comedy and the tragedy of his character with his usual brilliance.
Zahra Newman and Ronny Chieng were perfect in their supporting roles, bringing a lot of emotion to the story and their characters.
Noni Hazlehurst and Dena Kaplan were both wonderful with strong portrayals of their characters despite having only a few scenes each.
Josh Lawson has done a great job with this quirky little film which he wrote and directed and appears in briefly.
It was refreshingly nice to see an Aussie made film that never focused on the fact that it was Australian. This really could've been set anywhere, but the NSW coastal setting was still very much appreciated.
A solid rom com which tackles the "curse with a lesson" device in its own unique way and succeeds. Highly recommend.
Annoying and unbelievable main character spoils mediocre plot
alexwe-953-6226001 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The idea of the movie is ok I guess, although the "something supernatural happens to our flawed hero to help them be a better person" plot has been already done to death.
The supporting cast is quite good, but what brings the movie completely down is the main character. What Bill Murray pulled off in the often-cited-in-this-movie Groundhog Day to perfection, Rafe Spall falls flat on his face. He seems to try to be funny so hard, but just ends up rambling and stuttering through the movie so that you want to scream at him "will you shut up for a moment and seek some professional help for the apparent amnesia you're experiencing!?" His actions are simply unbelievable. Everyone would admit that they suddenly can't remember what happened for the last year, and - like I wrote above - seek help. Instead he goes along with it and tries to pull it off - except for one time with his best friend - as if nothing weird happened, just being miserable and confused that he doesn't know the current state of things.
Also Spall is not a good actor outside his trying to be funny rambling. In one scene he's supposed to cry and it's one of the worst attempts of acting I've seen in a while.
The message is also delivered in your face so obvious, you couldn't miss it if you slept through 90% of the movie. And I basically knew what would happen the rest of the movie as soon as the supernatural kicked in. But what do you expect of a script where the author also seems to think that novel idea is a good one?
In the end, one might be entertained if one likes shallow romantic feel-good movies that tell you to get your life together. For me it was just too shallow, predictable, in your face and annoying.
The supporting cast is quite good, but what brings the movie completely down is the main character. What Bill Murray pulled off in the often-cited-in-this-movie Groundhog Day to perfection, Rafe Spall falls flat on his face. He seems to try to be funny so hard, but just ends up rambling and stuttering through the movie so that you want to scream at him "will you shut up for a moment and seek some professional help for the apparent amnesia you're experiencing!?" His actions are simply unbelievable. Everyone would admit that they suddenly can't remember what happened for the last year, and - like I wrote above - seek help. Instead he goes along with it and tries to pull it off - except for one time with his best friend - as if nothing weird happened, just being miserable and confused that he doesn't know the current state of things.
Also Spall is not a good actor outside his trying to be funny rambling. In one scene he's supposed to cry and it's one of the worst attempts of acting I've seen in a while.
The message is also delivered in your face so obvious, you couldn't miss it if you slept through 90% of the movie. And I basically knew what would happen the rest of the movie as soon as the supernatural kicked in. But what do you expect of a script where the author also seems to think that novel idea is a good one?
In the end, one might be entertained if one likes shallow romantic feel-good movies that tell you to get your life together. For me it was just too shallow, predictable, in your face and annoying.
At last something interesting made in Australia.
swoondrones26 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Great film. About time the Aussie film industry made an interesting film. Got some holes, but ingenious concept. The older woman is not as strong as required, and he should have recognised her, but at least it isn't something pathetic to do with sex or criminals. Good job.
Long Story Short's existentialism is squandered by predictable plotting and safe direction that brings little depth to its ideas.
nicchang10 February 2021
On paper, the concept of Long Story Short feels unique and unusually existential for a romantic comedy and there are glimpses of genuine, thoughtful emotion to be found in the film's more dramatic moments. The idea that years of your life could suddenly turn into minutes is terrifying and also heartbreaking since you're getting closer to death and you're missing out on life, yet I can see the comedy in this premise that Long Story Short aims for, and its ambitions have to be admired. It also has a sense of sweetness that, unfortunately, feels too familiar and turns Long Story Short into a frustratingly predictable plot.
This film looks and feels generic. There is rarely anything special about the execution, even when we move forward in time, and I could not buy some of the character behaviours at all. There is a lot Long Story Short could've done to bring its premise to mind-blowing complexities, and early on, I considered the film being a potential allegory of mental illness or the search for meaning in life, yet those interpretations don't come to fruition very well. Its message is clear in that you only live once, so you need to make the most out of every second you live in and Long Story Short uses Teddy's (Rafe Spall) storyline to show the horrors of losing time, yet its messaging borders on preachy and eventually tiring.
Undoubtedly, the acting is the best aspect of Long Story Short. Rafe Spall and Zahra Newman deliver strong performances and their chemistry brought their roles to life. As uninteresting as their characters were, I could believe they were a couple. The supporting cast also give out solid performances and Noni Hazlehurst, a legendary veteran actress in Australia, is phenomenal with the screentime she gets. When Hazlehurst has her monologue towards the end, I found her characterisation more intriguing than the others. In that regard, I wasn't invested in the character work, despite how likeable the performances were, and I can't recall interesting details about them.
I'm almost convinced Long Story Short was shot amidst the COVID-19 pandemic (it was actually filmed in late 2019), because, aside from an opening scene at a crowded party, the most prominent locations are the characters' houses, a beach and a graveyard. The small number of settings gives the film a limited scope and the low-budget filmmaking is evident, which is never bad, but it's that when Teddy is realising how fast time is going by, the world doesn't seem to change within 10 years and it's another sign that screams unfulfilled potential. Just like the writing, very little about Long Story Short stands out technically. Some of the editing is poor, the cinematography is competent yet looks flat and the modern music choices don't fit well with the film, making it feel cheesy and saccharine, and its tonal balances are consequently rough. While Long Story Short does have some humour, most of its jokes fall flat, and barely anyone in my screening laughed.
The pacing mostly fits Long Story Short and helps the time pass, so it didn't drag on. The film's strongest moments are in its most emotional, one is when Teddy discovers some devastating news and, questionable directing aside, Spall's acting sends the impact across. It's when the film attempts to get existential about time and living that it shines. But all of that is completely reversed in an ending that reminded me of Click and if you remember that film, it is impossible not to correctly guess the ending of Long Story Short. But the forced feel-good conclusion ruins the bare existential depths and emotional impact prior to that, and it doesn't feel earned at all. I've never been a fan of romantic comedies and Long Story Short, unfortunately, did little to change that. I can see this resonating with most audiences nevertheless and there's several opportunities for the film to philosophically explore time, love and loss to reach greatness, but in my opinion, Long Story Short simply doesn't take full advantage of its concepts.
Plot and Characters (4/10) Presentation and Direction (4/10) Acting (8/10) Script (4/10) Setting/Locations (4/10) Tone (5/10) Cinematography/Visuals (5/10) Sound/Music (4/10) Editing (4/10) Pacing/Length (6/10)
Score: 48/100.
LIKES: +Rafe Spall, Zahra Newman and Noni Hazlehurst +Some moments of genuine emotion +Existential concept is promising +Solid pacing allows the time to pass
DISLIKES: -Tonal imbalances between flat humour and drama -Generic direction of unique concept -Off-putting music choices and editing -Limited settings -Uninteresting characters and writing -Safe, clichéd ending completely removes the emotional impact
This film looks and feels generic. There is rarely anything special about the execution, even when we move forward in time, and I could not buy some of the character behaviours at all. There is a lot Long Story Short could've done to bring its premise to mind-blowing complexities, and early on, I considered the film being a potential allegory of mental illness or the search for meaning in life, yet those interpretations don't come to fruition very well. Its message is clear in that you only live once, so you need to make the most out of every second you live in and Long Story Short uses Teddy's (Rafe Spall) storyline to show the horrors of losing time, yet its messaging borders on preachy and eventually tiring.
Undoubtedly, the acting is the best aspect of Long Story Short. Rafe Spall and Zahra Newman deliver strong performances and their chemistry brought their roles to life. As uninteresting as their characters were, I could believe they were a couple. The supporting cast also give out solid performances and Noni Hazlehurst, a legendary veteran actress in Australia, is phenomenal with the screentime she gets. When Hazlehurst has her monologue towards the end, I found her characterisation more intriguing than the others. In that regard, I wasn't invested in the character work, despite how likeable the performances were, and I can't recall interesting details about them.
I'm almost convinced Long Story Short was shot amidst the COVID-19 pandemic (it was actually filmed in late 2019), because, aside from an opening scene at a crowded party, the most prominent locations are the characters' houses, a beach and a graveyard. The small number of settings gives the film a limited scope and the low-budget filmmaking is evident, which is never bad, but it's that when Teddy is realising how fast time is going by, the world doesn't seem to change within 10 years and it's another sign that screams unfulfilled potential. Just like the writing, very little about Long Story Short stands out technically. Some of the editing is poor, the cinematography is competent yet looks flat and the modern music choices don't fit well with the film, making it feel cheesy and saccharine, and its tonal balances are consequently rough. While Long Story Short does have some humour, most of its jokes fall flat, and barely anyone in my screening laughed.
The pacing mostly fits Long Story Short and helps the time pass, so it didn't drag on. The film's strongest moments are in its most emotional, one is when Teddy discovers some devastating news and, questionable directing aside, Spall's acting sends the impact across. It's when the film attempts to get existential about time and living that it shines. But all of that is completely reversed in an ending that reminded me of Click and if you remember that film, it is impossible not to correctly guess the ending of Long Story Short. But the forced feel-good conclusion ruins the bare existential depths and emotional impact prior to that, and it doesn't feel earned at all. I've never been a fan of romantic comedies and Long Story Short, unfortunately, did little to change that. I can see this resonating with most audiences nevertheless and there's several opportunities for the film to philosophically explore time, love and loss to reach greatness, but in my opinion, Long Story Short simply doesn't take full advantage of its concepts.
Plot and Characters (4/10) Presentation and Direction (4/10) Acting (8/10) Script (4/10) Setting/Locations (4/10) Tone (5/10) Cinematography/Visuals (5/10) Sound/Music (4/10) Editing (4/10) Pacing/Length (6/10)
Score: 48/100.
LIKES: +Rafe Spall, Zahra Newman and Noni Hazlehurst +Some moments of genuine emotion +Existential concept is promising +Solid pacing allows the time to pass
DISLIKES: -Tonal imbalances between flat humour and drama -Generic direction of unique concept -Off-putting music choices and editing -Limited settings -Uninteresting characters and writing -Safe, clichéd ending completely removes the emotional impact
Funny, sweet Aussie Rom-com
spenfam-041453 September 2021
I really enjoyed this, it was funny, well written and directed by Josh Lawson. All involved were top class especially Rafe Spall, who in my opinion is an exceptional actor.
I laughed out loud in places and that does not happen often. Good Job.
I laughed out loud in places and that does not happen often. Good Job.
A nice story about a man who jump to the next year every day
mvahidalizadeh16 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is the story of a man who meets her love and marry her. He doesn't know the value of time and he takes everything as granted. He meets a woman in graveyard. The woman gives him a wedding gift anonymously. The gift should be opened in 10 years. After receiving this gift, the man jumps in time from his wedding day to his first anniversary. After that he only experiences his anniversaries and after experiencing his anniversary, the time jumps to his next anniversary.
I enjoyed watching this movie. The story is novice. I saw nice acting from Rafe Spall, Ronny Chieng, and Zahra Newman. I liked the ending.
I enjoyed watching this movie. The story is novice. I saw nice acting from Rafe Spall, Ronny Chieng, and Zahra Newman. I liked the ending.
O the irony! An hour and a half of my life wasted on a movie about not wasting your life
darthsteele-3933810 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Okay yeah they're going for a cute rom-com / sci-fi thing. But introducing, what essentially turns out to be a time travel situation in a film in such a willy-nilly way is risky and leaves holes. At the end our protagonist gets his life back but now apparently knows the future and the first thing he does is use his knowledge of the future to take actions that will change it. And the wedding ring in the tin can with no explanation as to how it was in the tin can from the very beginning of the movie.....uggh! So wishing I could get back the 90 minutes I wasted on this film.
Not brilliant, but okay
CrazyArty1 October 2021
Sweet little romantic comedy starring the wonderful Rafe Spall. Not brilliant, it's ok if you have time to kill.
The story is basically that a newly married man skips forward a year to each anniversary and sees his life progress.
A bit like the premise of 'Click' but nowhere near as touching or engaging.
The story is basically that a newly married man skips forward a year to each anniversary and sees his life progress.
A bit like the premise of 'Click' but nowhere near as touching or engaging.
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