In a small town in New South Wales, Austrailia, Rex (Michael Caton) is a septuagenarian cab driver who learns he has fourth stage cancer. As he is determined to avoid dying in a hospital, he takes on a journey of travelling thousands of kilometers to Darwin in another state (Northern Territory) where legislation is in progress to legalize euthanasia.
In addition to the affable Rex, the viewer is blessed with other interesting characters in Rex's town and those he meets during his journey. They include Polly (Ningali Lawford-Wolf), his aboriginal neighbour who is also his occasional secret lover; Tilly (Mark Coles Smith), a young, aboriginal man who is likeable but carries a lot of emotional baggage; Julie (Emma Hamilton), a nurse from London who is taking a break from her job as she lives and works in Australia; and Dr. Farmer (Jacki Weaver), the doctor in Darwin who is spearheading the campaign to legalize euthanasia.
Rex is an interesting character and quite funny (as is much of the film) but it's hard to get why he would go through so much in his condition to reach his goal. It's also difficult to believe that he could drive such a long journey, mostly on his own. Polly, Tilly, and Julie are all delightful and engaging. Their individual stories add greatly to the movie's impact. Weaver does her best as Farmer but it's really hard to get this character and her motives as the movie progresses in the second half.
There could be good reasons to give this movie a 7 rating but there are flaws and unbelievable moments that bring in down a notch.
In addition to the affable Rex, the viewer is blessed with other interesting characters in Rex's town and those he meets during his journey. They include Polly (Ningali Lawford-Wolf), his aboriginal neighbour who is also his occasional secret lover; Tilly (Mark Coles Smith), a young, aboriginal man who is likeable but carries a lot of emotional baggage; Julie (Emma Hamilton), a nurse from London who is taking a break from her job as she lives and works in Australia; and Dr. Farmer (Jacki Weaver), the doctor in Darwin who is spearheading the campaign to legalize euthanasia.
Rex is an interesting character and quite funny (as is much of the film) but it's hard to get why he would go through so much in his condition to reach his goal. It's also difficult to believe that he could drive such a long journey, mostly on his own. Polly, Tilly, and Julie are all delightful and engaging. Their individual stories add greatly to the movie's impact. Weaver does her best as Farmer but it's really hard to get this character and her motives as the movie progresses in the second half.
There could be good reasons to give this movie a 7 rating but there are flaws and unbelievable moments that bring in down a notch.