​FILMS

alex & eve

2015 review number 176: 

Alex & Eve: (Comedy): 83 out of 100: The clash of cultures can result in hilarious comedies and this charming Australian film is no exception. It's a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that has been based on the stage play of the same name, written by Alex Lykos who also wrote the script for the play. He deserves credit for integrating the funny cultural differences with the dramatic qualities that affect a couple who are torn between family and their love for each other. The story is actually a terrific advertisement for multiculturalism in these troubled, terrorism-afflicted times. 

 

The movie begins with high school English teacher, Alex (Richard Brancatisano) and lawyer, Eve (Andrea Demetriades) attending weddings of their respective religions, with Alex's being Greek Orthodox and Eve with a Muslim upbringing. Both are pressured by their parents to marry someone of their own religion and culture. Alex's father, George (Tony Nikolakopoulos) and mother, Chloe (Zoe Carides) only want the best for their 30 year old son. So too does Eve's father, Bassam (Simon Elrahi) and mother, Salwa (Helen Chebatte) who have arranged for their 30 year old daughter to marry family friend and Lebanese-based, Mohomad (Hazem Shammas). Alex and Eve meet one night in a bar after being set up by their respective friends, Paul (Ryan O'Kane) and Clare (Millie Samuels). Sparks fly but the only barrier to their love are their families. 

 

Both leads are delightful and charismatic, providing a wonderful couple for the audience to cheer for. Not only are they conducive to the laughs that are generated but they also demonstrate the strong emotions that signify their love for each other, bringing the dramatic aspects of the story to the fore. Most of the laughs however are attributed to the two sets of parents, especially Alex's dad and Eve's mum, who will fight tooth and nail to ensure that their culture reigns supreme. Credit must go to Nikolakopoulos and Chebatte for showing the audience how some parents wildly react when they find out that their children wish to date someone outside their culture. Chloe and Bassam are more prone toward being the voices of reason and the understated performances of Carides and Elrahi work a charm although they have their opportunities to react tumultuously. 

 

There are other highlights that will surely appeal including the beautiful view of Sydney Harbour especially when Alex and Eve experience their first kiss on the BridgeClimb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the fantastic score which features music that is representative of both the Lebanese and Greek cultures. 

 

Although the story moves along at a brisk rate, there are moments that are bogged down by slow motion sequences that overplay the dramatic elements of the story and the montages occasionally interrupt the script which would have succeeded in its own right. These are only minor quibbles for a movie that had me involved and entertained from the beginning. 

 

Alex and Eve is a crowd-pleasing film featuring characters that the audience can warm to. The story and screenplay provide the right amounts of drama and comedy to ensure a terrific viewing experience. It's a wonderful lesson on how cultures mix and how we should set aside our differences to accept those who are different to us. 

 

Starring Richard Brancatisano, Andrea Demetriades, Tony Nikolakopoulos and Zoe Carides

(92 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language, sexual references, adult themes and nudity

Additional scene during or after credits: Yes, during the credits we see some characters dancing plus there are shots of items from the Lebanese and Greek cultures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8HviC5PrdI (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Sunday 22nd November, 2015)

 

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