Director – Rob Sitch
Cast – Josh Lawson, Rachael Taylor , Daniel Henshall, Felicity Ward
Released – 2012
Any Questions for Ben? was a film that was aware of what it was and didn’t try to be more. – a simplistic method that was a pleasant surprise.
“Any Questions for Ben? – Trailer”
Everyone has a friend like Ben (played by Josh Lawson), the ridiculously successful bachelor, living the high life, idealised by all those around him. This particular film see’s Ben affected whilst giving a career speech at his former school, realising that whilst he has a lot, he doesn’t really have anything at all. The rest of the film is Ben’s attempt at soul searching, including several failed attempts.
Whilst the film is filled with charactertures and some of the skits are known before they even begin, the story still remains heart warming.
Created by the small Australian film and television company Working Dog productions (producers of Thank God You’re Here, doubling up on majority of the cast), this was Working Dog’s first feature film since The Dish (2000), which is a pity because as a production company they understand the Australian humour, without going too far and alienating our socially identity.
Any Questions for Ben? is evidence that when a good Australian production company attempts to create a romantic comedy, they nail it, unfortunately it opened in Australian Cinemas the same weekend as The Vow, Shame, Safe House and Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D, leaving it with a less than impressive Box Office Gross of only $649,999 in the first weekend and a total of $1,533,130 for its three weeks in the Australian Cinemas.
Jennifer K Trigg 