Goddess, 2013.
Directed by Mark Lamprell.
Starring Laura Michelle Kelly, Ronan Keating, Magda Szubanski, Dustin Clare and Hugo Johnstone-Burt.
SYNOPSIS:
A bored and listless mother of twin boys gets a webcam from her husband, so they can keep in touch whilst he’s at work. She starts to sing and dance on camera and becomes an internet sensation and a new life of superstardom opens up before her. But should she take that chance?
Sometimes, it’s difficult to be mean and critical when a film feels sincere.
Case in point is Australian musical comedy Goddess (originally released in March 2013). It’s a sweet, silly bit of escapism with some cracking show-tunes and a cast that seems to be having a lot of fun. On the other hand, it’s a daft story filled with contrivances that manages to drag on despite a running time of just 104 minutes, but can I bring myself to hate it? Not at all.
Set on the lush island of Tazmania, with an opening deliberately parodying The Sounds of Music, the film follows British mother-of-unruly-twins Elspeth Dickens (Laura Michelle Kelly, Sweeney Todd) on her journey from lowly housewife to Youtube sensation, viral star and media celebrity and back to housewife.
Goddess kind of feels like a sequel to a previous, unmade rom-com; we meet Elspeth at the point most romantic comedies end: she has the gorgeous husband (the surprising entertaining Ronan Keating), the family and the idyllic farm to live on. But Elspeth is a talented musician who had to put her career on hold in order to raise the boys as Ronan Keating (his character has a name but you’ll only remember him as Ronan Keating) goes off to single-handedly save Antarctic whales, being away from home for weeks at a time.
Out of isolation and desperation, Elspeth begins to record herself performing her music (or “sink-songs” as she calls them) in the kitchen and broadcasts them to the world at large. The thrust of each song is mostly about how domesticity and being a mother isn’t all it’s cracked up.
I started to imagine that Elspeth was having a Shining-style breakdown; but rather than murderous ghosts she was imagining back-up music and complex choreography accompanying her songs. The music and dance sequences are actually very good, especially if you enjoy light-hearted pop and Broadway-style showtunes.
Soon, Elspeth is spotted by a talent agency, consisting of gormless assistant Ralph (Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Before the Rain) and intimidating executive Cassandra Wolfe (played to perfection by the brilliant comic actress Magda Szubanski, Kath and Kim). Cassandra whisks Elspeth off to Sydney and offers her a chance at fame. Things seem to be going fabulously, until it becomes a choice between showbiz and family. Which will Elspeth choose?
Writing it down, the story does come off as cheesy, and it feels that way watching Goddess too, but the film treats this all with such sincerity that it’s difficult not to be taken along. The film is so bright and colourful that it’s like candyfloss for the eyes, and Laura Michelle Kelly (who looks like a dead ringer for Nigella Lawson) has so much screen presence and charisma that she is a joy to watch. And often the film is genuinely very funny; although an early scene consisting mostly of toddlers emitting ear-piercing screeches almost sent me running from the screening.
While I could complain about Goddess, such as the plot contrivances and the repetitive section where Elspeth constantly goes back and forth about choosing family or fame, or the false choice the film presents about being a mother or having a successful career, at the end of the day the film isn’t for me.
It’s for the mothers who will appreciate Goddess’ wry take on parenthood, and for the young female audience who’ll enjoy the escapist fantasy of becoming a star while also being married to a hunky guy like Ronan Keating (who takes his top off at least a dozen times). It’s a shiny, bouncy ball of fun with great songs, good performances and some very clever costumes.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Luke Graham is a writer and works in newspaper production. If you enjoyed this review, follow him @LukeWGraham and check out his blog here.
Originally published July 15, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
