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Released by: Twilight Time
Released on: July 8th, 2014.
Director: Boyd Hicklin
Cast: Damon Gameau, Brendan Cowell, Stephen Curry, Pallavi Sharda
Year: 2012
Purchase From Screen Archives
The Movie:
One of Twilight Time's more recent acquisitions, 2012's Australian cricket comedy SAVE YOUR LEGS is a bit of a tough sell to the American market. Americans have little experience with cricket and coverage of it over here compared to even soccer is minimal.
The film's narrative drive though is as old as the hills. This is a middle-aged comedy focusing on man-children who go on an adventure that teaches them "life lessons". The fact that the characters aren't a particularly likable bunch is a bit of a handicap however. Compensation does arrive in the form of some stunning location shooting in both India and Australia though.
Based on a documentary (included here as a bonus feature) SAVE YOUR LEGS is the story of Aussie small time cricket club president Teddy Brown (Stephen Curry). Aside from his sports fanaticism he's kind of a schlub with little drive or ambition that refuses to settle down. But one day he's struck with a wild idea - take teammates Stavros (Damon Gameau), and Rick (Brendan Cowell - who also penned the film's script), and head to cricket crazed India for a series of matches.
Ostensibly a comedy, large swathes of SAVE YOUR LEGS just aren't very funny or even interesting. We sit through a series of games over in India where things go awfully wrong in terms of both planning and playing. We get the de rigeur diarrhea gag at an inopportune moment. There's bickering, male bonding and a vague message about "growing up". The love interest for Teddy does stand out though - Pallavi Sharda is a stunning beauty. But aside from the novelty of the locations and a very energetic Bollywood number that closes the film, SAVE YOUR LEGS often feels rote and even bloated. This really is a movie where if you read the plot description and it tickles your fancy you may enjoy it - otherwise there are no surprises to be had.
Video/Audio/Extras:
As a new film shot with contemporary equipment, SAVE YOUR LEGS 2.35:1 framed AVC encoded transfer looks suitably robust. Colors are strong and vibrant, detail excellent in both medium and close shots, and black levels inky deep. Clothing and the gorgeous natural vistas of India and Australia benefit nicely from this HD presentation.
Audio is provided by a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track that is equal in quality to the video. Music and effects and natural ambient sound are well-balanced. The surround mix is appropriate and well handled - there is no difficulty understanding dialogue. The film's score, in a time honored Twilight Time tradition, is also presented on a standalone audio track.
The main extra is the aforementioned hour long 2005 documentary in standard definition that inspired the film. Twilight Time also throw in a shorter featurette called “Bound 4 India with Ted & Col.†for some additional insight into the production. Finally the director, two producers and three cast members sit for an audio commentary that's difficult listening. The participants are certainly having a good time but the track degenerates into an audio muddle far too often.
The Final Word:
If you have a passion for cricket SAVE YOUR LEGS might be of interest. Beyond that, the film travels some pretty well trodden dramatic roads and isn't all that funny for a comedy. However, it looks beautiful and the disc itself is up to Twilight Time's usual standard of high quality with some strong bonus features for fans of the film and an excellent technical presentation.
Click on the images below for full sized Blu-ray screen caps!
