WHY WHY WHHYYYY do so many Australian films end up seeming like just another episode of Home and Away? Did at some point the wild success of Australian soaps just paralyse cinematic creativity and the cliches and tropes submerge film making in a top loader of soapsuds?

The older actors speaking with a bizarre drawn out drawl that is probably meant to suggest world weariness but merely sounds as though the vinyl is slowing down. Cringe-making teen love affairs so full of lingering gazes your eyes scrinch up and your finger reaches convulsively for the forward ten seconds button. That kitchen scene with the brother and sister so excruciating I actually blushed watching it. Endlessly long face shots of comical emotion switches. Over-acting! Under-acting! More over-acting! Numbingly facile scenarios played out with lazy predictability.

I watched most of this. I tried. I really did.

Watch Home and Away. At least it's not pretending to be something.

I love a good Aussie flick and this is one of them. Not a all time top ten but this will be remembered for some great acting from the two stalwarts HW &JB alongside some newer actors whom will no doubt be better know down the track. Great effort by all involved in production and social Kudos to director Paul Ireland, well done.

Whilst there are a few boring and drawn out moments M4M is overall good entertainment and that's what I like in a movie. 8.5 for me.