Puberty Blues

Director Bruce Beresford who also created other classic flicks, Black Robe 1991, Breaker Morant 1980 and Money Movers 1978 has created another gem in Puberty Blues. Starring Nell Schofield. Also starring Jad Capelja. I enjoyed the surfing, beach, school, sex, drive-in, panel van and drug scenes. I also enjoyed seeing the various scenes of Sydney. If you liked this as much as I did then check out other classic surfing flicks, Dust Off the Wings 1997, Blue Juice 1995, Drift 2013 and Newcastle 2008.

One of the worst films I've ever seen and the most unintentionally funny. Scenes in this movie come and go with no rhyme or reason- they are completely interchangeable, showing the most hyperbolic portrayal of teenagers I've ever seen. The dialogue is the most unapologetically embarrassing and predictable I've ever heard. The "twist" of the movie, involving the death of a character who's name I honestly couldn't be bothered remembering, provided me with great amusement. I had joked about what would be the most obvious death for the character with my friend-given the embarrassing dialogue had awkwardly and obviously "hinted" at it constantly throughout the film-and when the movie confirmed them it may just as well have given up. Besides a grossly out of of place "hi-larious" fight scene and the aforementioned awful dialogue, this is a thoroughly forgettable and terrible Australian movie. Taken from my blog at http://aguywholikesmovies.blogspot.com/

This film does show how life was growing up in 1970s Australia. However, the acting and script are appalling. It also depicts rape as normal without consequences for any of the parties involved. An utter awful film.

I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that this movie belongs to the 'Aussie trash' pile, but it's fair to say that there are no Academy Award nominees here. What must be considered is that most of the actors in this film weren't actually actors as such, just kids with nothing better to do at the time. There were many others that were offered roles in the film but turned them down to go surfing up the coast; all things taken into account, it really wasn't a bad movie for its time. In some respects it's really not unlike today's times, where peer pressure is still alive and kicking, just without the mobile phones, computers and other similar gadgets that kids lived without, unlike this generation. Anyway, I have to rate this flick as an old fave that I watch once in a blue moon and never take too seriously...

This movie, as many have noted, is not exactly an example of great film making. It goes over well because of it's camp value. Scores of interesting to silly one liners, that are sure to amuse any viewer from somewhere other than the films country of origin. I originally rented this movie several years ago when I was in college, mainly because it was in the "foreign film" section. After getting over the shock of how bad the dialouge was, I started to enjoy it. To this day I have some strange desire to go to Australia and ask some if they: "Fancy a root."

Puberty Blues is a movie about being a teenager.. unlike it's American, high budget counterparts such as Pretty in Pink or Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it is a very honest look at life as a teenager. It centres around two girls who are trying to fit in with the "surfie chick" crowd and to do so must participate in the usual teenage antics (sex, drinking, cheating on History tests etc.). What the film lacks in plot, budget and acting it makes up for with sheer honesty - there's no ultra happy "feel-good" ending like in the formentioned counterparts, but instead you are left with the impression that life really was like that for them. All in all, one to be seen, but forgotten.