neilvcohen-1 Review of Billy's Holiday

Billy's Holiday (1995)

Thirteen years later, this monstrosity still haunts me!!

[1/10 · 1 May 2009]

This rancid bit of Australian gristle rode the wave of comedy-musicals like Muriel's Wedding, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Strictly Ballroom, but it reveled in all of the worst aspects of Australian comedy and none of the good aspects. At least in the films that made it to the US, Australian comedies seemed to pump up the whimsy, throw in some vulgarity and crassness, and obsess about old pop culture icons (ABBA, Gloria Gaynor, etc). They also enjoyed being campy and wild, with a gay sensibility that made them hits over here, where comedy was fairly tame and predictable at the time (1995). Billy's Holiday made my teeth ache from all the forced whimsy and self-indulgence, not to mention having a "plot twist" (Old geezer can sing like Billie Holiday) that's totally irrelevant in a film. Yes, it's amazing that Max Cullen could sing just like Billie Holiday, but anyone can in the movies, where they loop in singing and dialog. Whenever I want to torment friends, I repeat the horrible line, "He's not gone, he's dooooooooozing!" and hilarity ensues. Do your brain a favor--Skip Billy's Holiday!