Muriel's Wedding (1994)

A young social outcast in Australia steals money from her parents to finance a vacation where she hopes to find happiness, and perhaps love.

Director:

P.J. Hogan

Writer:

P.J. Hogan

Stars:

Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Bill Hunter

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Lee	...	Tania Degano
Roz Hammond	...	Cheryl (as Rosalind Hammond)
Toni Collette	...	Muriel Heslop
Belinda Jarrett	...	Janine
Pippa Grandison	...	Nicole
Bill Hunter	...	Bill Heslop
Jeanie Drynan	...	Betty Heslop
Dan Wyllie	...	Perry Heslop (as Daniel Wyllie)
Gabby Millgate	...	Joanie Heslop
Gennie Nevinson	...	Deidre Chambers
Rachel Griffiths	...	Rhonda Epinstalk
Matt Day	...	Brice Nobes
Chris Haywood	...	Ken Blundell
Daniel Lapaine	...	David Van Arkle
Susan Prior	...	Girl at Wedding

Storyline

Muriel finds life in Porpoise Spit, Australia dull and spends her days alone in her room listening to Abba music and dreaming of her wedding day. Slight problem, Muriel has never had a date. Then she steals some money to go on a tropical vacation, meets a wacky friend, changes her name to Mariel, and turns her world upside down.

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Plot Keywords:

wedding | wanting to marry | friendship between women | female protagonist | dignity | 

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Taglines:

A comedy about a small-town girl who didn't fit in, but is about to learn how to stand out.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sex-related dialogue and some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia France

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

La boda de Muriel

Filming Locations:

Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$15,185,594

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$42,300,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

CiBy 2000, Film Victoria, House & Moorhouse Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mark Mitchell and Peter Moon were both considered for the role of Bill Heslop.

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Goofs

David's last name is listed in the credits as Van Arkle (no "c"). The same error is made in the subtitles for the Australian DVD.

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Quotes

Tania: Why don't you come have a drink with us?
Rhonda: You want to have a drink with me?
Tania: Well, yeah. We wouldn't want you to spend the entire holiday alone. It's not like in high school where you should feel you're not good enough to talk to us.
Rhonda: I don't.
Tania: If I feel you've changed, I'll tell you. I'm honest. Unlike some people, I tell it like it is.
Rhonda: The truth? I tell the truth too. Nicole's having an affair with Chook. Muriel saw them fucking in the laundry room on your wedding day. Stick your drink up your ...

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Alternate Versions

The theatrical release clearly showed a woman dressed as Wonder Woman and a man dressed as Robin during the talent show scene when Muriel and Rhonda are presented with the over-sized check and champagne. In the DVD/video release, Robin is only partly shown and Wonder Woman is not shown at all.

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Connections

Referenced in The Graham Norton Show: Toni Collette/Ethan Hawke/Aidan Turner/Jo Brand/Liam Payne (2018)

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Soundtracks

Hotcha
(Peter Best)
Published by Best Results Pty Ltd
Performed by A.A. Aardvaark

User Reviews

Quirky, Uneven Film with Outstanding Lead Performances

The film has a biting satiric edge to it & offers a refreshingly unsentimental, non-judgmental portrait of a young woman deemed a loser by both "friends" and family. Toni Collette is magnificent as Muriel, capturing the character's wide range of emotions, from the oblivious to the gushingly enthusiastic. Collette is solidly paired with Rachel Griffith; the two come across as long-time buddies. The open-faced surrealistic sarcasm of the film is in key places undermined by melodramatic tragedies (reminding me of the turkey "Terms of Endearment"), but at least these solemn moments are treated in an un-Hollywood, non-mawkish fashion. This is a fascinating, memorable film.