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 & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Lee	...	Tania
Roz Hammond	...	Cheryl (as Rosalind Hammond)
Toni Collette	...	Muriel
Belinda Jarrett	...	Janine
Pippa Grandison	...	Nicole
Bill Hunter	...	Bill
Jeanie Drynan	...	Betty
Dan Wyllie	...	Perry (as Daniel Wyllie)
Gabby Millgate	...	Joanie
Gennie Nevinson	...	Deidre
Rachel Griffiths	...	Rhonda
Matt Day	...	Brice
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 and dreaming of her wedding day. A slight problem is she 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 | female protagonist | dysfunctional family | wanting to marry | friendship between women | 

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Taglines:

A Story of Love, Laughter and the Pursuit of Matrimony, everyone is invited!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sex-related dialogue and some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Toni Collette gained 40 pounds in 7 weeks with the help of a dietitian for this role.

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Goofs

When Betty Heslop writes the first check to "cash" for Muriel to buy cosmetics, it is dated 12-1-1994. When Muriel hands her father a check for $5,000 near the end of the film, that check is dated 2-11-1992.

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Quotes

Peter 'Chook' Vernell: I love ya.
[Muriel looks through the small gap in the door and looks shocked]
Nicole: Yeah but you love Tanya too.
Peter 'Chook' Vernell: Don't worry about it.
[Chook and Nicole start going at it on the washing machine]
Nicole: [Out of breath] Chook
Peter 'Chook' Vernell: What?
Nicole: Shut the door
[Chook leans over and they both slam the door shut Muriel leans back and hears Chook and Nicole grunting in the laundry room]

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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 Imp, the Spirit, the Hero: Playing David Helfgott in 'Shine' with Geoffrey Rush (2015)

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Soundtracks

Coffee & Tea
(Peter Best)
Published by Best Results Pty Ltd
Performed by A.A. Aardvaark

User Reviews

Star rating: 4 out of 5

Muriel's Wedding is an Australian gem that perhaps suffers somewhat from being earmarked as a 'comedy'. Certainly there are plenty of laughs, but this film is no mere cheap and cheesy crowd-pleaser. As well as dealing with the insularity and cattiness of her hometown, Porpoise Spit, Muriel also must face the suicide of her mother and paralysing of her best friend. Yet, despite these tragedies, Muriel manages to come out on top, and at the same time strike a blow for anybody who has ever been snubbed by the in-crowd.

The characterisation in the movie is brilliant, particularly that of Muriel's family of no-hopers. Hoping to shed the title of "useless" bestowed on her by her father, Muriel (Toni Collette) absconds with the family's savings to an island resort, where she meets vivacious, straight-talking Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths). Rhonda is the catalyst for Muriel to become a new person, but unfortunately Muriel takes her obsession with weddings one step too far and marries just for the sake of it. She thinks she has finally "made it", but comes to realise that there's more to life than public image.

The soundtrack is a gloriously appropriate ABBA symphony, although both Dancing Queen and the film's original theme tune are over-utilised. It is surely partly due to ABBA's pleasant familiarity that it is so easy to become emotionally involved in the film, and the viewer will likely experience the whole gamut of feelings during its course. The finale, whilst upbeat, fortunately doesn't stumble into the realm of saccharine moralism (which so many filmmakers seem to think it is necessary to conclude with). Instead, we feel the triumph along with Muriel and Rhonda as they bid a raucous farewell to Porpoise Spit.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Australia France

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Muriel's Wedding

Filming Locations:

Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$244,969, 12 March 1995

Gross USA:

$15,119,639

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,482,277

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