This is a nice little easy watching, low effort movie. I had it on while doing some housework and it just flowed along nicely. Hugo Weaving is always good and very watchable. David Wenham is OK. The character of Katya is interesting and not too stereotypical (match making client not mail order bride or prostitute) and even better, she looked great in her sexy outfits and was not stick bandit thin, more like a real woman. The ending was perhaps a little clunky and the big gaps in the time line along the way (this happens at the start too) could perhaps be better emphasised with cinematic devices. All the same, worth getting out one day for an afternoon on the couch with some choccies or to keep an eye on while you're doing the ironing or cooking dinner somesuch.
12 Reviews
Kinda cute, sorta fun, and very ordinary
=G=16 September 2002
"Russian Doll" is a lackluster tale about a married Aussie man who is having an affair with a beautiful Russian woman whose visa is about to expire and talks his best friend into marrying her so she can continue to live in Australia. What could have been a cute romantic comedy built around an unoriginal plotline tries hard and has its moments but suffers from low-budgetness, a uninspired script, and a very plain and ordinary execution. The film is little more than a diversion for the needy sofa spud now on cable. (C-)
It could have been a decent movie, if they'd finished it.
Spleen11 February 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Do you mind if I give away the ending? This is courtesy spoiler warning is merely a matter of form, since what I'm about to reveal is mainly the fact that there isn't one.
Katia goes home to Russia and after a while Harvey goes to Russia as well, to track her down and persuade her to return to Australia. All very well. But note:
(1) Hugo Weaving breaks into narrative: "After a while I went to Moscow, tracked her down, and asked her to marry me." It's as bald as that. As he says it we wonder why they bothered with the movie at all - why not just have Hugo Weaving say, "I met this Russian chick"?
(2) Harvey's decision to go to Russia was a big one, and ought to have been matched by something big in the film. You'll note that neither the actors nor the production crew go to Russia themselves. They needn't have done so, of course - but they ought to have done SOMETHING; as it is it feels as though Harvey has done nothing more momentous than cross the road.
A fine cast (it's always good to see Sacha Horler) in what promises at times to be a pleasing trifle; I enjoyed watching it while it lasted but it's impossible to ignore the fact that the film is not yet in a fit state to be released.
Katia goes home to Russia and after a while Harvey goes to Russia as well, to track her down and persuade her to return to Australia. All very well. But note:
(1) Hugo Weaving breaks into narrative: "After a while I went to Moscow, tracked her down, and asked her to marry me." It's as bald as that. As he says it we wonder why they bothered with the movie at all - why not just have Hugo Weaving say, "I met this Russian chick"?
(2) Harvey's decision to go to Russia was a big one, and ought to have been matched by something big in the film. You'll note that neither the actors nor the production crew go to Russia themselves. They needn't have done so, of course - but they ought to have done SOMETHING; as it is it feels as though Harvey has done nothing more momentous than cross the road.
A fine cast (it's always good to see Sacha Horler) in what promises at times to be a pleasing trifle; I enjoyed watching it while it lasted but it's impossible to ignore the fact that the film is not yet in a fit state to be released.
A Droll Doll, but a played out genre
Philby-31 July 2001
This is another cute little romantic comedy from Australia, `Greencard' meets `Notting Hill' with a little help from the brilliant Billy Wilder comedy of 1960, `The Apartment'. Why see it? Well, it has Hugh Weaving, he of the lugubrious features, as Harvey, a private investigator, who agrees to house his mate Ethan's Russian mistress Katia and later to marry her so she can stay in the country. The film also has Natalia Novikova, a recent NIDA graduate, who really fits the bill as the imported Russian sex goddess with all the chutzpah one would expect. Despite their incompatibility, Harvey and Katia fall for each other, as is always the case in this genre.
Ethan and Katia are both jewish, which brings in the films's other distinctive feature, the Russian jewish community of Sydney's eastern suburbs (Harvey on the other hand describes himself as a Catholic Atheist). Your correspondent happened to see this film a couple of weeks after it opened in a cinema in the area usually patronised by the under 25s and the small audience seemed to be middle-aged to elderly, and speaking a fair bit of Yiddish. I guess, since the film was made in and around Bondi, they had turned up to see how they and their friends looked as extras in the restaurant, party and wedding scenes.
I note most of the American critics hated this film, but I thought it worth seeing if only for Natalia Novikova as Katia. She is absolutely gorgeous and is going to have a hard time topping this performance. Hugo Weaving usually does villains (remember the Matrix?) and seemed a little uncomfortable even as a sad sack p. i. hero, but he makes it though OK. David Wenham, normally a truly brilliant actor, was a bit smug and colourless as Ethan the wife-cheater though Rebecca Frith made the most of her role as the cheated-upon wife. I also liked Sasha Horler as Katia's Russian friend who takes a shine to Harvey.
There is plenty of appropriate folk music and ethnic cuisine, and the whole thing is reasonably entertaining, if not at the cutting edge of Australian film-making. This is a `government film' (Australian Film Finance Corporation) and the producers have played pretty safe musn't offend anyone when the taxpayer is paying but romantic comedy is a pretty played-out genre, even with an ethnic slant. Creates employment I guess. Still, as usual Sydney photographs well (though the colour is a bit peculiar at times) and this film will not drive tourists away. A pity most Russians are too poor at present to make the journey.
Ethan and Katia are both jewish, which brings in the films's other distinctive feature, the Russian jewish community of Sydney's eastern suburbs (Harvey on the other hand describes himself as a Catholic Atheist). Your correspondent happened to see this film a couple of weeks after it opened in a cinema in the area usually patronised by the under 25s and the small audience seemed to be middle-aged to elderly, and speaking a fair bit of Yiddish. I guess, since the film was made in and around Bondi, they had turned up to see how they and their friends looked as extras in the restaurant, party and wedding scenes.
I note most of the American critics hated this film, but I thought it worth seeing if only for Natalia Novikova as Katia. She is absolutely gorgeous and is going to have a hard time topping this performance. Hugo Weaving usually does villains (remember the Matrix?) and seemed a little uncomfortable even as a sad sack p. i. hero, but he makes it though OK. David Wenham, normally a truly brilliant actor, was a bit smug and colourless as Ethan the wife-cheater though Rebecca Frith made the most of her role as the cheated-upon wife. I also liked Sasha Horler as Katia's Russian friend who takes a shine to Harvey.
There is plenty of appropriate folk music and ethnic cuisine, and the whole thing is reasonably entertaining, if not at the cutting edge of Australian film-making. This is a `government film' (Australian Film Finance Corporation) and the producers have played pretty safe musn't offend anyone when the taxpayer is paying but romantic comedy is a pretty played-out genre, even with an ethnic slant. Creates employment I guess. Still, as usual Sydney photographs well (though the colour is a bit peculiar at times) and this film will not drive tourists away. A pity most Russians are too poor at present to make the journey.
Nothing Special
tonyhic23 May 2003
Hugo Weaving, Sacha Horler and David Wenham, all fine actors, put in their usual standard performance, but it doesn't do much good with such a weak and implausible storyline. The whole thing hangs on the credibility of Katia, the title role. Natalia Novikova makes a huge effort, but I believe it's an impossible task.
Very enjoyable
sngtey20 June 2002
Much, much better than Greencard. Great acting, lots of funny moments. Such a passionate race, made me drag my partner to a Russian restaurant not long afterwards! All Aussies out there, do support our film industry. We often churn out better stuff than Hollywood!
A treat for HW fans
CassieBrite28 September 2003
Well, I was thoroughly pleased with "Russian Doll." Two main reasons: 1) Hugo Weaving (as Harvey) does a superb job as the disenchanted p.i. turned novelist, and 2) the plot was interestingly developed. There are a lot of good points to this movie. The most important is that it makes you laugh at all the right times. I watch this movie in the afternoon-time, not at night, because it's meant to be a fun, afternoon movie, not the main event for the night. (At night, you watch something like Lord of the Rings or Matrix to catch Mr. Weaving's fine acting.) Added bonus was David Wenham (Ethan), who I had never seen before, and he does a marvelous job with the character of Ethan, who is enduring an early mid-life crisis. (He's in LOTR- Faramir, you know.) So, all in all, I enjoyed this movie for what it was meant to be- a light-hearted romp to give you appreciation for your own life which should never be so complicated.
Russian ruins
dr_verduche19 April 2003
Russian Doll looked good in the previews that is only where it looked good. Hugo Weaving and David Wenham lacked their usual charisma and depth of character. Katia was obnoxious and annoying. Ms. Horler was the only good thing about the movie she lead the cast through all the difficulties it faced in the script, she should have appeared more in the film, I was also disappointed that Laurie Foel was only in it for 1 minute. What it lacks Horler makes up for, but I wouldn't recommend this Australian film because it's a disaster.
Another nail in the AFI coffin?
da cissy pimp24 August 2001
Warning: Spoilers
Achtung!!! May contain spoilers.
I must admit that, having seen quite a few lacklustre Australian flicks in recent times, I tend to shudder a bit whenever I see the words "Australian Film Finance Corporation" anywhere in the opening credits of a locally-produced flick. "Russian Doll" was no exception and sadly, it seemed, my apprehension was justified this time.
This movie revolves around a former private-investigator called Harvey who becomes thoroughly disillusioned with his work after he accidentally spies (with his hi-tech surveillance equipment) his girlfriend cheating on him. (As soon as she realizes that she has been seen by him, she gives him the most infuriatingly stupid-looking grin and waves at him: something that made me feel like jumping into the movie and smacking her in the face). Throwing in his job, therefore, he decides to devote his time to writing a crime novel instead, and while doing this, is persuaded by an old friend of his called Ethan to enter into a marriage of convenience with a Russian woman called Katia. Katia is Ethan's mistress and the man wants Harvey to marry her so that she can remain in the country. With many misgivings, Harvey agrees to go along with the plan, and his soon-to-be "Russian bride" moves in with him. At first, they can't stand being in the same room with one another, but after a while, they start getting used to each other and well, you can probably guess what happens after that.
Overall, this movie was nothing terribly original, and the longer it went, the more bored I grew. One thing that disappointed me was the way that Katia looked more Greek than Russian (even though she was played by a real Russian actress from what I heard). Having seen enough "wog" movies (one of my country's more unusual exports) over the years, I was sort of disappointed that I seemed to be seeing yet another wog in a movie that wasn't even about them. I was also disappointed by the way that Harvey fell for her rather than her friend Liza, who was a real spunk in my opinion and seemed to have more genuine feelings towards him than Katia did.
I must admit that, having seen quite a few lacklustre Australian flicks in recent times, I tend to shudder a bit whenever I see the words "Australian Film Finance Corporation" anywhere in the opening credits of a locally-produced flick. "Russian Doll" was no exception and sadly, it seemed, my apprehension was justified this time.
This movie revolves around a former private-investigator called Harvey who becomes thoroughly disillusioned with his work after he accidentally spies (with his hi-tech surveillance equipment) his girlfriend cheating on him. (As soon as she realizes that she has been seen by him, she gives him the most infuriatingly stupid-looking grin and waves at him: something that made me feel like jumping into the movie and smacking her in the face). Throwing in his job, therefore, he decides to devote his time to writing a crime novel instead, and while doing this, is persuaded by an old friend of his called Ethan to enter into a marriage of convenience with a Russian woman called Katia. Katia is Ethan's mistress and the man wants Harvey to marry her so that she can remain in the country. With many misgivings, Harvey agrees to go along with the plan, and his soon-to-be "Russian bride" moves in with him. At first, they can't stand being in the same room with one another, but after a while, they start getting used to each other and well, you can probably guess what happens after that.
Overall, this movie was nothing terribly original, and the longer it went, the more bored I grew. One thing that disappointed me was the way that Katia looked more Greek than Russian (even though she was played by a real Russian actress from what I heard). Having seen enough "wog" movies (one of my country's more unusual exports) over the years, I was sort of disappointed that I seemed to be seeing yet another wog in a movie that wasn't even about them. I was also disappointed by the way that Harvey fell for her rather than her friend Liza, who was a real spunk in my opinion and seemed to have more genuine feelings towards him than Katia did.
very true to life
hookj12 November 2001
I thoroughly enjoyed the film, so true to life, the actors played the parts brilliantly. I have personally been involved in a situation which has some similarities and it was all so familiar. Congratulations to Stavros Kazantzidis.
A very amusing film with some weaknesses
jbasman26 June 2001
Russian Doll is quite unoriginal, having a plot similar to that of Greencard. It is also quite heavy on stereotypes. However, this is also a warm and amusing film which is a pleasure to watch. Hugo Weaving is excellent as always and Natalia Novikova is very entertaining.
Good film for anyone in the mood for a lighthearted comedy. Don't look for any deep meaning in it though, there isn't any.
Good film for anyone in the mood for a lighthearted comedy. Don't look for any deep meaning in it though, there isn't any.
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