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Paper Champions

  • 20202020
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
108
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Paper Champions (2020)
Official Trailer.
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
23 Photos
  • Comedy

Paper Champions is an uplifting comedy about Rey, a young man who wants to find love despite having lost his 'Mana'.Paper Champions is an uplifting comedy about Rey, a young man who wants to find love despite having lost his 'Mana'.Paper Champions is an uplifting comedy about Rey, a young man who wants to find love despite having lost his 'Mana'.

IMDb RATING
5.9/10
108
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jo-Anne Brechin
  • Writers
    • Michael McCallum
    • James Pratt
    • Luke Saliba
  • Stars
    • David Fane
    • Gary Sweet
    • John Tui
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jo-Anne Brechin
  • Writers
    • Michael McCallum
    • James Pratt
    • Luke Saliba
  • Stars
    • David Fane
    • Gary Sweet
    • John Tui
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Paper Champions - Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Paper Champions - Official Trailer

    Photos23

    Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    John Tui and Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    Tessa de Josselin and Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    Gary Sweet in Paper Champions (2020)
    John Tui, Luke Saliba, and Erin Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    David Fane, John Tui, and Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    Kaarin Fairfax and Gary Sweet in Paper Champions (2020)
    Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    Gary Sweet and John Tui in Paper Champions (2020)
    Gary Sweet and Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)
    Kaarin Fairfax, Gary Sweet, and Luke Saliba in Paper Champions (2020)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Fane
    David Fane
    • Kenifeas Kenife
    Gary Sweet
    Gary Sweet
    • Terryas Terry
    John Tui
    John Tui
    • Wadeas Wade
    Jessica Redmayne
    Jessica Redmayne
    • Vanessaas Vanessa
    Kaarin Fairfax
    Kaarin Fairfax
    • Morineas Morine
    Don Bridges
    Don Bridges
    • Joeas Joe
    Adam Fiorentino
    Adam Fiorentino
    • Ricoas Rico
    Tessa de Josselin
    Tessa de Josselin
    • Hollyas Holly
    Genevieve Morris
    Genevieve Morris
    • Lindaas Linda
    Luke Saliba
    Luke Saliba
    • Reyas Rey
    Cecilia Low
    Cecilia Low
    • Anaas Ana
    Francesca Waters
    • Prueas Prue
    Anthony Ahern
    • Trentas Trent
    Alex Pinder
    Alex Pinder
    • Dr. Leachmanas Dr. Leachman
    Tama Tauali'i
    • Matiuas Matiu
    Michael Logo
    • Ardias Ardi
    Peter Paltos
    • Photocopy Kingas Photocopy King
    Lorraine Patterson
    • Avaas Ava
    • Director
      • Jo-Anne Brechin
    • Writers
      • Michael McCallum
      • James Pratt
      • Luke Saliba
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Rey is a regular guy, working a regular job, living a regular life. After spending 10 years in a job he doesn't like, he realises all of his skills can be summed up in a pamphlet. A surge of inspiration causes Rey to quit, forcing him further outside his comfort zone than he's ever ventured before. Slowly, Rey's life begins to take shape, but not without the help of his old work colleague and best mate Wade; A big man, with an even bigger heart. After a backyard rugby incident involving Wade's cousins, Rey is rushed to the local clinic where he meets Holly. After an awkward conversation with Holly, the boys tell Rey he needs to find his Mana. (To have Mana implies influence, authority, and efficacy-the ability to perform in a given situation.) Rey sets out in search of his Mana with some help from his mum's new lover Terry. Being an ex-wrestler himself, Terry thinks he has the key to bringing Rey out of his shell. In the ropes of Terry's wrestling ring, Rey begins to find his Mana. After putting an old man in a coma, Rey crosses paths with Holly once again. Using his newfound confidence, Rey asks Holly out on a date. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, his old anxieties get the best of him. In a quirky and loveable story, Rey must rely on a Polynesian family, a Spanish dance teacher, an ex-wrestler, and all of his friends to help him become the Paper Champion.
    • love
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The wrestler 'the mountain' is an actual wrestler who goes by the name War Machine.
    • Connections
      References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    I appreciated this type of witty humour...
    When Rey was a kid, he always had dreams of taking on the world as a professional wrestler. But in the present day, Rey (Luke Saliba) has ended up on a very different path. Rey works behind a desk selling photocopy machines along selling general stationery supplies to locals. Rey also works with his long-time best friend, Wade (John Tui), who is always quite encouraging towards Rey.

    But in life Rey seems deflated and defeated. Even his best friend claims that Rey has lost his Mana. Supposing you are not familiar with the term, according to Google, Mana is the spiritual life force energy or healing power that permeates the universe in the culture of the Melanesians and Polynesians.

    With Rey feeling down and lacking Mana, his friends and even his family are now all trying to help. They help by getting Rey to participate in several activities such as playing football, giving tips on how to dance and even offering advice on how to act around the ladies. One of these activities leads Rey to meet a young nurse who he wishes to pursue a new friendship with. Rey eventually questions his long-life dreams of becoming a wrestler.

    Paper Champions is a feel-good comedy, and to my surprise, this film is also filled with heartfelt moments as Rey begins to rediscover himself as a grown man. The film is family-friendly, and I enjoyed how the film was able to be fun, random, witty and deliver well-timed jokes to the screen. Rey, as a character, is mainly quiet and shy, but his family and friends around him are certainly outgoing and full of energy which is perfect for Rey's current situation in life.

    As a plot, I found myself quite engaged with the story and perhaps maybe even found it relatable. At no point did I find this film dull or uninteresting, and I was invested in seeing how Rey's life would turn out at the end of this film. Once I started the movie, I had to know how this film would end. It undoubtedly hooked me because of the plot and I watched this film with a smile.

    Overall, this film truly surprised me. It is a heartfelt comedy about a man who has lost his way in life but has the determination to rediscover himself. The humour here is family-friendly, and I appreciated this type of witty humour. It did not take long for me to feel invested in this film based on the film's plot and characters, but also because I found the film to be fun and brainless. It's a solid Australian film and I wish we had more films like it!

    6.8/10 - Walkden Entertainment
    helpful•1
    0
    • WalkdenEntertainment
    • Dec 10, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 6, 2020 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Official site
      • Official Website
    • Filming locations
      • Geelong, Victoria, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Exile Entertainment
      • Paperless Films
      • Head Gear Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • A$1,450,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,964
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes

    Related news

    Nathan Lloyd, Natalie Jane Harvie lead Cga Award nominees
    Nathan Lloyd, Natalie Jane Harvie lead Cga Award nominees
    Nov 11IF.com.au
    Luke Saliba, Tessa de Josselin and Gary Sweet headline ‘Paper Champions’
    May 23IF.com.au

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