THE DEB

TIFF 24 REVIEW BY: DARREN ZAKUS

DATE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

RATING: 4 out of 5

The Deb is a hilarious musical comedy that will have dancing in your seat that only Rebel Wilson could direct with her wicked sense of humour, but it is the incredibly catchy songs and two excellent lead performances from Natalie Abbott and Charlotte MacInnes that make it a true winner.

For years, Rebel Wilson has been entertaining audiences with her comedic talents and musical abilities in films like Bridesmaids, Jojo Rabbit and the Pitch Perfect trilogy. But for her next film, Wilson is stepping behind the camera as a director and contributing writer for the new Australian musical, The Deb. Based on the award winning Australian stage musical, the film tells the story of two young Australian girls attending the debutante ball in their hometown. It’s bursting with heart, creating a truly joyous experience for audiences, and Wilson infuses the film with her wicked sense of humour that creates one show-stopping musical extravaganza from start to finish.

From the very first scene, there is no hiding that this film is a full on musical and packed with Wilson’s crude humour. The opening number, entitled “FML”, sets the tone for the film with its snarky one liners, crude language and excellent dance choreography, instantly energizing the film. Rob Ashford’s dance choreography captures the excitement and energy of a live stage musical, utilizing lots of background dancers that when combined with Ross Emery’s sweeping cinematic shots during the musical numbers, makes The Deb feel like a bona fide Broadway musical. The songs, largely written by Meg Washington and Hannah Riley who penned the original stage show, with additional materials from Wilson, have an inherent showtune quality that will delight musical fans with soaring ballads like “In the Spotlight” and “Someone Brilliant”, to high energy group numbers such as “Comin’ Out” and “Pretty Strong”, helping to create one film that musical lovers are going to go crazy for!

In terms of story, The Deb is not breaking the mold for teen comedies by any means. Instead, it captures the heart and humour that has helped shape so many classics for the genre, creating a truly crowd pleasing film from start to finish. It’s Mean Girls meets Hairspray set in a small Australian town, full of Australian humour and language (so get ready for koala bears and a word we think of as truly vulgar here in North America). Highlighting themes of friendship and acceptance, it has a heartwarming quality as the film’s central conflict is overcome in a rousing final musical number while delivering outrageous comedic moments, romance, inappropriate moments from Wilson herself who co-stars as Janette that will leave you howling with laughter, and lots of musical numbers along that way, guaranteeing one incredibly entertaining film.

While the story and the musical elements of The Deb bring lots of joy and excitement to the film, it is the cast that breathes life into the film. Leading the film is Charlotte MacInnes and Natalie Abbott, both of whom light up the screen with their performances. MacInnes makes her feature film debut as Maeve, the young girl who finds herself banished to the small Australian town after being expelled from school, while Abbott co-stars as her cousin Taylah who wants nothing more than to make her glorious debutante ball debut. They both possess a charming chemistry that brings to life their characters’ friendship, great comedic timing that matches Wilson’s directorial tone, on top of having outstanding singing abilities, making them the perfect two leads for this film. Wilson's supporting role as Janette is a scene stealer, letting Wilson deliver her usual comedic routine that never fails to generate laughter; Scarlett Crabtree is adorable and hilarious as Janette’s daughter Kid Koala, while Tara Morice, Shane Jacobson, Karis Oka, Brianna Bishop and Stevie Jean round out a solid supporting cast.

Having starred in plenty of musicals herself, it was only fitting that Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut was an Australian musical. The energy she brings to the film and the performances she evokes from her cast delivers an infectious musical that will leave audiences tapping their toes, humming along, and laughing uncontrollably, while promising a good future for her behind the camera. Full of show-stopping musical numbers, two winning lead performances from Charlotte MacInnes and Natalie Abbot, and the signature comedic talents of Rebel Wison both in front of and behind the camera, The Deb is the feel good musical event of the year you’ve been waiting for!