Danny is regarded as a bit of a loser by his friends and workmates. His girlfriend of long standing, Trudy, thinks their relationship is going nowhere and wants a more dynamic, go get ‘em kind of like. Trudy is in real estate sales and lusts after anything she sees as a truly great catch,in particular former football hero, now television presenter Sandy Upman. When Trudy gets the opportunity to spend some time with Sandy (albeit showing him real estate) she cancels out of the long awaited camping holiday that Danny has had organised for months.

Trudy insists Danny still goes camping on his own to give her free rein in trying to lure Sandy, but Danny refuses and just hangs around the house during his holiday while Trudy goes back to work. Needless to say Danny sees Sandy and Trudy together and doesn’t let on to Trudy just how hurt he is. Meanwhile the long weekend rolls around and Trudy has organised a BBQ with all their friends. Danny decides to get helium balloons for the party and blows up lots and ties them to his deckchair, saying to his mates he reckons it will fly. They all encourage the venture and needless to say it works rather surprisingly too well. Danny’s chair not only takes off with him, but his is swept up in a storm and disappears.

The search is on for Danny and Trudy is loving all the media attention she gets whilst the search is on. She even gets to spend more time with Sandy, of which she takes advantage. The assumption is that Danny is “gone” and Trudy gets on with her life and hopes for a future career in TV.

Danny of course has floated off to Clarence in the northern rivers of NSW, where he lands in the backyard of Glenda, the local traffic cop. Glenda is considered to be an uptight spinster with no prospects and Danny landing in her garden brings a new lease of energy into her life. Together they concoct a past and Danny finds himself settling into small town life. He gets involved in local politics and gradually finds himself falling in love with Glenda.

Of course life catches up with Danny and all hell breaks loose. I am not going to let you know all the ins and outs of how this story turns out, but it is pretty predictable, with a few twists and turns along the way.

Rhys Ifans of Notting Hill fame is charming as Danny. He brings a real sense of vulnerability about Danny. Instead of being just a goofy loser, Danny becomes a man of charm, character and integrity. Miranda Otto is wonderful as the uptight Glenda who has a reluctance to thaw and enjoy life.

Danny Deckchair is that quintessential, quirky Australian film, that has you quietly chuckling to yourself, rather than filling you with belly laughs. It has its tender moments and its moments of sheer stupidity. If you want a gently, funny film to simply entertain you on an evening in front of the tube, this is a film that will capture a little bit of escapism in all of us.

THE EXTRAS

No extras available, just chapter selection

CONCLUSION

Danny Deckchair is that quintessential, quirky Australian film, that has you quietly chuckling to yourself, rather than filling you with belly laughs. It has its tender moments and its moments of sheer stupidity. If you want a gently, funny film to simply entertain you on an evening in front of the tube, this is a film that will capture a little bit of escapism in all of us.