Review of Danny Deckchair (2003) by Lisa J — 16 May 2008

Danny Morgan (Ifans) has been a dreamer, coming up with one crazy scheme after another. Not for profit, though. Just crazy little projects like a backyard slingshot which serves no practical purpose, to help him break the monotony of his life as a cement truck driver.

His only joy in life seems to be his yearly vacation, when he and his longtime girlfriend Trudy (Justine Clarke) go on a camping holiday. But what Danny doesn?t know is that his beloved has just started seeing local television sports personality Sandy Upman on the side, so when she ups and cancels the holiday on him with a feeble work-related excuse, Danny has nothing to do but go stir crazy in their house, until Trudy suggests a backyard barbeque with friends.

It is while picking up supplies for the party where Danny comes up with his latest ruse: to tie a bunch of helium filled balloons to a deck chair and see if it would lift Danny off the ground. The gangling Rhys Ifans makes an unlikely romantic hero, which is exactly the best kind.

His wildly unshaven look, which is on display in the first part of the movie, is hardly one to make female heads turn, but he cleans up well and possesses an everyman charm. Miranda Otto is lovely here, not in the ethereal Eowyn way, but in a gorgeous girl-next-door way, and she shows a warm comedic touch that contrasts nicely with Danny's goofiness.

"Danny Deckchair" is fairly predictable.