Review of Ruben Guthrie (2015) by Meredith W — 15 Jan 2016

Life is good for ad man Ruben Guthrie (Patrick Brammall) - he leads a party boy lifestyle, has a model fiancée and lives in a house on the water. But he is an alcoholic and so his fiancée Zoya (Abbey Lee) leaves him with instruction that if he can be sober for a year, she'll give him another chance.

Despite his hedonistic lifestyle it is easy to sympathise with Ruben given how his progress is hampered by friends, colleagues and even his family. And in this, the comedy makes some important comments on mateship and male interaction, as well as Australia's drinking culture, without being overly preachy.

As both first film and stage adaptation, this work from Brendan Cowell, stands up, thanks to its backing from Destination NSW (the waterside Sydney shots are glorious). Alex Dimitriades is a real highlight, as Ruben's hard-living gay friend from uni days.