Not Suitable for Children Blu-ray review

Actors: Ryan Kwanten, Ryan Corr, Sarah Snook, Bojana Novakovic

Director: Peter Templeman

Format: Widescreen, NTSC, Digital Sound, Dolby, THX

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: April 16, 2013

Run Time: 97 minutes

 

          Not Suitable for Children is an adult romantic comedy in the vein of many Judd Apatow films, specifically Knocked Up. Though there is potential for much more vulgar material with the plot, instead it finds a way of being surprisingly sweet instead. The cover clearly wants to cash in on the success of HBO’s “True Blood” co-star Ryan Kwanten’s role in Not Suitable for Children, plastering his face on the region 1 Blu-ray cover. In reality, the one stand-out element within this Australian romantic comedy isn’t Kwanten, but his female co-star, Sarah Snook.

 

          The plot is a bit ridiculous, but also a simple set-up which provides numerous opportunities for the plot. Jonah (Kwanten) is accustomed to a bohemian-type style of living, sharing a house with his best friends; a crass and oblivious guy named Gus (Ryan Corr), and his sarcastic and practical female friend, Stevie (Snook). These are the friends he turns to when Jonah discovers that he has testicular cancer. After all of his options for having a child begin to disappear, Jonah realizes that his only chance for children is to get somebody pregnant before his scheduled surgery, which will leave him infertile.

 

          Stevie begins to help Jonah as a mediator to find someone willing to carry his child, whether a lesbian couple or a lonely middle-aged woman, but we can see that she will ultimately end up with out protagonist. The wonder of romantic comedies is their ability to remain enjoyable despite having few to no surprises with the direction of the plot. What makes them particularly enjoyable is the writing and the performances, and this film is blessed with a charmingly real performance from Sarah Snook. She is like an Australian Emma Stone, beautiful while remaining grounded and real. I have no doubt that we will see more of her shortly.

 

          The Blu-ray includes interviews with cast and crew members, as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the production and a trailer.  

 

Entertainment Value: 8/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

Historical Significance: 6/10

Disc Features: 6/10