Set in the outback, The Deb is a riotous, laugh-out-loud musical comedy that rewrites the codes of teenage romance in the 21st century (Variety). Think Grease in the bush. With some Bollywood moves. And Rebel Wilson.
“Bold, outrageous, and slyly hilarious, Rebel Wilson finds the perfect material for her directorial debut in The Deb. Her film brings to teen-girl social warfare the same blend of raw, sweet, and romantic that fans will recognize from her performances in Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect.“
Toronto International Film Festival
“The Deb follows lovable farm girl and high school outcast Taylah Simpkins, who is certain the upcoming Debutante Ball is her one chance to redefine herself. When her cynical city cousin Maeve is exiled to the drought-stricken town Dunburn, she thinks the ball is a ‘heteronormative shit-show’ and immediately disrupts the status quo. In their search for the spotlight, Taylah and Maeve dig deep to find self-acceptance — and a date to the Deb.”
Screen Australia
Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut is as raucous and ribald as you would expect, from a woman who has spent her career gleefully skewering convention, mining the chaos of humanity for big, bawdy laughs.
“Wilson risks hijacking her own movie. Then again, she’s consistently the funniest thing on-screen: a bad-taste terrorist determined to take down [the city interloper]. Her characters run the gamut from uncouth to in-your-face offensive — none more than the tacky small-town beautician Wilson embodies in a brash, John Waters-esque musical satire, situated where overzealous progressive values meet old-school pageantry at its most patriarchal…”
Variety
Described by ScreenHub Australia as ‘Muriel’s Wedding meets Puberty Blues, with a touch of the true blue magic you find in Aussie cinematic classics like The Sapphires and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert‘, The Deb has its own standalone magic. It is as hilarious as it is heartfelt, as outrageous as it is humbling. And its unique Australianism is heady in a world where the socials pump out a dull cultural hegemony.
Powered by a standout Aussie creative team with decades of experience across Australian and international filmmaking, Alien Proof worked with inimitable production designer Sam Hobbs to bring Dunburn to life. As ever, it was an honour.
