Main Cast: Jo Kennedy, Ross O'Donovan, Pat Evison, Margo Lee, Max Cullen
Release Year: 1982
Country: AU
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Star Struck is a light, frothy pop-culture musical comedy from Australia, where Jackie (Jo Kennedy) dreams of becoming a singing star and her cousin Angus (Ross O'Donovan) thinks he has what it takes to be a successful manager. After a spot at the hip club in town (wearing a kangaroo suit) fails to win Jackie any paying gigs, Angus enters her in a major talent competition to be held on New Year's Eve. If Jackie wins, her career is assured, and the $25,000 grand prize will help keep her parents' cafe open. But can Jackie stand the pressure? Will the band get it together in time? And will Angus ever get a girl? Star Struck plays like a mid-1980s "New Wave" variation on an old "Let's Put On A Show!" teenage musical, with tunes by Phil Judd and Tim Finn of the popular New Zealand band Split Enz. Keep your eyes peeled for a bit part played by Geoffrey Rush, 14 years before he would win an Oscar for his work in Shine. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Many people think of Australian movies as being either serious dramas or post-apocalyptic action flicks like Mad Max. Starstruck is a delightful deviation from these preconceptions that pays tribute to the musical genre without sacrificing its uniquely Australian sensibilities. Stephen Maclean's novel script takes a premise that could have served as the basis for a Busby Berkeley musical and brings it into the present day by populating it with quirky characters who have modern attitudes and motivations. For instance, the heroine Jackie is a charming and likeable starlet but is also cynical enough to know that dreams of stardom often require stepping on some toes, thus creating a "will she or won't she?" tension that enhances the plot. Director Gillian Armstrong gives the film the fizzy energy and pop gloss it requires to take flight, aided immensely by Russell Boyd's neon-gloss cinematography and a song score with several eccentric yet catchy Phil Judd songs, but Armstrong never loses sight of the unique, likeable characters that drive her story. She achieves this goal by getting witty yet subtle performances from everyone involved, especially Jo Kennedy as the offbeat but very alluring heroine and Ross O'Donovan as her perpetually scheming would-be teenage Svengali. In short, Starstruck is a grand blast of new wave fun, and you don't even have to be into Australian films to enjoy it. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Cast
Jo Kennedy - Jackie Mullens
Ross O'Donovan - Angus Mullens
Pat Evison - Nana
Margo Lee - Pearl
Max Cullen - Reg
Ned Lander - Robbie; Melissa Jaffer - Mrs. Booth; John O'May - Terry Lambert; Dennis Miller - Lou; Norman Erskine - Hazza; Buster Stiggs - On of the Swingers; Brian Blain - Brewery Executive; Carol Burns - Teacher; Stuart Campbell - TV Director; Kay Eklund - Wardrobe Lady; Kaarin Fairfax - Ice Cream Girl; Ian Gilroy - One of The Swingers; Lucky Grills - Brewery Truckdriver; Syd Heylen - Pub Regular; Dwayne Hillman - One of The Swingers; Mark Little - Carl; Katherine Romaine - Make-up Artist; John Sheerin - Policeman; Ian Spence - Spider; Peter Davies - Timpany; David Garfield - Aggresive Drunk; Phil Judd - The Swinger; Warren Lewis - Schoolboy 2; Michael Moody - Rescue Ladderman; Kerry McKay - Phil; Geoffrey Rush - Floor Manager; Rainee Skinner - Rock Photographer; Pat Rooney - Bouncer
Credit
Kimble Hilder - Art Director, Stephen Maclean - Associate Producer, Dave Atkins - Choreography, Luciana Arrighi - Costume Designer, Terry Ryan - Costume Designer, Colin Fletcher - First Assistant Director, Gillian Armstrong - Director, Nicholas Beauman - Editor, Phil Judd - Composer (Music Score), Jo Kennedy - Composer (Music Score), Tim Finn - Composer (Music Score), Mark Moffatt - Musical Direction/Supervision, Brian Thomson - Production Designer, Russell Boyd - Cinematographer, Barbara Gibbs - Production Manager, Richard Brennan - Producer, David Elfick - Producer, Sally Campbell - Set Designer, Lissa Coote - Set Designer, Phil Judd - Sound/Sound Designer, Stephen Maclean - Screenwriter
Starstruck is a 1982 Australian comedy-drama musical film starring Jo Kennedy, Ross O'Donovan and Margo Lee about two teenagers trying to make their break into the music industry. The film was shot on location in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was marketed with the tagline "A Comedy Musical." The hotel shots were filmed at the Harbour View Hotel in Sydney's "The Rocks" district, near the south pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Jackie Mullens dreams of becoming a singing star and her cousin Angus thinks he has what it takes to be a successful manager. After a spot at the hip club in town (wearing a kangaroo suit) fails to win Jackie any paying gigs, Angus enters her in a major talent competition to be held on New Year's Eve. If Jackie wins, her career is assured, and the $25,000 grand prize will help keep her family's pub open.
Music
The film spawned a Soundtrack album, from which the hit single "Body and Soul" sung by Jo Kennedy came. The song was written by Tim Finn of Split Enz. The single made number 5 on the Australian charts in May 1982.
Starstruck received three AFI nominations, for Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Production Design and Best Original Music Score.
