Bigger Than Tina (1999) User Reviews

Classic Aussie understatement.

[crojayn · 7/10 · 14 May 2000]

"Bigger Than Tina" has a touch of "Spinal Tap" about it. It is another fake documentary about a pretentious singer doing his best to launch his music career. He and his girlfriend are the daggy outer-suburbians that anyone who has lived in Melbourne has met, but he has a mission: to be bigger than Tina Arena. Classic Aussie understated comedy.

Not a masterpiece but not far from it!

[kieranmcsweeney78 · 8/10 · 6 December 2006]

I'm sorry but the previous reviewer could not be further off the mark if he or she tried - this film is an all out little beauty. HAM! - Are you kidding me? This one is played straighter than just about anything else i have seen in this genre - Spinal Tap, Guffman, Best In Show etc etc. So close to the bone is this film that I had to continually question whether it was the real thing or not - and we're still not convinced it ain't! I borrowed this film on the strength of good press it received on its DVD release and I've got to say it deserves every bit of good press it gets. Our first viewing had us in absolute stitches as did our second and our third! The cast are amazing - the hapless Dan and his long suffering sweetheart Kristal could not have been cast better. The pain of watching this seriously deluded soul trying to make it to the top reminded me of the cringe i received when first watching 'The Office' (this was actually made two years before 'The Office') and I loved every minute of it. I'm a bit stuck as to see how anyone can say this was played for laughs as we had the complete reverse reaction - I actually registered on IMDb just so I could defend this film after reading the poor review it got - I guess one mans trash is another mans treasure? The thing is with this film is that it takes you on a ride firstly into comic farce and then into some really dark uncomfortable territory which is not usually the domain of such enterprises. I'm no reviewer but I know whats good and what ain't and all I can say is get this little Aussie gem out and see for yourself. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a masterpiece but it's damn close.