REVIEW: That’s Not Me a funny low-key comedy of mistaken identity and unrecognised talent

REVIEW: That’s Not Me is a well-crafted low-budget Australian comedy about an identical twin and her life in the shadow of a significant other (sibling!).

A LOW-KEY, low-budget comedy made here in Australia, That’s Not Me will probably have a tough time of it finding the audience it deserves.

Unfortunately, it’s hard going out there right now for local productions good or bad.

Come on now. The movie only cost $60,000 to make. They weren’t gonna blow the lot on fancy sets.

Nevertheless, this passion project for rookie writing team Gregory Erdstein and Alice Foulcher (also director and lead actor respectively) leaves nothing on the table when it comes to energy expended or ideas explored.

And yes, it is quite good. Very good at times, in fact.

Foulcher plays Polly Cuthbert, a low-ranking actress making ends by working the ticket counter at her local cinema.

Alice Foulcher as Polly, pretending to accept an Oscar while on the toilet. As you do.

This should be no source of shame in itself. After all, people must do what they have to when it comes to putting food on the table.

However, the twist here — and a plentiful source of multiple humiliations — is the fact Polly is one half of a set of identical twins. Her sister Amy just happens to be one of the most popular stars on Australian television.

While the trials and tribulations of being continually mistaken for an infinitely more successful sibling points the way towards some obvious gags and strained situations, That’s Not Me rarely leans too hard on them for easy laughs.

Identical twins in every way. Except when it comes to successful acting careers. We’ve all been there. Well. perhaps not all of us ...

Though the movie has some problems finding a satisfactory ending, its refreshingly relaxed feel and a wonderful performance by Foulcher in a deceptively demanding role ensures it never outstays its welcome.

THAT’S NOT ME (MA15+)

Rating: three stars (3 out of 5)

Director: Gregory Erdstein (feature debut)

Starring: Alice Foulcher, Isabel Lucas, Richard Davies, Belinda Misevski, Rowan Davie. Andrew S. Gilbert.

You twin some, you lose some

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Originally published as REVIEW: That’s Not Me a funny low-key comedy of mistaken identity and unrecognised talent