More teen angst for Puberty Blues’ Ashleigh Cummings as she’s pulled into love triangle in Galore

GALORE: Puberty Blues’ Ashleigh Cummings, a teenage love triangle and the 2003 Canberra bushfires. Does Australia really need another coming-of-age drama?

Billie (Ashleigh Cummings) in a scene from GALORE, directed by Rhys Graham.In cinemas 19 June 2014.An Entertainment One Films release.For more information contact [e-mail]

AS we all should know by now: if you have seen one-and-a-half Australian coming-of-age dramas, you have pretty much seen them all.

Therefore, it’s hard to come up with any reason why you should endure the shambolic snoozer that is Galore.

What to watch: All the latest movie reviews from Leigh Paatsch

Ashleigh Cummings is Billie in Galore, directed by Rhys Graham.

A very wispy, underwhelming story slowly shuffles back and forth along the perimeter of a languid teenage love triangle in suburban Canberra in the summer of 2003.

If there is any significant symbolic justification for choosing this particular time and place — there were monster bushfires in the region, remember — it is mighty hard to find once Galore really settles into its preferred narrative groove.

Galore, starring Lily Sullivan and Ashleigh Cummings, is set in the summer of 2003.

Writer-director Rhys Graham seems hell-bent on keeping the picture in a state of angst-ridden catatonia. People do shout, swear and knock over stuff once in a while, but overall, this is one of the most lethargic debut features in living memory.

A curiously muffled sound recording and some beyond pretentious camera choices — what’s with all the extreme close-ups? — ask too much of even the most forgiving viewers.

Bit of a shame, as the young and inexperienced leads do show some promise as actors when given the chance.

Puberty Blues star Ashleigh Cummings in a scene from <i>Galore</i>.

■ Galore is playing exclusively at the Cinema Nova in Carlton, Melbourne

Galore (MA15+)

Director: Rhys Graham (feature debut)

Starring: Ashleigh Cummings, Lily Sullivan, Toby Wallace, Maya Stange

Verdict: Two stars. One without the lot

Originally published as More teen angst for Puberty Blues’ Ashleigh Cummings as she’s pulled into love triangle in Galore