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.

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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