A sheep in drag, a runaway floral arrangement and Olivia Newton John as you've never seen her before are some of the memorable moments of this riot from “Death at a Funeral” scriptwriter Dean Craig. A FEW BEST MEN cleverly combines its culture clash and buddy themes with a wild tale embracing family secrets, a drug deal gone wrong and a romantic wedding filled with hilarious mishaps.

Directed by Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla) with his indefatigable “joie de vivre” and wicked sense of humour, it’s a perfect marriage of British and Australian humour . It all starts with a romantic video clip shot on a tropical island in which holiday-makers David (Xavier Samuel) and Mia (Laura Brent) decide to get married. Back in London, the news of the impending nuptials in Australia bombs with David's three best friends, who feel he is deserting them. 'Holiday romances are meant to end at the airport, not the altar', they moan. Kris Marshall and Kevin Bishop, who play Tom and Graham respectively, are the making of the film - such is the strength of their presence and hilarious performances.

Surprise, angst and resentment are squeezed into a jumbo jet (with umpteen stopovers) a single day before the wedding, as the groom-to-be and his best men make the long journey to the federation home situated on the edge of the beautiful Blue Mountains. Jonathan Biggins has plenty of hide (and front) as Jim Ramm, the ambitious politician father of the bride, whose prize Merino sheep Ramsy (a splendid specimen) steals scene after scene - wearing bra, knickers and fire-engine red lipstick or being lowered surreptitiously from a first floor window.

I love the fact that the humour plays like a horn that is honked at both low and high decibels: subtle and no / wacky and crass - in equal portions. Every scene is bursting with colourful ideas and each character looks as though he could star in his own movie.

A corker of a film with a feel-good guarantee. [Edited]


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