''Paperback Hero'' is a 1999 Australian

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film starring

Claudia Karvan Claudia Karvan (born 19 May 1972) is an Australian actress, producer and scriptwriter. As a child actor, she first appeared in the film, '' Molly'' (1983) and followed with an adolescent role in ''High Tide'' (1987). She portrayed a teacher in ...

and

Hugh Jackman Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October 1968) is an Australian actor. Beginning in theatre and television, he landed his breakthrough role as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine in the 20th Century Fox ''X-Men'' film series (2000–2017), a role ...

. It was directed by Antony Bowman who also wrote the screenplay. The film was predominantly shot in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

including Nindigully.

Plot

Truck driver Jack Willis from rural Australia writes a bestselling novel, but because of its romantic content uses the name, 'Ruby Vale', the name of his best friend. When a publisher - Ziggy - decides to take the author "Ruby Vale" on, Jack is suddenly faced with a dilemma. He tells his friend Ruby what he has done, and initially she wants to tell the publisher. Jack and his agent convince her to stay silent, and in exchange, they'll organise her wedding (she is marrying Jack's best friend, Hamish) and Ruby is convinced. Ruby and Jack go to Sydney to help promote the book. On the way, Ruby reads his book and realises the lead female character is herself, and the male protagonist, Brian, is Jack. She is deeply touched. Hamish arrives in Sydney. He knows Jack is the author and tells Ruby he knows, just before she is about to go on a satellite feed through to London. All of this is too much for Ruby and she makes her way back to her hometown. Jack does not follow her, instead staying in Sydney whilst trying to decide. Back at home in the pub, Ruby hears Jack's voice coming from the TV. She hears him admit that he is the book's author. Hamish breaks up with Ruby, knowing she really loves Jack. As Ruby is driving home, she sees a plane flying overhead, spelling the words "I love you". As she stops her car, the plane lands in front of her. Jack hops out, and after some gentle sparring of words, they kiss.

Cast

as Jack Willis *

as Ruby Vale *

Angie Milliken Angie Milliken is an Australian actress. Life Milliken was born and raised in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology then turned to acting. Milliken first became noticed when she starred in the 1 ...

as Ziggy Keane * Andrew S. Gilbert as Hamish *

Jeanie Drynan Jeanie Drynan is an Australian film and television actress well known for her roles in the television series '' Class of '74'' and in the 1994 film '' Muriel's Wedding''. She may be best known to international viewers for her role as Muriel's ...

as Suzie

Reception

Reviewing the film on ''

The Movie Show ''The Movie Show'' is an Australian film review program which was broadcast on SBS TV. Its history is divided into three parts, until it finally wound up in 2008. History The original format, which ran from 30 October 1986 to 12 May 2004, had ...

'',

David Stratton David James Stratton (born 10 September 1939) is an English-Australian award-winning film critic, as both a journalist and interviewer, film historian and lecturer and television personality and producer. Life and career Born in Trowbridge, ...

felt the story worked very well for the first half-hour, but was let down by laboured plot developments and a slowed pace from thereon. He did commend Jackman and Karvan for making a great romantic team, and also praised

for her performance. He gave the film 2½ stars out of 5.

Margaret Pomeranz Margaret Pomeranz (born 14 July 1944) is an Australian film critic, writer, producer and television personality. Early life Pomeranz was born Margeret Anne Jones-Owen on 14 July 1944 in Waverley, a suburb of Sydney. She was educated at the P ...

gave the film a much more favourable review and 3½ stars. ''Paperback Hero'' grossed $1,369,280 at the box office in Australia. File:AU-Qld-Nindigully-Paperback Hero boomerang-2021.jpg, Boomerang indicating the Paperback Hero movie, Nindigully, Balonne region, Queensland, Australia (2021).

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0180037, Paperback Hero
Paperback Hero
at Oz Movies 1999 films Films about writers 1999 romantic comedy films Australian romantic comedy films Films set in Queensland Films set in Sydney Films shot in Brisbane 1990s English-language films

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links