The feature film debut of Peter Templeman, whose short film THE SAVIOUR was nominated for an Oscar five years back, NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN stars Ryan Kwanten and boasts a standout, breakout, calling card performance by Sarah Snook.

Kwanten plays soon to be sterile slacker called Jonah – after the dude that lived in a sperm whale – whose zygotes will be zero after surgery for testicular tumour.

Testes tumour humour hasn’t been so satisfying since LOOK BOTH WAYS, as Jonah searches for wombs for rent, where his seed will find purchase and disseminate his DNA.

Failing to convince an old squeeze to conceive, from here to paternity looks like an empty eternity and the desperate daddy to be dabbles in all manner of dupes and manipulations.

Flat mate and apparent soul mate, Stevie (Snook) acts as a kind of prenatal midwife brokering her buddy’s ball brew to a bunch of would be breeders, but the fruits of her labour fail to fertilize.

Jonah’s desperate desire is driven by a dire expiry date not by love or romance. He’s irresponsible, has a nest that needs feathering, barely a farthing to his name, and farthest from the father model as fairly fathomable.

Michael Lucas’ screenplay ticks all the boxes in the rom com recipe book and the casting is excellent, especially the show stealer Snook.

The film looks sensational thanks to cinematographer Lachlan Milne and editor Matthew Walker. All in all, NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN is a feature all associated with should feel proud.

© Richard Cotter

11th July, 2012

Tags: Sydney Movie Reviews- NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN, Peter Templeman, Ryan Kwanten, Sarah Snook, Bojana Novakovic, Lachlan Milne, Mathhew Walker, Craig Wilson, Sydney Arts Guide, Richard Cotter.