Get a Life. Alright!

Everyone is waiting for their break

A young struggling actor gets a lucky break after delivering flowers on set and falls for the leading actress and becomes a target for jealousy, all thanks to fame.

Get a Life, alright follows the life of an aspiring actor, Nick Singh (played by Satish Kala), who juggles working two part-time jobs; his father’s Indian restaurant, Ballu’s Bollyfood and Joe’s Florist.

Nick receives an order to deliver flowers to the set of a popular music video show, Get a Life, alright, where he meets Tessa Wise (Abril Tolnay). Tessa’s best friend, Sarah Chen (Aileen Huynh), notices their instant attraction for each other and arranges a dinner for them all at Ballu’s Bollyfood. When they arrive Nick’s brother, Adarsh (Dilshan Rain), contacts the paparazzi, Patrick Pappas (Danny Barton), for free publicity. As soon as Patrick arrives, Tessa and Sarah leave.  Tessa is worried that Nick is responsible for tipping off the media. He later reassures her that he wasn’t and invites her out on a date.

Tessa and Sarah then put in a good word for Nick to audition for a guest role, which he lands. He suddenly becomes popular with the public, making his co-star Tom Reeves (Paul Hughes) insanely jealous as well as his brother, Adarsh. Will jealousy ruin Nick’s relationship and his new career? Do female friendships outlast relationships? A film about love, family and friendships that stand the test of time.

Themes

What may appear to be just as another romantic comedy, Get a Life, Alright has a strong theme about the importance of female friendships which is an integral part of this film and mental health explored in a nuanced way. It uncovers how negativity can often replay, over and over again in people’s minds, giving light on the sensitivity of what we say and do can affect others. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry as this film uncovers the value of family and friendships, as the characters are fun, likeable and very relatable.

Get a Life, Alright will have it’s theatrical release through Dendy & Wallis cinemas on May 19th, 2022.

Pre- Screening Reviews

“A great story with a lot of heart!” 4 out of 5 – Andy Trieu (SBS)

“This is a cute and easy to watch rom-com, with the added important elements of representation, diversity and visibility. In a time when the world is getting sick and tired of white beach goers and surfies, “Get a Life, Alright”, ticks all the boxes of being well balanced on the social issue side with a love of emotion and lovey dovey meet cute moments.

The premise of the film is also easy to understand, it’s simple and adds to the depth of the film. The lead is an Indian Australian man – Nick Singh, whose ultimate goal is to be a successful actor, and works odd jobs at a florist and his father’s restaurants to make ends meet. He later falls in love with the lead Tessa Wise, of a TV series he passed an audition for in a guest role, and it’s entertaining to see the character development, but also the romance which is simple, cute and pure.

The film was well written and the scenes flowed fluidly without any plot holes. Back to the issues of representation, diversity and visibility for the on screen – we are able to witness a darker skinned South Asian man (which we rarely see in Australia film and TV) trying to pursue a career which is traditionally not seen as lucrative in Asian families. THIS is probably one of the most significant milestones for the film.

Great film, easy romance and meet cute situations and enjoyable to watch!”

4.5 out of 5 – Erin Chew, Freelance Writer (HuffPost / AsAmNews / FlixAsia and Being Asian Australian)

“If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted rom-com that is set in Australia but doesn’t star any beaches or blondes, you’re in luck. ‘Get a Life, Alright’ is that rare breed of Australian independent films that is culturally diverse without being dark. And the diversity here isn’t just about having a token non- white character who is the funny or nerdy sidekick to the gorgeous male/female protagonists. Diversity is at the very heart of the story as it centres on Nick Singh, a young Indian-Australian man who works part-time at a florist and at his dad’s restaurants while harbouring aspirations for an acting career. He falls for Tessa Wise, one of the female leads in a hit TV series where he also later lands a guest role. Their love story is marred by classic obstacles like envious siblings and miscommunication, but there is a lot of fun and some fabulous musicals on the way to happily ever after.

When exploring non-white cultures in Australian cinema, it is easy to fall into the trap of going for the easily identifiable stereotypes instead of representing diverse characters as full-fledged individuals. The script-writers of ‘Get a Life…’ negotiate this by including some features associated with India, such as Bollywood and curry, but by also being playful with these inclusions. Nick’s dad’s restaurant, for instance, is called ‘Bolly-food’ and Nick’s stint in India sees him starring in a beer commercial.

Overall it’s a great effort at representation and good humour!”

4 / 5 stars – Sukhmani Khorana, Writer / Author / Academic

“Joy Hopwood has a penchant for making diverse romantic comedies. Unlike Crazy Rich Asians, where the notch is cranked up to full technicolour decadence, Joy’s films are quiet, charming bubblers filled with rather recognisable, relatable (and Australian) characters. However, this is Joy’s most glamor-set film – a musical drama featuring striking Bollywood numbers. Her main leads Nick (Satish Kala) and Tessa (Abril Tolnay) have a lovely chemistry, and to see the diverse cast was a delight. Without giving too much away, this film highlights the importance of female friendships and of course, the power of love in all its forms. Shamini Singhal and Hopwood paired up as a team to write this comedy, and the viewer can see what a lovely working relationship they had through the sheer joy infused in this production.”

5/5 stars – Alice Pung, Writer / Author / Screenwriter / Academic