‘The Deb’ Review: Rebel Wilson Lets Her Musical Roots Show in Ribald Satire of Modern Courtship
variety.comPeter Debruge Chief Film Critic According to tradition, debutante balls are designed to introduce young ladies to polite society.
But in Australian comedy star Rebel Wilson’s rowdy directorial debut, “The Deb,” there isn’t really anything that resembles “polite society.” Wilson’s characters run the gamut from uncouth to in-your-face offensive — none more than the tacky small-town beautician Wilson embodies in a brash, John Waters-esque musical satire, situated where overzealous progressive values meet old-school pageantry at its most patriarchal.
It’s unfortunate that the film’s Toronto Film Festival closing-night premiere is overshadowed by legal disputes between Wilson and three of her producers, since “The Deb” delivers where it counts.
The project pokes fun at all parties while rewriting the codes of teenage romance for the 21st century. Right out of the gate, it’s “Hairspray” meets “High School Musical,” as the elaborately choreographed, radio-inappropriate opening number, “FML,” sets the tone for all that follows (rhyming words, like “economy” and “problematic,” that you don’t typically hear on Broadway).
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