Rebel Wilson successfully directs this funny, heartfelt, catchy musical comedy

The Deb
Had the honor of being the closing film at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, and Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut made quite an impression. The Australian star, whose film is based on the stage play by Hannah Reilly (who also wrote the script, with additional writing by Wilson), is sticking to her comedic roots by bringing a cheeky, outrageous musical about two teens to the festival who come together to attend a small town’s annual debutante ball. The Debs timing feels fortunate; It feels like a natural companion to these Mean Girls Musical released earlier this year.

The Rebel Wilson musical comedy is entertaining

The film follows Queen Bee Maeve (Charlotte McInnes), who uses her misguided interpretation of feminism and activism to take over her exclusive private school, but her latest stunt gets her suspended and sent to live in the bush. Tayla (Natalie Abbott) is the exact opposite of her cousin Maeve, lacking a backbone and eager to fit in. .

The Deb Offers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as we explore the personalities of Maeve and Taylah and their respective communities through the film’s whip-smart dialogue and song lyrics. The more Maeve pushes against tradition, the weirder it gets, because she’s simply a young girl regurgitating feminist talking points without really understanding them. Taylah’s wide-eyed eagerness for acceptance is sweet but leaves her open to many awkward moments that we can’t help but laugh at.

The Deb‘s comedy is thoroughly Australian and very much in Wilson’s wheelhouse. Despite not writing the song lyrics—that credit goes to Meg Washington and Reilly—Wilson’s persona and comedic style greatly inform the film. If you’re not a fan and you’ve never been moved by Wilson’s style of comedy, you won’t be moved by The DebAlthough it is thoroughly enjoyable.

The story revolves around the debutante ball, specifically the 100th anniversary celebration. The celebration is important on two fronts: it gives Tayla a platform to break out of her shell and feel beautiful, and the ball draws attention to the troubles of the town regarding the drought and the necessary funds for aid.

Maeve and Taylah have selfish reasons to care about the debutante ball, but Wilson underscores the silly comedy musical with heart through a subplot involving Taylah’s mayor father, who is trying to help his town survive. In the narrative, the plots are laid out effectively, even if the execution is uneven. We feel the rousing spirit that Wilson instills in this city, but the road to the end is rocky.

Despite an uneven story, there is much to enjoy about The Deb

The strength of the film lies in its entertaining scandal of the younger generations, when we laugh at Maeve’s declaration of being the feminist voice of her generation, because she is part of the problem that plagues young women. however, The Deb Falter as you explore the arcs of Maeve and Taylah, as their stories inform how the others evolve. Maeve is outspoken, fearless and ambitious, while Taylah is a people-pleasing, insecure outcast.

Taylah is meant to humble Maeve, and Maeve is meant to elevate Taylah, but the film has lost that plot thread a bit. If the story had been tightened and given Taylah more room to navigate her complicated feelings about being seen and honoring her late mother, The Deb would have given his leads more weight.

The unevenness comes from the film branching out to characters from the city who offer little to the central story. The story also has a rather crude development in Taylah’s journey that doesn’t get the proper follow-through it deserves and should have been cut from the final product because it makes light of a severe issue. The third act is cluttered, trying to tie up every plot thread previously introduced. For a film with such a fun and energetic spirit, the third act is weighed down by some unfortunate decisions.

nevertheless, The Deb is an excellent testament to Rebel Wilson’s talents and a promising start to a directing career that will surely flourish with some guidance and structure. For all his faults, The Deb is hilarious and entertaining. The music is infectious. It’s so good that I can honestly see The Deb Become a big hit – even if it’s with a smaller audience.

The Deb Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is 121 minutes long and has not yet been rated.