Watch Backyard Ashes
- PG-13
- 2013
- 1 hr 30 min
-
5.5 (774)
Backyard Ashes is a 2013 Australian comedy-sport movie directed by Mark Grentell. The story revolves around a group of neighbors in a suburban area competing in a friendly game of cricket, which quickly turns into a fierce rivalry. The protagonist Darren "Boof" Boland, played by Andrew S. Gilbert, is a middle-aged man without a job who spends most of his time drinking and playing backyard cricket. His neighbor, Edward "Ed" Wyatt, played by Felix Williamson, is a former professional cricketer who is now a bank manager. He is obsessed with winning the game against Boof and his team, which includes his daughter Bee, played by Maddison Smith-Catlin, and his best friend, Luke, played by Damian Callinan.
The competition is a result of a feud between Boof and Ed. Boof's niece Angie, played by Rebecca Massey, is dating Ed's son and breaks up with him, causing a rift between the two neighbors. Ed challenges Boof to a game of cricket to settle their differences once and for all, with the winner taking home a trophy made out of Ed's old cricket bat.
What starts as a friendly game of cricket quickly turns into a heated battle between the two teams. Boof and his team are made up of misfits who have never played cricket before, but they are determined to win. Ed, on the other hand, has put together a team of former professional cricketers who are determined to humiliate Boof and his team.
The movie includes a lot of humor and witty dialogue, with both sides engaging in banter and trash talk. The sporting action is well shot, with the cricket scenes being realistic and engaging. The movie also touches on themes of sportsmanship, loyalty, and family.
One of the standout performances in the movie is Andrew S. Gilbert's portrayal of Boof. He brings a lot of charm and likability to his character, making the audience root for him and his team. Maddison Smith-Catlin also shines as Bee, Boof's niece, who proves to be a talented cricket player despite her father's objections.
The movie also features an excellent soundtrack, with classic Australian rock songs playing throughout the film. The music adds to the overall fun and lighthearted tone of the movie.
Overall, Backyard Ashes is an enjoyable movie with well-written characters, engaging sports sequences, and lots of humor. It is a movie that will appeal to cricket fans and non-cricket fans alike, as it touches on universal themes of rivalry, friendship, and family.
Backyard Ashes is a 2013 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5.