Comparative review of Australian films Muriel's Wedding and The Castle. How do the setting, characters, plot and themes differ in each film?

Think Cinderella stories and ABBA then throw in some humour and romance and you'll end up with Muriel's Wedding. Directed by PJ Hogan, this bright, yet sad, film focuses on Australian family life and the meaning of "success." Muriel Heslop (Toni Collete) is jobless, has a low self-esteem and is obsessed with getting married to become successful. She lives in Porpoise Spit, a coastal resort, has no genuine friends and a dysfunctional family. Muriel's father, …

…when they run into each other awfully regularly, though a major portion of the story is solemn. I enjoyed Muriel's Wedding. Although not quite as good as The Castle entertainment-wise, Muriel's Wedding is better in terms of a realistic and expressive storyline. The film is bursting with positive messages about the need to be yourself. It also has a wonderful soundtrack, full of fantastic ABBA hits. This film is definitely worth watching by all Australians.