Love The Beast - RHP review

It never sounded like a good idea. Our very own Hollywood A-lister, Eric Bana puts his moniker on, what at first glance, appears to be a low budget motor sport documentary. Not a career maker by any stretch; but what Love The Beast does do is prove that our Eric is one talented fella.

The Beast in question is Bana’s 74 XB Falcon coupe, a long term partner and anchor for Bana whos rising star has taken him from the suburbs of Melbourne to the upper echelons of global entertainment. Bana purchased the car in the early eighties for about $1,000, and it would serve as a beacon for him and his mates, working on the car whenever they had the time and money. The car returned the love by taking them away from their roots, cruising the open road and giving the foursome their first taste of freedom.

Intercut with the coupes story are interviews with personalities such as Jeremy Clarkson, Jay Leno and Dr Phil McGraw, all of whom chip in with some surprisingly relevant and insightful thoughts on the strange relationships between men and their machines. Leno plays the part of the power-mad muscle car fanatic, Clarkson levels some logical criticism at Bana for driving what equates to a rocket on wheels, and fittingly, Dr Phil deconstructs and ultimately validates the connection Bana has with his beloved XB.

Of course, every good doco will employ some narrative structure and for Love The Beast it’s the third major rebuild of the car. The lads have in their heads to return to the scene of a former triumph for both them and the Coupe, The Targa Tasmania road race. A decade ago Bana and his crew entered the race and to their surprise they ended up at the pointy end of their class, instilling in them the desire to return. All these years later, everyone has changed a little but their love for the car, the race and each other is as apparent as ever.

Simply put, Love The Beast is a good film. The story is engrossing, the characters are instantly likable and the subject matter is intrinsically Australian. Many of us will relate to Bana’s petrol powered obsession and for those who don’t, that won’t matter.

Just buckle up and enjoy the ride.