Muriel Heslop lives in a bubble in the small town of Porpoise Spit. She idolises ABBA, doesn’t conform to the latest 90’s fashions and has no real friends. The girls she tries to hang out with are utterly toxic bitches.

She goes on holiday to a resort that these mean girls are also holidaying in. It’s there that she meets an old friend from school who isn’t a bitch, genuinely likes Muriel for who she is and enacts revenge on the toxic frenemies Muriel at one time wanted to ingratiate herself with. And with this, Muriel’s journey begins.

Muriel’s Wedding is one of the funniest comedies I’ve ever seen. The scene in which Rhonda confronts the mean girls who made Muriel’s life hell is one of the most brilliant ‘epic burns’ (as the youngsters would call it) ever consigned to celluloid. The fact that we then get to see Muriel and Rhonda miming to Waterloo by ABBA in a talent contest straight after (yes, they even wear the costumes) is one hell of a one-two punch. Fourth wall? What fourth wall?!

The rest of the film is just as brilliant. Biting dialogue, perceptive characterisation and flawless direction all add to a rip-roaring 90’s classic. The chemistry between the lead actresses Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths is electric. In fact, the film is cast pinpoint perfectly.

It’s also endlessly quotable. I remember merch for the film in the 90’s emblazoned with lines such as ‘You’re terrible Muriel!’ and ‘Let her finish her orgasm!’

But Muriel’s Wedding’s power lies in the fact that it is also very dark.

Muriel’s mother is stuck in a loveless marriage with a husband who isn’t exactly discreet about the fact that he’s having an affair. This leads to taking her own life. The effect on Muriel’s family is huge, especially on her sister.

Muriel’s journey starts with Rhonda showing her that she is enough and is perfect as she is. Unfortunately, Muriel has a dream that if she gets married this will fulfil the chocolate box fantasy she has in her head as perpetuated by the media and advertising. She also changes her name to Mariel and starts to live inauthentically. What could possibly go wrong?!

Her mother’s death is her wake-up call as is her marriage to an Olympic swimmer who only wants citizenship. She’s so desperate to be married that any marriage will do even if it’s a sham.

Muriel learns to live her life by being her true self rather than living a lie. And this is another aspect of Muriel’s Wedding which is truly astonishing- it’s a gay movie without a single gay character being in it. Being your true self rather than living a lie draws profound parallels with being out and proud rather than living in the closet. It’s no coincidence that Muriel’s Wedding has a huge gay following. It resonated massively.

Muriel’s Wedding also performed a miracle when I saw it for the first time on it’s first run- it made me like ABBA. And that, dear reader, is a miracle.

5 out of 5 stars