When the outspoken teenager Maeve (acted by Charlotte MacInnes) gets suspended from her Sydney school due to a political protest gone wrong, she lands in the Australian outback, living with her cousin Taylah (Natalie Abbott). This forms the backdrop of Rebel Wilson's directorial debut The Deb, set in the fictional town of Dunburn, which is struggling to cope with a severe drought and a lapse in national support for dealing with it. Whilst this crisis is not Maeve's immediate concern, it sets up the context within which her escapades unfold.
Debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Deb provides a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of Maeve's cultural misadventures in Dunburn. Regarded initially as a city dweller lost in a backwater society with outmoded customs, Maeve's vehement skepticism towards the town's traditions, including an annual debutante ball which Taylah dreams of attending, earns her more than a few sideways glances. However, Maeve begins to understand that the town and its people are not as simple or conventionally backward as she initially thought.
Inspired by the popular stage musical of the same name, The Deb offers a comically self-aware exploration of teenage life that may draw parallels with Mean Girls' recent musical adaptation. The story, however, echoes P.J. Hogan’s Muriel’s Wedding, with Taylah as the heartwarming country girl seeking social acceptance - a trope that was similarly presented in the 1994 film.
The acting leans into the camp, amplifying the elements of ridiculousness, but the overall execution of The Deb struggles with unevenness. The musical composition appears to mimic popular genres in a way that's reminiscent of Pitch Perfect soundtracks, leading to a lack of originality and leaving a rather forgettable impression.
The movie does, however, successfully incorporate the tools of social media, adjusting the aspect ratio to mimic iPhones, and incorporating the use of platforms like TikTok and Instagram into its storytelling. Additionally, it opens with a captivating pop number, introducing Maeve's world at a high-end private school in Sydney, a world where documenting every aspect of their lives is crucial, and cruelty and mockery run rampant.
However, despite its promise and entertaining premise, The Deb falls short with its patchy pacing, superficial treatment of plot lines, and a confusing array of narratives. While the journey of Maeve and Taylah forms the core, multiple subplots and conflicts feel rushed and do not contribute towards a coherent storyline. The Deb, mirroring Maeve’s Dunburn experience, ends up as a mixed bag of intriguing ideas and potential set-pieces.
