Paperback Hero ***½ (1999, Hugh Jackman, Claudia Karvan, Angie Milliken) – Classic Movie Review 1975

‘He’s hard, tough… and doesn’t give a XXXX for anything… except romantic novels.’

Writer-director Antony J Bowman’s pleasing 1999 Australian comedy Paperback Hero, based on his own novel, is an early hit for the young, upcoming Hugh Jackman, then around 30. Bowman was inspired to write the story after reading about a Texan truck driver who wrote romantic novels.

Jackman proves ideal as Aussie truck driver Jack Willis, who writes a romantic novel that becomes a best-seller. But, being a man’s man in the Australian Outback, Jack decides he has to hide behind the nom de plume of a woman. And he chooses the name of his best friend, Ruby Vale (Claudia Carvan), whom, deep down, he secretly yearns for.

But then glamorous city publisher Ziggy (Angie Milliken) arrives in dusty Outback Lucktown to sign ‘Ruby Vale’ to a major book deal. The real Ruby agrees to help Jack continue his charade since the publisher will pay for her coming wedding to Jack’s buddy Hamish (Andrew S Gilbert).

The charming acting of the appealing players is the making of this light and refreshing romantic comedy. Jackman and Karvan show excellent romantic chemistry, and Jeanie Drynan stands out in support as Suzie. As usual with romcoms, the story is a bit on the cosy and predictable side, but it is all very pleasant, an excellent version of this popular kind of movie. And Jackman gets to sing Roy Orbison’s ‘Cryin”.

It is shot mainly in Queensland, including Nindigully, a town in the locality of Thallon in the Shire of Balonne. Nindigully pub, featured in the film as the Boomerang café, is 45 km from the nearest town and the oldest pub in Queensland, operating since 1864.

‘She’s Taken My Words’ (theme from Paperback Hero) is written by Andrew Tierney and Michael Tierney and performed by Human Nature.

It grossed $1,369,280 in Australia.

Also in the cast are Bruce Venables, Barry Rugless, Barry Lea, Bill Watson and Charlie Little.

Paperback Hero runs 96 minutes, is made and released by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, is shot by David Burr, is produced by Lance W Reynolds and John Winter, is scored by Burkhard von Dallwitz and designed by John Dowding.

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment was folded in 1999, the year of this film and also one of its biggest hits, Notting Hill (1999).

Jeanie Drynan stars with Isabella Rossellini in Bowman’s film Arrivederci, shooting in central New South Wales and southern Greece in 2021.

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