Any Questions for Ben does deal with an interesting subject: the changes in your thinking and approach to life that occurs as you approach 30. However, there's a few problems with the production qualities of the film that generally lets it down. First, none of the actors look like they're in their late 20s. More like mid 30s and somehow that takes credibility out of it.Second, they gave him the wrong job and life for someone having that late-20s crisis. He's dating models, attending leading social events, driving sports cars and living the dream. Someone in that position having some sort of existential crisis seems comically unbelievable. Almost seems like a whinging playboy at times.Product placement was rich. Editing was snappy and dizzy. Pop rock music blasted in and out - and who on earth still does fade-to-black at the end of a scene? The film was way too long. Lots of things could have been left on the cutting room floor. It was apparently expensive to make, yet there's a pointless indulgent skiing trip in New Zealand and an unnecessary trip to Yemen at the end. The interplay between the characters was rather funny at times. The writers certainly have a good way of portraying awkward social situations and funny eccentricities in people we can relate to.The most unusual thing about this film is that its only mildly amusing for the most part, the scene where he's been interviewed by customs when the credits roll is absolutely hysterical.

The story concept is great, really something I'd enjoy watching, I love marketing, love personal development, love romance. So a story of someone realising they're not quite doing life the way that leads to fulfillment is a good one. Love interest thrown in? You're onto a winner! Except that it's not a good movie, it shows twice as much information than is needed to make a point in the plot. The main character just comes across as a complete ass who has no feelings for anyone, barely himself. The "Mentor" character is awful, seriously, why would anyone take "advice" from someone like this? Some of the lines are just plain awful, I would class them at the level of high school kids learning how to write a screen play. A decent editor would have helped, to stop it getting boring but it would have simply moved my rating from a 3 to a 4.5 at best. The characters just weren't congruent/realistic, one scene where his friends fiancé supposedly is so frustrated with his attitude comes out of the blue and doesn't make any sense whatsoever.. Another point Ben is amazed that Alex can speak fluent Arabic, you'd have thought she'd just discovered the theory of relativity, or something similar that is truly amazing, rather than learned to speak the language of the country she's lived and worked in for years... Watching movies like this makes you realise just how good really great directors and editors actually are, you don't notice their skills because it just makes the film seamless, and enjoyable, and one that you can emotionally connect and empathise with the characters. I think the story told is a common one, avoidance of intimacy but it's done very clumsily. If I were involved in the making of this movie I would consider it a "Learning experience"... If you want to watch a movie that could have been brilliant, but was destroyed by poor screen writing, poor direction, and poor editing, this is the movie for you!

My fondness for romantic films drove me to this one. The premise is standard albeit timeless.The film has a good pace, the protagonist Josh Lawson is pretty good as a guy who gets to the right places at the right time. Rachael Taylor is nice too, as are Ben's mates. Some good lines of humour add to the story pace.Australia is shown as a pretty hip place to be (it is!)Where the film seems self-limiting is the chemistry between Ben and Alex. It seems stand-offish. That someone is unwilling to finish off something that has been started is not good enough reason to weave a full story and film.The Yemen proposal scene at the end was at best, clumsy and cheesy. Lacked the chutzpah the early part of the film had.If chief failure seems to be its limp ending. Its almost like bad sex. Seems promising at the start; you don't mind the experience but really wish it was better.

"Any questions for Ben" is one of those quintessentially Australian offerings - a realistic film about real life people living in a real life world, and asking every day real life questions about their own lives.The main character, Ben (a fantastic portrayal of a twenty-something playboy searching for the meaning of life, by actor Josh Lawson) seems to have it all - great job, wads of cash, gorgeous girlfriends, fast cars, partying mates, etc. etc.When he is invited back to his old school to talk about his career to the next generation of job seekers his life seems complete - but it is this event that sets him off on a quest to find more meaning in what he begins to see as his superficial existence.There is a wonderful supporting cast including a best mate who loves to party but lacks any trace of emotional intelligence (Andy, played by Christian Clark), a second bestie (Nick, played by Daniel Henshall) who envies Ben's lifestyle but is not much of a party animal himself (".....seems a bit weird to be the designated driver on your bucks night...") and Ben's ultimate love interest, Alex, a beauty both inside and out with a brain to match, played by the lovely Rachel Taylor, of whom I am sure we will be seeing a lot more (Nicole Kidman comes to mind).The beautiful city of Melbourne makes a stunning backdrop to this thoughtful movie which will make you laugh a bit (especially the scene that rolls during the credits) and possibly cry a little - but overall you should feel that it was a very worthwhile experience.