It’s been exactly three years since Malibu Crush premiered on September 13, 2022, at Fox Studios in Sydney. Just one day later, it screened at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and was released across the U.S. The film an independent comedy — was originally developed during the COVID lockdown, when actor/director James Pratt found himself back home in Bondi Beach Australia with nine months of unexpected downtime before returning to Los Angeles.
Despite its humble beginnings, Malibu Crush has gained a cult following in the United States for its bold chaotic comedy and offbeat charm. The storyline follows two best friends from Los Angeles who pretend to be celebrated Malibu film school students to get a free trip to Bondi Beach, Australia, in a last-ditch attempt to stop a wedding.
From people getting run over by golf carts, an unfortunate spa scene, to crashing a wedding, Malibu Crush leans into the spirit of old-school comedies like Super Troopers and Dumb and Dumber. It’s this kind of mayhem, mixed with some surprisingly cinematic shots of Bondi Beach that helped the film win multiple festivals including the Cannes Film Awards, Beyond Hollywood Int’l Film Festival, and L.A. Cinematography Awards.
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The film stars James Pratt, Brittany Hockley, Billy White, Bella Valentini, Daniel Musial, and Sarah-Louise Collidge, with a strong ensemble cast including Scott E. Miller, Demitra Sealy, Damien Nixey and Yuan Lim.
Now on the third anniversary of its release we sit down with James Pratt to reflect on the film’s unexpected success, the wild moments behind the scenes and if there will be a sequel.
Q&A with James Pratt: Behind the Chaos of Malibu Crush
Q: When you first started writing Malibu Crush did you ever expect it to reach this level of success?
Not at all, it started as a fun and spontaneous idea during covid— I was back in Bondi Beach with nine months of downtime before going back to Los Angeles and wanted to make something rather than just sitting around. My intention was to make a movie that could make people laugh and bring some joy to people.
Q: The film is packed with outrageous moments — golf cart accidents, that spa scene, even some wild sailor subplots. Was that chaotic tone always intentional?
I was hoping for that Farrelly brothers tone of comedy combining physical comedy mixed with underdog characters trying to achieve an objective, such as Dumb and Dumber and Hall Pass.
I always had a passion for those films. The chaos was 100% by design.
Q: What was the wildest moment behind the scenes during filming?
There was a lot of crazy moments, I think filming at the Cammeray Golf Course was one, Layton the GM, was such a great dude – he basically said we could do whatever we wanted and gave us free golf carts and blocked off one of the holes for us to film. At one point in the day we tried to jump the golf carts in the sand trap before driving across the greens, Layton came down from the club house (we were thinking we were in trouble), but instead he had 2 large containers full of drinks and food and said he thought we might be hungry, he then suggested ways to get the golf carts airborne.
Was the Character of Mrs Taylor based off Stifler’s Mum from American Pie.
Not Stifler’s Mum, but I can see why you ask that; Mrs. Taylor is that force of nature that appeals to Duey’s character who is wanting to impress Michael at that moment and he see’s Mrs Taylor as his version of Bridget Van Ryan.
What’s been the most surprising piece of feedback you’ve received?
A lot of people have asked what happens to Michael and Duey after the film ends and once they get back to Los Angeles.
Q: Why do you think it resonated so well with audiences?
I think this style of humor is still hugely popular, these fans from hits such as The Hang Over and American Pie are still there but Hollywood isn’t making raw comedy films as often so Malibu Crush is a movie that this audience was hungry for.
Q: What was the reaction like when the film first came out in America vs Australia.
The USA liked the comedy more than Australia and the reviews probably reflect that. But the support making the film in Australia was very special.
Q: Any chance of a sequel — Malibu Crush 2 maybe
Laughs – Maybe One Day, Michael and Duey created enough chaos on their one trip to Australia.
Malibu Crush was distributed by Cardinal XD in the United States and Bounty Entertainment in Australia
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3437892
