The Deb, Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut, is a lively and fun musical that follows Maeve (Charlotte MacInnes), a queen bee from an elite school who gets canceled after a misguided social crusade. She’s sent to the Outback town of Dunburn to stay with her cousin Taylah (Natalie Abbott), who couldn’t be more different from her.
Wilson’s direction is surprisingly strong, balancing energetic musical numbers with well-timed humor. Even a football scene is shot with impressive competence. The songs, written by Meg Washington, are catchy, and the choreography is well-executed, with the standout being the number “Spotlight.” However, the film forgets it’s a musical in the third act, losing some of its momentum as the pace becomes slower.
The humor consistently lands, with clever jokes throughout (one standout gag involves a long drive made even longer by train). Wilson herself is hilarious as the over-the-top villain, delivering memorable moments alongside her on-screen daughter. The main couple have good chemistry and cute moments.
While the plot leans on some narrative conveniences, especially the way personal secrets are revealed, and it does have a few slow moments involving some secondary characters, The Deb remains a charming, entertaining film. It delivers exactly what it promises: a fun, lighthearted musical that has heart and humor. Fans of Pitch Perfect and Disney-style teen movies will feel right at home.
- 1. Sinners
- 2. Shepherds (Bergers)
- 3. The Ballad of Wallis Island
- 4. Kiss of the Spider Woman
- 5. One of Them Days
- 32. The Deb
- Where to watch
Buy or rent
Out of Theaters
Play trailer
- Original title
- The Deb
- Director
- Rebel Wilson
- Cast
- Natalie Abbott, Charlotte MacInnes, Shane Jacobson, Rebel Wilson, Stevie Jean, Steph Tisdell, Costa D'Angelo, Hal Cumpston
- Screenwriter
- Megan Washington, Hannah Reilly
- Composer
- Michael Yezerski
- Cinematography
- Ross Emery
- Editor
- Jane Moran
- Country
- Language
- English
- Buy / rent (CA)
- Apple TV Store