Hating Alison Ashley (2005)

This is a poor adaption of Robin Klein's bestselling book. Delta Goodrem is fatally cast as Alison Ashley. The producers were told they could not make the movie unless Delta was cast. Her being cast, they had to sacrifice the basic style of the book. The kids were were Primary school age are all now seniors in high school and it ruins the movie. Its almost a different movie. I'm sorry, Delta may be a pretty face, but she CAN'T ACT (she hardly says or does anything in the movie, despite her name in the title). Nor could she act when she was on neighbors (not that it takes a lot of acting to get a part on that). She really ruins the movie (and did her wig have to be so fake-looking?) I mean if she was 8 years younger she would have looked the part, but still her lack of acting ability here and her age and the fact that everyone else in the book had to be made older to accommodate Delta's age really stuffed up what could have been a great adaption. A whole movie should not be re-written to suit one actress' age (all the girl's have large breasts and you even see them in their bras and naked with towels on in two scenes). She's given first billing, but the main character is clearly Saskia. Delta is much clearly a supporting role. She doesn't say much and Saskia is on camera for almost every frame of the movie. Having said, Saskia Burmeister (one of the few Jewish Australian actors) does a brilliant job as Erica. Her plain-looking (but not ugly) looks and stroopy sulky face make her a wonderful fit for Erica (the only character that stays true to the book description). If not for her age, she would have been almost exactly as I envisioned Erica in the book. She has the right frowns and sooky expression that makes her perfect. If she was cast when she was 10, she would have been the ultimate Erica Yurken. I hope this movie is remade again, without the need for a "name" star (Delta) and done with kids who are the right ages (pre-high school). In said it was not a success, despite being based on a best-selling book. The hopes to attract more people with a "star" (Delta) backfired and actually destroyed the film's appeal. In the novel Lennie was blissfully aware of Erica's rudeness to him, here's he gets hurt and it looses the comedic effect and makes Erica unlikeable. Barry Hollis is not funny and is actually a romantic interest for Erica?! Also she dips the salad bowl on his head rather than Alison's. Is Delta Goodrem to petite that we can't even show that happening to her? In the novel they reference "Prisoner", here it's "Buffy" (does everything in this country have to be completely Americanised?) Margeart Collins (who was so hilarious to the book and gave it good comedy relief) is hardly seen at all, while Mr Kennard's role is ridiculously expanded. Mrs Belmont and Mr Kennard are having a sexual relationship. In fact sex is implied a lot in what is supposed to be a children's film. The library teacher is male and American. I mean honestly, how many Americans do you see in Australia? 1 out of 10,000. There are several fantasy scene which seem to serve little purpose than to show off the actress' breasts in sleeveless, tight, revealing clothing. But praise must be given for Saskia's wonderful performance (she was nominated for an AFI award and deserved it). I'm sure she will recover from this flop and go on to bigger and better things. As for Delta (who went on to other things such as breaking up marriages and selling out to America), STAY AWAY FROM ACTING. You tried but it didn't work. Give up.

A excellent film for a budding TV man. The fact of Delta Goodrum and Saskia Burmeister (both over 20 years of age) can play out he roles of 14 year old's is an astonishing work of art thanks to the make-up artists. An excellent storyline that followed the novel it was based on. Most movies these days follow another plot and don't contribute to the base of the storyline. Hating Alison Ashley also has an excellent plot. Meaning, a student treasure by a teacher is soon replaced by a more beautiful and noble character. With a perfect place at a school camp Erica Yurkin (Saskia Burmeister)can show up Alison Ashley (Delta Goodrum). Children of all ages should enjoy this film. To like this film you have to concentrate on the plot, not the female impact. I regard this film as an excellent director's work of art. A film that is plotted through a based on children's novel the people have enjoyed from Robin Klein's collection for many years

As a female year 9 (coincidently 9C), I found Hating Alison Ashley a joy to watch. Erica Yurken, who's played brilliantly by Saskia Burmeister, is a seemingly over-confident outcast, who believes she's superior to everyone else at her extremely dysfunctional school. Everything she's ever worked for is turned upside down when the "perfect" Alison Ashley from the snobby part of town, joins Erica's class, 9C. Delta's performance as the apparently flawless Alison Ashley was stiff at times but certainly adequate. It's Saskia Burmeister's performance that steals the show. The supposed ages of the leads are very unconvincing. Am I supposed to believe these people are my age? 20 year old physically don't 'look like 14 year old even if they act it.The best thing about the movie is that it's Australian! It's fantastic the see an Aussie teen flick which my friends and I can relate to so much more than an American equivalent. The 9C students have textbooks that I have, there are Australian products sold at the canteen, Erica eats a meat pie and there's tomato sauce on her kitchen table! In scenes there's the Westgate Bridge and Melbourne city in the background. It's fabulous! None of this would obviously ever happen in an American teen flick. The year nines don't speak with American accents or use American slang, have quarter-backs and cheerleaders and there's not even the American flag blowing in the wind in the background. It's just so refreshing to have an Aussie teen movie.

I thought hating Alison Ashley was anything but the book. I liked the movie, but a few people in it annoyed me one was Saskia Burmeister(Erica Yurkin)I found her to over act and a boor. I am not a very big fan of Delta Goodrem either, but in this I found her great. She Dian't over act and applied the right note of anger and sadness in some scenes. Another person who I thought was great was Alexander Cappelli, he applied the right amount of acting for his part of being the mean but sometimes thanked bully. A bit of mystery was applied in his part I thought. But I must say I thought everyone was very old to be playing 14 year old grade 9's., in the book they were a grade six class. But they were very old to playing grape 9's anyway with Alexander Cappelli having stubble in some of the scenes. And I have a brother and neither him nor any of his friends had stubble around this age. But over all I thought it was great and if you have not seen it. See it and if you have see it again!