Paperback Hero (1999)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Best movie ever!

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Before Hugh Jackman became the Hollywood Superstar that he is today and became known to Comic Book fans as Wolverine from the X-Men franchise,he starred in this Australian Romantic Comedy where he plays a handsome truck driver named Jack who has a secret. He loves writing romantic novels and since no one wants to hear of a man writing a romantic novel he used his best friend's name Ruby Vale to keep up his fascade. But later in the film we meet a woman named Ziggy who wants Ruby to go to Sydney to talk about the book that she was suppose to write unaware its really Jack that wrote it,so Jack and Ruby decide to go to Sydney to promote the book but when they spend some time together Jack falls for his best friend Ruby.But how long will this fascade last for and does Ziggy smell a rat and has a thing for Jack and will Jack admit that he loves Ruby despite the fact she is getting married to someone else?Now the only Australian film I seen Jackman in was Australia with Nicole Kidman and seeing him use his own accent in this film was a delight. Also he was rather young this time. I enjoyed this movie as its incredibly underrated and we get to hear Jackman sing Crying with his female co-star. Bottom line if you never heard of Jackman and you are new to him,well be my guest and check him out in his film debut from his hometown before he starred in big budget films in Hollywood and became one of Hollywood's attractive leading men and a versatile actor. I became a fan of Hugh Jackman since Kate & Leopold and the original X-Men movies not to mention his my favorite celeb crush too as his a very handsome man.My advice just find the movie Paperback Hero and check it out. It reminded me of that film Hugh Jackman starred in next to Ashley Judd Someone Like You only a male version of that film.7/10

I saw this movie about half a year ago on the television. I'll admit, the reason I saw this was of course the gorgeous Hugh Jackman - and he did not disappoint! I was on exchange in Sydney, Australia, at that time, and found the portrayal of rural town life very entertaining. It's by no means a grand film, but it's definitely a way to spend an evening when in need of some romance. The on-screen connection between Karvan and Jackman works very well.The story revolves around friends Ruby and Jack who lives in the Outback. Ruby works at a local café and Jack's a road train driver. They've been best friends for years, and now Ruby is set to marry a sheep farmer. Amidst all of this, Jack has been carrying a secret - he's written a couple of lovely-dovey romance novels, which have become impressively popular in Sydney. He submitted them as an anonymous author (not wanting to destroy his rough'n'tough image), but as sales skyrocketed, the publishing company seeks his attention. In an attempt to hide his hobby, he convinces Ruby to pass her off as the author. Of course, it's bound to go wrong.There is some humour which makes you laugh, namely the transformation the main characters have to go through in order to accustom themselves to city life.Overall, it's a cute and fun flick with a somewhat lacking storyline, but a hot & sweaty Jackman certainly makes up for that!

Paperback Hero has become one of my favorite movies. I watch it over and over and never tire of it. Of course having Hugh Jackman play Jack sure doesn't hurt. Claudia Karvan is perfect as Ruby. In a world filled with negative events, having this peek at Australian talent fills me with a sense of well being. I love each and every character and love how this story isn't "Hollywoodized". The characters are real but best of all it is about truth and love. The spark between Hugh J and Claudia K on screen is rare. It is the stuff romantics like me dream on. I want more.Nancy from Maine/USA

I really wanted to like this movie - it was a cute little aussie yarn about a truck driver (Jackman) who writes trashy romance novels under his friend's (Karvan) name, who have to travel to Sydney to promote his first book, where they fall in love. Unfortunately, the plot was confusing at times, and I wasn't always sure exactly what was going on. Hugh Jackman and Claudia Karvan was very good together, but they fit together so well they seemed more like brother and sister than friends falling in love. Despite that, it had its heart in the right place and was pretty fun to watch.