The Price of Milk (2000)

Review by All Movie Guide
Harry Sinclair's sophomore effort tells an engaging love story between two appealing leads with a good dose of magic realism. Rob (Karl Urban) is an adorably dim dairy farmer who truly cares about his cows, while Lucinda (Danielle Cormack) is an adventurous dreamer whose secret obsession is collecting baby shoes. The two of them enjoy a fantastic romance together with their agoraphobic dog, Nigel, who stays hidden inside a cardboard box. It's these kind of little eccentricities that keep this surreal movie interesting; the story is really just a simple tale of Lucinda testing Rob's love after he asks her to marry him. The supernatural elements creep in and make the everyday situations seem dreamlike and the dynamics of their relationship start to come alive. The lush cinematography captures the fields of rolling green farmland and sets a fresh tone for what is really a domestic drama set in the great outdoors. The colorful costumes and settings are just as refreshing to see as the two healthy-looking lead characters seemingly free from urban anxiety. However, after awhile, the oddball events do get really goofy and the symbols get really heavy handed, with Cormack especially giving a few too many wide-eyed reaction shots to the strange goings-on. Overall, The Price of Milk accomplishes some delightful moments and brings a vivid earthiness to the standard romantic comedy formula. For those that can handle a bit of fantastic realism, it's worth watching for the scene where Rob dives in with Lucinda, who is submerged in a vat of milk wearing a yellow swim cap. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide