Of all the projects Rebel Wilson could have taken on for her directorial debut, there’s much about “The Deb” that makes sense. Based on a largely well-received stage musical, it’s got a sturdy if straightforward premise about the fictional town of Dunburn, Australia with all the many distinct characters that call it home and the outsider protagonist who finds herself part of the community.
There is plenty of room for heartfelt charm, chaotic shenanigans and more biting observations about its culture clash to be explored, though rarely does “The Deb” capitalize on this. It’s a meandering experience defined by the broadest of narrative strokes, cardboard cutout characters and musical numbers that start fun before growing more oddly obligatory in nature.