Strange Bedfellows (2004 film)

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For the 1965 film, see Strange Bedfellows (1965 film)

Strange Bedfellows
Directed by	Dean Murphey
Produced by	Thomas Augsberger
Written by	Stewart Faichney Dean Murphy
Starring	Paul Hogan Michael Caton
Cinematography	Roger Lanser Sean McClory
Editing by	Peter Carrodus
Release date(s)	April 22, 2004 May 13, 2004 October 15, 2005
Running time	100 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English

Strange Bedfellows is a 2004 Australian film starring Paul Hogan and Michael Caton as heterosexual men who pass themselves off as a homosexual couple in order to get financial benefits from the government. A very similar plot was later used in the American film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and there is some controversy that Chuck and Larry may be a clone of Strange Bedfellows.

Australian media outlets have criticised I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry on this basis:

“	For anyone who has seen the Australian feature "Strange Bedfellows", this plotline isn't anything new. In fact, it is surprising how blatantly the premise is copied.	”
—David Beirne, movie critic.^[1]

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, "it’s a direct clone of the little-seen Aussie comedy Strange Bedfellows."^[2] And, "nobody...seems to question the fact that this film exists without giving a single ounce of credit to the 2004 Australian film, Strange Bedfellows."^[3]

"Strange Bedfellows, an Australian film that Chuck and Larry is obviously based on but doesn't have the good grace to own up to."^[4]

In November 2007 the producers of Strange Bedfellows initiated legal action against Universal Pictures for copyright violation.^[5]