It was a play first

And that's what it should have stayed, I remember watching it for an assessment back in high school and it had that guy from House Husbands who ends up with the librarian in it as Ruben and it was a good play. Not fantastic nor horrible (I'm surprised it got a movie adaptation; so many better Australian plays to chose from tbh) But that's the thing with the play, you were there you were personal with him and you could actually see his struggles through the staging (it was a round stage; he'd declare something to one side of the stage and when he was breaking his deceleration he'd have his back to that side as if to turn his back on the audience who were rooting for him there) and your never meant to like him or anyone. You want him to overcome it because YOU'RE the good person, not him and sometimes bad people don't get a redemption they just fall deeper into despair. It's a shame the movie was too focused on everything but correct characterization and acting chops.