Welcome to Woop Woop

One of the wonderful aspects of cinema is that all the various originality of a culture can be presented, in any combination, with their indigenous visual and aural realities. The arid outback, the aussie dialect, and the Down Under idea of Wacky combine in this oh-so-funny film to bring you to tears from laughing so hard. You'll find yourself rewinding to see a great slapstick scene again, or to hear exactly what someone said. A quick take will clarify a confusing one several scenes earlier causing renewed laughter yet again. When the credits began rolling I began laughing again at remembered shots still teasing my memory. And laughter isn't all this film has to offer - bits of poignance, ire, and mystery are added to the recipe to round out its flavor. The story could only have been told in Australia by Australians to acheive so great result. So, Laugh me dead, Mate, if this wasn't a gem of a film!

I am quite amused that Australians have some sort of issue with how "this portrays them," which makes no sense to me whatsoever. You don't hear Americans complaining when a film like Deliverance is made. Give the rest of the world some credit. Its as if every export must be somehow ennobling to the country of origin. This is ridiculous. I suppose a case could be made for this insofar as apparently Australian tax dollars went to support this film (why any country, which no doubt has problems with poverty and so forth as all countries do, would spend precious tax dollars on movies, is another issue altogether). But come on folks. Its not as if every Australian is some kind of brilliant, witty intellectual any more than that is true of any other country. I wonder if people whined about the portrayal of rural Scots when The Wicker Man was released. Having the idea that somehow characters in film must be idealized ethnic, racial, or national archetypes dooms any movie to being insufferably boring. No doubt Australia, just like the United States, has its own home-grown version of rednecks. And if not, so what. Does anyone really think that this is going to set some expectations of what Australians are like abroad?

Welcome to Woop Woop is not a brilliant film, but I found it entertaining and offbeat enough. From the beginning it is clear that the film doesn't take itself very seriously. I enjoyed the performances in this film, and the ending with the giant kangaroo actually made me chuckle a bit because I never thought they would attempt to use something that silly. I guess some people who were for some reason desiring realism or plausibility in this farce, were upset by this. I, on the other hand, applaud the use of nonsense like this. Were the rest of the film some kind of serious drama, this would have been idiotic, but given the film's tone, I thought it was an appropriate device.

There's a time for serious fare and a time for silly movies, and this one is extremely silly, but good-naturedly so. It is beyond my comprehension how someone could get angry over something so harmless.

Having never watched any other films by this director, I had nothing to bias my opinion of this film. It was very original, which is a must because I hate typical Hollywood movies, it was also outrageous. I might even classify it as black (or dark) comedy. The story was so unbelievable that it almost became believable, for example: using road-kill kangaroos for dog food (Woof Woof). The story lacks a little luster after it's 'outrageousness' is played out but I believe this movie deserves an above average rating based purely on it's attempt to be totally original, totally unbelievable and totally corny.

If you like your movies original, and slightly 'off' this movie is for you.

I tell you folks, that was THE FUNNIEST line of irreverent dialogue I've ever heard! Seriously, I can somewhat understand why Aussies who have reviewed this very smart, funny and VERY whacky film are besides themselves over the stereotypes and how some of their brethren are depicted here. Now, yet another group of people understands and feels what minorities everywhere feel when the same type of satire is done to them, but to an extreme! But, hey! Loosen up a bit-just let that "Breezer" rip! It's all good! I exchange emails with several Aussie folks Down There regularly, and they seem to talk and act very much as I do. So I can watch this film knowing that what I see is "over the top" in it's characterization, and NOT indicative of all Australians. Every ethnic group has it's "lower elements" for sure. But, I'm sorry, this was some hilarious stuff! All these characters were two sandwiches shy of a picnic! I've always been a Rod Taylor fan, and he steals this flick wholeheartedly. That guy is still one of the finest actors still working, and I know he's up there in age now. These folks live in a world far removed from reality. The remarks ("beef curtains", etc) are fresh (most of us here in the US have NEVER heard these expressions) and the whole town gathering nightly for 'Rogers & Hammerstein' movies (and a LOT of beer guzzeling) as the high point of another dreary day reminded me of the Wizard Of Oz's munchkins singing. Yup, sure enough, the plot had some holes for sure, but otherwise, the performances were great, from Johnathan Saaech on down.

I flat out loved this film. It was quite a pleasant surprise and yes, I agree it has cult status written ALL over it! See it for a monster laugh! I'll be willing to bet it caused quite an uproar when released!

Well, I've read the responses to this little Aussie accident, and so far everyone's been slagging it off as a drivel, as offensive, as failing in its goal to be politically incorrect...etc etc etc. I have to admit that Aussie humour is an acquired taste (even though I am now a more complete man for knowing the phrase, "Part me beef-curtains!")but all I have to say is this: why are we getting hot under the collar about something called "Welcome to Woop Woop"? As I suspect Big Daddy would say, "If it don't make yer crack a fat, then it don't. Crack open a frosty and wait for the next picture. It's "South Pacific" tonight, ain't it?"