Charlie & Boots

The iconic (in Australia) Paul Hogan, Crocodile Dundee himself, returns to the big screen in a fairly good comedy/drama which is essentially a road trip that tourism Australia would relish. Charlie is grieving the loss of his wife and is taken by his estranged son Boots, on a trip up to north Queensland. Their ambition is to go fishing at the most northern tip of the country in Cape York. Along the way through Victoria, into New South Wales and up in Queensland they visit many famous locales. The banter between the two is great, they have good chemistry. Shane Jacobson as Boots is best known as Toilet cleaner Kenny, a popular Aussie comedy of the same name There is some amusing, but obviously set up comical moments, especially involving one very butch female truck driver and her attention towards Charlie. Over all, seeing this with a big crowd as I did will help the ambiance of the laid back jokes. There are some serious moments, but not many beyond sentimental family issues. The young hitchhiker is the best inclusion of the story. A travelogue of sorts disguised as a movie, but stay on during the credits for a sly remark from Hoges when crossing the Sydney harbor Bridge, a place where he once worked as a painter.

I enjoyed the movie. I don't see anything wrong with showing the countryside of Australia and I thought it did a better job of that than the film 'Australia' which had CGI images involved, showing landscapes that didn't even exist.

This movie was full of old jokes that we've heard before but put into virtually small skits, the towing scene (We've heard that joke before) and the aviation scenes. Roy Billing was rolling them out one after another. I've heard them all before and even Shane Jacobsen gets in on it after Billing delivers another. We see Shane in the back seat start to smile. He gets it.

The Australian movie scene desperately needs people who can tell a good story (or any story)and use the genuine Australian country side and its characters as a back drop. Enough of the boyfriend girlfriend relationship studies that we get plied with year after year slowly numbing us to death. Thanks Shane and Paul and Co. OK, its not a film masterpiece, but you're starting to head the right way. Middle Australia is starving for stories set in their own country that will entertain. And we can relate to these events. I found it it to be a reasonable study of the relationship between a father and son traveling across the Australian countryside. Recommended.

I saw this film on a Qantas flight to Sydney last week. It was about a grown-up son's (Shane Jacobson) efforts to re-establish bonds with his dad Charlie (Paul Hogan) after the unexpected death of his mother. To do this, he brings his dad on a long road trip in order to fulfill a long-time promise to fish at the northern tip of Australia's west coast.

We have seen plenty of this prodigal son stories, as well as road trips, so the unique quality here for me is the Australian background and characters. It is only OK for me. The actors are both very good. I have not seen Paul Hogan since "Crocodile Dundee" and here he is as an elderly cantankerous dad. It was just so apparent that the two actors could never be father and son in real life because of they do not look a bit alike.

The best parts of the film were those with young hitch-hiker Jess charmingly played by Morgan Griffin. She is a welcome (and pretty) addition to their road trip. Too bad her screen time is not longer than it was.

Well, if you can get to see this little known Aussie movie I suggest you do, it's not 'earth shattering' it's not 'Hollywood' (thank god!) but I for one found it to be a well made, mostly very funny, entertaining and a sometimes poignant hour thirty!.

Dad/Son road trip movies are not that common, thankfully the chemistry shown on screen by the ever excellent (but hardly seen) one liner master, Paul Hogan and of course the always likable Shane Jacobson ('Kenny') produce some truly classic moments, no spoilers here but they are 'LOL' funny together and when the mood requires, somber together.

It's a hoot, not sure why some 'reviewers' have such a downer on it? oh, Morgan Griffin as Jess was ripper mate!!!

See it if you can.

If you are wanting an easy, enjoyable, Aussie road trip movie, spend 2 hours with Charlie & Boots. The movie moves along at a nice pace, has tender moments and plenty of laugh out loud moments. It also has some beautiful scenery and cinematography.

Don't go into it expecting any kind of Hollywood movie, it is a true Australian movie, understated, funny and overall very entertaining. Most Australians will be able to relate to something throughout this movie..

We were very pleasantly surprised and glad we watched it.

Keep watching until the credits end.