The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee

Being a fan of the Crocodile Dundee movies and actor Paul Hogan this film was a guilty pleasure, although apart from him referencing his most famous character creation this has little to do with those films because here Paul Hogan is playing himself to a degree, as a faded Hollywood star who just wants to retire but instead gets persuaded to step into the limelight one last time to secure a knighthood, please his granddaughter and restore his legacy but of course things all go pear shaped which is where most of the fun is to be had.

It's a paper thin plot device and Hogan actually looks as reluctant as the persona he plays on screen to want to appear in the movie at times but he is 80 years old now in real life and is light years away from the charismatic Crocodile Dundee, however this self referential, tongue in cheek swipe at Hollywood, his career and the politically correctness of modern times is an amusing diversion if instantly forgettable.

Chevy Chase, John Cleese and Olivia Newton-John are unnecessarily shoe horned into proceedings and I was half expecting Linda Kozlowski to pop up at some point but she doesn't. It's light hearted, good natured and well intentioned but you are left asking yourself why did they feel the need to make this and parade Paul Hogan as a shadow of his former self. Fans will enjoy it but newcomers to the actor won't until you've watched the original Crocodile Dundee (1986).

I don't know why the ratings on IMDM are so low. I though it was a great movie. Typical self depreciating humour. We don't take ourselves too seriously and we like to take the piss out of ourselves and everyone else and this was evident in this movie with some great cameo's. I really enjoyed it. Anyone GenX or older I think will have a few good laughs. I know I did . Loved it! On ya Hoges

Being a long time Paul Hogan fan it was great to see him back in top form. The pokes and jabs at the Hollywood system are fun and playful when watching someone in his 80s roll his eyes at a community that is self obsessed, materialistic and clutching to keep itself alive and relevent. However for all the moments where Hoges shines, it's the woeful co-stars, particularly that of his manager, that make it so cringe worthy. Some terrible acting, terrible green screen work and strange editing make this go from a possible 8 to a so-so six.

Thank you Hoges - this one isnt your fault.

I think more than anything else, it was a well deserved stab at the media. Both regular and social. About how something so simple, a simple mistake can be taken well out of context for a headline and engaging in schadenfreude with the outcome.

That said, it was fun. I enjoyed it. It was pretty funny at times, a bit corny at times, all too real at times. There are many more higher budgeted movies that aren't half as good. The movie is a pleasant way to spend an hour and a half with the family of an evening.

I give it 7 stars because it's not awards material. It's just good family fun.

This is not academy award material, but it was a lot of laughs. mr dundee was like a deer in the headlights kind of role. bad things kept happening to him despite the fact he kept trying to do the right thing. meanwhile the reporters kept coming down on him hard in one wild scene after another. watch it for the laughs and don't get to serious.