Released September 24, 2009
Billed as “Australia’s first Indigenous comedy”, there’s something amiable about this often funny film that mixes filthy humour with timely jabs at race-relations.
The absurd frizzy-haired and dope-smoking Charlie (Leon Burchill) joins his more sensible but equally doped up buddy Eddie (Luke Carroll) on his quest to return a precious rock to his family. Setting off on the 600km trip West from Perth to Kalgoolie in a boxy-old Ford, they quickly fill the car with smoke before picking up an Italian rock-wannabe, Vinnie, who looks a lot like Russell Brand but with a less ridiculous accent. From there, they’re off a road-movie adventure that also involves drag queen Reggie (or is that Regina?), prison, evil spiders and a demonic puppy.
The gags are hit and miss; frequently a zinger will be followed by an awkward audience silence and the plot is merely an excuse to create mayhem. What come across most strongly is writer/director Richard J. Frankland’s genuine love for his characters, love for the land, respect for family and the importance of reconciliation. By conveying this message though comedy he cleverly makes his obvious intent more palatable.
Shot on location in Western Australia, the film spends little time savouring the vast landscape, the screenplay instead jumping from incident to another. While mostly adhering to some semblance of reality, it is weakened by an absurd sequence where our heroes are chased by a possessed dog with glowing blue eyes. Poorly assembled, it looks like its been pulled from an episode of The Goodies but with none of their comedic timing. A key moment with a persistent spider living in their car also misfires - problems that could have been easily solved simply with a quick rewrite and tighter editing.
These imperfections however, do not overly dampen a film admirable in theme and spirit, and merely just add to its goofball charm.
