No. 21 Kangaroo Jack (2003) 15 of 100

 

A bit of an oddity now with a mafia hit movie that has a taking, rapping CGI kangaroo in it. The backstory to the film is that it was initially a violent film filled with nudity and swearing but the test audiences only liked the kangaroo. Showing the usual Hollywood integrity, the producers re-cut the film to put the kangaroo to the front and to market it as a kid’s film. Wise move – the CGI kangaroo can’t demand a trailer and a percentage of the box office.

The film follows Charlie and Louis, played by Jerry O’Connell and Anthony Anderson. Think of them as a poor man’s Jason Bateman and Martin Lawrence and you won’t be far off. The lads are childhood friends since Louis saved Charlie from drowning at the beach. Years later Charlie is a hairdresser and Louis, the black character, is a hapless criminal. No affirmative action here!

Charlie is related to Christopher Walken’s mob boss character who phones in his ‘one day on set’ performance with lots of stereotype Italian/American mafia boss tropes – mamma mia! He’s pissed over the lads messing up a big deal and sends them off to Australia to deliver $50k to a Mr Smith. They are gasping when they learn how much money they are muleing but you could barely get a decent car for that these days.

The lads head out to the rendezvous to a predictable Australian themed soundtrack – lazy to have ‘Down Under’ front and central, still it is Colin Hay’s pension. They manage to hit a kangaroo with their jeep and, as you do, decide to dress it in Louis’ jacket and take selfies. Of course the kangaroo is only stunned and soon hops off wearing the jacket, which has the money in the pocket. What follows is a predictable chase to recover the loot and to find out the true reason for their visit.

They hit an Australian bar, where everyone is pissed of course, and enlist poor old Bill Hunter who must have a constitutional right to be in every film made in Australia ever. They also meet cute Jessie who quickly falls for Charlie – see it’s not true what they say about hairdressers!

Their plans to capture Kangaroo Jack take shape but ‘Mr Smith’ is unhappy at the delay in getting his money and Walken, who has done his time on set, sends over his henchman Frankie, played by our man Shannon to see what the hell is going on. Frankie is your no nonsense type mobster who has the forgettable catchphrase ‘Go long’.

Shannon has a decent sized role and ends up being the principal baddy. He does a passable American Italian accent and takes his styling tips from Ray Liotta in ‘Goodfellas’ with the unbuttoned shirt and medallion. Given this is his first film after ‘8 Mile’ he does well holding our interest with some trademark wide eyed shoutiness. He does of course get outsmarted by our hapless heroes and a CGI kangaroo though.

I thought this film was just about passable. It was rubbish of course with a CGI kangaroo who has a hip hop sound track every time he appeared. He talked only in a dream sequence and at the end we get ‘funny’ out-takes as he bemoans the lack of star billing for himself. The massive editing job is clearly apparent and it would have been interesting to have seen the original cut of ‘Down and Under’ rather than this Frankenstein kids’ comedy they cut from its corpse.

Australia was well shot and the cast seemed to be having a good time. I doubt Shannon will have this one highlighted on his CV, but it must have been nice to get a trip to Australia as well as a decent role, central to the film. The kangaroo was annoying and I’m not surprised the character was only seen again in a straight to video, animated sequel.

When is Shannon-On? - 12.25

Outcome? - “Put away for good”

Film 2.5/5

Shannon Stars 3/5