Kangaroo Jack Review

Kangaroo Jack
In New York, two mishap-prone friends - hairstylist Charlie and wannabe musician Louis - inadvertently cross Charlie's mob boss stepfather Sal, and are forced to deliver $50,000 to Australia to make amends. Things quickly go pear-shaped when the money is swiped by a wild kangaroo and the duo give chase...

by Danny Graydon |
Published on
Release Date:

16 May 2003

Running Time:

89 minutes

Certificate:

PG

Original Title:

Kangaroo Jack

The king of 'Bigger, Faster, Louder' filmmaking, Jerry Bruckheimer, now presents the family version. And depressingly, it's even more lightweight than usual, combining adult humour, childish slapstick and - ironically - merely adequate action into an uneven mix.

Director McNally consistently panders to his producer's stylistic whims, the flashy shots out of place with the 'wacky' content. And, bafflingly for a movie whose selling point is a sassy CG marsupial, the kangaroo registers as a stingy cameo, favouring the bad-guys-in-pursuit angle.

O'Connell and Anderson gamely attempt a Laurel And Hardy vibe, but are thwarted by a woeful script that has them shrieking, falling over and working laboured gags. Warren's heroine adds little, while Walken's stock turn as mobster Sal finds him slumming yet again. But, unlike the titular 'roo, at least he actually manages to take the money and run.

Brainless and inane, this is for undemanding kids only.
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