KANGAROO JACK (Theatrical Release USA/AUSTRALIA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.1|5.0 Starsììì

Kangaroo Jack—all hype and no substance—does not live up to its trailers. It’s a ‘wannabe’ Australian story, that, understandably, did not make any real money at the box office. The movie fails every time it tries to get its wings off the ground to fly. The concept is good, but unrealized. The casting choices fail in credibility. Christopher Walken is no Marlon Brando Godfather by any means and while Michael Shannon, Jerry O’Connell, and Anthony Anderson are at their usual acting style, usual just isn’t good enough to pull this story off. On the upside, though, Kangaroo Jack takes its audience to parts of Australia that many people may not have seen and the backdrop scenery is worth viewing.

Storyline

Charlie Carbone (Jerry O’Connell) and Louis Booker (Anthony Anderson) are sent to Australia to deliver a package. They lose the package and find United States mobsters and Australian mobsters on their trail with full intent to murder.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director David McNally for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Andrew Mason, Chad Oman, Mike Stenson, and Barry Waldman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Jessie (Estella Warren), Salvatore Maggio (Christopher Walken), Mr. Smith (Marton Csokas), Anna Carbone (Dyan Cannon), Frankie Lombardo (Michael Shannon), Blue (Bill Hunter), and Senior Sargeant Jimmy Inkamala (David Ngoombujarra).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. If you belong to an audience who thinks chasing a kangaroo wearing a lucky jacket full of money through an Australian backdrop contains seeds of a great story, then, this film may be your cup of tea.

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Ben Meyers