KANGAROO (directed by Kate Woods), a heart-warming family comedy about ex-TV personality Chris Masterman (Ryan Corr), who becomes stranded in an outback town outside Alice Springs. There, he teams up with 12-year-old Indigenous girl Charlie (Lily Whiteley). The pair form an unlikely friendship and work together to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned joeys in the remote but stunning Outback community – an endeavour that proves to be life-changing for them both.
MANY great comedies thrive on pairings, most notably the ‘buddy cop’ genre, and Chris and Charlie are great friends and foils for one another. Chris being the metropolitan TV personality on breakfast television looking for his big break and finds himself trapped in a small town; and Charlie the young girl with a special connection to kangaroos, who recently lost her father and recently moved to the town with her mother. Both shun their new community, but learn from the townsfolk and each other the importance of coming together.
Aside from community, the other themes are parenthood and grief. Chris is mourning the career he almost had after the short-lived viral fame he conjured up for himself comes crashing down. He becomes a parental figure to Charlie and also to a young joey after its mother is killed. Still grieving her father, Charlie is not interested in making friends with the other kids, and dedicates herself to keeping the kangaroos safe.
Aussie films have a reputation for being depressing or bleak, even the really terrific ones, but I’m happy to inform you that Kangaroo is not only a fantastic movie, but it’s very funny and sweet. The story of Chris being trapped in this town could have turned into Wake in Fright, but instead it’s a family comedy.
Kangaroo is now showing at Sale Cinemas.
Deborah Mailman you may recognise from almost every Aussie film or TV ever, but that’s because she nails both dramatic and comedy roles. She portrays Charlie’s mother Rosie, who is trying her best to keep herself and her daughter together. The Australian film and TV industry has a rising star on their hands, because Lily Whiteley did an excellent job as Charlie. And Ryan Corr successfully portrays Chris as someone who truly does have heart, and not just a careerist. Plus, there’s plenty of hilarious side characters in the town.
And if you’re an animal lover, especially kangaroos, there’s plenty of cute moments with joeys. There are some fantastic shots in this, with a personal highlight the opening with Charlie running with kangaroos.
All-in-all, Kangaroo is a feel-good Aussie flick about a little community coming together for the greater good of caring for orphaned joeys, despite their differences and own personal demons.
