draco_graham
So this film was originally supposed to be an adult mafia comedy, but people said it wasn't funny enough for adults, so they threw in a KANGAROO and made it for KIDS, because it's never too late to show your kid a movie about the MAFIA! The plot does make sense (sorta) compared to other bad films. The two main characters are friends after one is saved by the other from drowning. They then get into trouble and end up needing to deliver a package to Mr. Smith in Australia for Christopher Walken and Michael Shannon, who are the best things in the film. I mean SERIOUSLY. Their performances make me think they were told that the film is called "Death in the Outback" or something of the like. They find out that the package has 50,000 dollars in it, so they go into the airplane bathroom to talk about it loudly without saying any word that means money, so everyone hearing this thinks it's poop they are talking about and that they "Want to roll in it." I can see why people thought it wouldn't be funny for adults. So in Australia they just drive around and hit a kangaroo with their car and because they are sick people the take pictures with it, even putting the one guys' jacket on the kangaroo with the money in it, and then it wakes up, kicks one of the guys and runs off with the cash. The rest of the movie is about them chasing the kangaroo to get the cash back. They then go to a zoologist or someone like that who is Estella Warren and they think she's hot, and they get stranded in the desert a few minutes later and she comes to save them and one of them thinks she's a mirage so he squeezes her tits on camera. WHAT A TOTALLY CHILD APPROPRIATE SCENE! Seriously, I'm OK with a hidden dirty joke in kids films for the adults in the audience, but upright squeezing a womans breasts should NOT BE IN A KIDS MOVIE. Anyway, she then hits him upside the head with a conga drum, knocking him unconscious. He then dreams that the Kangaroo is rapping Hip Hop while, uhm, twerking. Why did the show this scene right after the man squeezed a girl's boobs? No, seriously, why? Also, they used this scene in the trailers, making everyone think the film is about a rapping kangaroo, which, in fact, he's only in the film for like, what, five minutes in total, and a good two minutes is about his finding Licorice and cinnamon candy in the jacket. HE DOESN'T EVEN TALK EXCEPT FOR THE DREAM SEQUENCE OR DURING THE CREDITS! Anyway, then the scene get weirder with two more kangaroos, one of them voiced by Christopher Walken (I think), and it rains money and I at first thought my snacks were laced with LSD. They then close in on the camera chanting "Chicken Blood." Because that's not gonna traumatize kids at all. He wakes up, and for some reason the girl doesn't care about the titty squeezing and is immediate friends and makes out with him later in the film? Sure, that's realistic. So they hunt the kangaroo armed with tranquilizers but then Mr. Smith notifies Walken about not getting the money and Walken sends Shannon to deal with it. I assume. Shannon pretty much just showed up out of the blue in my perspective. Anyway, the following will contain spoilers, but I don't think anyone should really watch this. Unless you want to, then don't read this next part, just skip to were it says: (SPOILER OVER) on my review. Eventually they get the money after chasing the kangaroo, but the PLOT TWIST! Shannon pulls a gun on them and explains in one of the best gangster ways that the money was just being sent to Smith so he could KILL THEM! Seriously, ten bucks says he wasn't aware what the title was. But the police arrive before he can shoot (big disappointment, I know), and that's basically about it. Oh wait, the movie addresses during the credits that they forgot the film was about the kangaroo, with the kangaroo saying: "Wait a minute, this film is called 'Kangaroo Jack!' It should be about ME!" (SPOILER OVER) I honestly wish they stuck with the original idea, sure, it may not have been funny, but at least we could see more Walken and Shannon or get some action, and a good story maybe. The only redeeming quality is Walken and Shannon playing a gangsters. They should to a role like that again. But instead we got this garbage which for some reason is considered "Child Appropriate." Sure, nothing like a film about Kangaroos stealing money from gangsters including scenes of titty squeezes and threats at gunpoint for kids! Also the main characters acting in many scenes seems stale and that they forgot their lines and are improvising. Walken and Shannon are the only really good actors in this film, and Warren also did a good job as well, and I hope these three fired their agents after this. But you know what's worse, they made an ANIMATED SEQUEL! It apparently was a success, making $88,929,111 world wide! My guess on that was the misleading trailers and poster, making you think the kangaroo actually talked. It should have been at least a PG-13 with it's violence, sexual content, and language.
Prismark10
I heard a story about the making of the film Kangaroo Jack. It was a dark story about mobsters putting out a hit on two young dudes who have been sent to the Australian outback who then inadvertently run over a Kangaroo.Test audiences were rather negative about the film but the feedback was that it could do with more kangaroo scenes and more comedy and the film was reshot, recut and marketed as a silly action comedy.Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Estella Warren star in Kangaroo Jack with a cameo from Christopher Walken and an early appearance by Michael Shannon.Charlie Carbon (O'Connell) and Louis Booker (Anderson) became best buddies when Booker saved Carbon from drowning when he was a kid. Since then Booker has always got Carbon in trouble and in the latest escapade, both end up in trouble with Carbon's stepfather (Walken) a local mobster.To make amends they are sent to Australia to deliver a package but when they run over a kangaroo and put on a jacket on it to take pictures. The kangaroo revives and runs off wearing the jacket and with the package in the pocket. Before long they are being pursued by the people who were due to receive the package and Walken send some goons down under as well.Its actually undemanding fun and I rather enjoyed it. Its a silly romp, O'Connell and Anderson spark off each other, Warren is very appealing and the kangaroo provides the bounce.
popcorn-addict
one of the worst ways to spend an hour and a half of your life. I'd rather have root canal work on every single one of my teeth than watch this again. I can't believe that people actually paid money to make this piece of tripe, let alone paying to go and see it. The censors should have killed it before it even got to the cinema. The Aussie accents are ridiculously overblown. the slang is overdone and crass. the plot is threadbare. the actors are wooden (except Louis). The setups are obvious, the jokes are juvenile. The fake scenery is ridiculous and totally unnecessary. Basically if you're aged 5 or under, you will love it. Otherwise, i'd recommend that you give it a miss. Go watch paint dry - it's more entertaining.
