A Serial's Got to Know its Limitations
Added 10/19/2009
[SPOILERS]
I loved Crocodile Dundees I & II. The premise was unique, interesting, the action riveting. It's an old premise really, a character out of its element. But Paul Hogan handled it all with aplomb and a simple charm that made the character enjoyable.
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles tried to recapture the zeitgeist of the previous two episodes, but, hey, everyone is 15 years older from the original Dundee and that aging is very pronounced. I had to make my way to [...] to see if Gerry Skilton was still playing Nugget, because it didn't seem like him. I also noticed that Walter (John Meillon) was conspicuously absent, and I found out it was because Meillon passed away in 1989. More's the pity... but I don't think Walter could have saved this movie.
See, this was really sort of a rehash of Dundee coming to America, only this time he brings Sue (Linda Kozlowski), his common-law wife, Mikey (Serge Cockburn), his son, and Jacko (Alec Wilson), a friend and "nanny" for Mikey. There is some humor in Mick driving Jacko around LA and teaching him the "way" of all things American. It's not a forced humor, either, but it still seems somewhat contrived, as if Mick never really "got" the USA in the time that he had lived here before. Even so, that wasn't the weakest part of the movie.
I'd have to say that the conflict was the weakest part. It's where Mick stumbled across an art theft ring in a movie studio and he defeated the bad guys by leading them on a merry chase through several movie sets. When it was over, I was thinking that he might go back to Australia with the bad guys right behind him to try and track him in the bush.
Instead, that was the end of the movie.
It lacked the down-under Rambo flavor that the second movie possessed, and it lacked the true fish out of water aspect of the first. Today, in 2009, with the characters being another 8 years older, I only hope Paul Hogan doesn't attempt a Crocodile Dundee IV.
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One More, With Feeling! (and Popcorn)
Added 5/17/2009
This is somewhat predictable and follows a formula. I still enjoyed it and got the popcorn out on a Saturday night. "The Wonder from Down Under" and Mrs. too were great. It is a picture very suitable for the family as well. It is a bit understated, but a very pleasant way to pass the time. I have all three of the movies. I am hoping they will make a forth before Paul Hogan gets to old. At 69 he still looks good and in his prime! (Hell the Mrs. Hogan still looks great too!)
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Third time unlucky
Added 2/13/2008
While great comedy should often appear effortless, that doesn't mean that the word should be taken literally, though on one level Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles can truly be said to be an effortless comedy. Absolutely no effort whatsoever has been made: it's in focus and the microphone never creeps into shot as uninteresting things happen in the most uninteresting way possible while the cast are given uninteresting things to say to bulk out the running time to the contractually agreed length, but that's about it for exertion. That the `plot' revolves around a smuggling operation financing a movie studio producing a guaranteed flop third episode in a dead franchise could possibly be seen as a moment of post-modernism, but it's probably just a desperate cry for help from the screenwriters. All the charm and wit of the first (and to a lesser extent the second) film has vanished, taking the characters and goodwill with them: Paul Hogan is starting to look a leathery as the crocs themselves and the most interesting thing about Linda Kozlowski here is trying to pinpoint the plastic surgery through the soft focus filters she's often shot with and work out how much of her disengaged performance is down to boredom and how much to Botox. Both are saddled with characters that simply aren't believable at their age anymore even if they do now have a rather bland son to acknowledge the passing years. She's a primary school play version of a reporter while somehow Mick Dundee seems to have suddenly become a complete simpleton with no memory of all the things he encountered in the first two films in the hope that the audience will find his newfound ignorance funny rather than simply bewildering - it's not even as if his character took a whack to the head in a contrived plot point, it's just plain lazy writing. Things improve slightly to become vaguely watchable in the last half hour, but that's not exactly a recommendation. Belated threequels are usually desperate attempts from faded stars to revive their career and bank balance, but this is so utterly disinterested in doing anything but visiting the cashpoint that it practically qualifies as a non-film.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Third Time, Not Quite the Charm
Added 9/17/2007
The first Crocodile Dundee movie was great fun. Crocodile Dundee 2 was almost as much fun. Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles was still fun, but less so. The producers explain that they came to Los Angeles because it is so unlike the Australian Outback. The thing I liked the least was the use of Paramount Studios playing itself. While the story made a good reason to be there, it always seems like a way to save money. The story picks up about ten years after the previous left off with Dundee and Sue not yet married, but with a son. The story begins with a Dundee who is losing the knack of catching crocks and Sue has good reason to brings them back to America. It has a happy ending so all ends well. While not up to par with the others, if you liked the first two, you'll still like this, just not as much.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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~Judge for yourself~
Added 8/8/2007
I was so afraid of getting this DVD after reading the bad reviews some gave this movie. I decided to give it a shot as I adored the 1st & 2nd Dundee movies. I was not disappointed & felt is wasn't a waste of money as some have stated.
Maybe the bad reviews are because it ISN'T full of filthy language, violence, sexual situations & nudity that some think is needed to make a "good movie". I personally enjoy watching something that all my family can enjoy & laugh to. Sure some things in the movie are a little "corky" but that's what makes Crocodile Dundee so endearing!
It was great seeing the whole gang back together again & am so happy that I didnt listen to the few bad reviews & judged for myself!
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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A Serial's Got to Know its Limitations
Added 10/19/2009
[SPOILERS]
I loved Crocodile Dundees I & II. The premise was unique, interesting, the action riveting. It's an old premise really, a character out of its element. But Paul Hogan handled it all with aplomb and a simple charm that made the character enjoyable.
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles tried to recapture the zeitgeist of the previous two episodes, but, hey, everyone is 15 years older from the original Dundee and that aging is very pronounced. I had to make my way to [...] to see if Gerry Skilton was still playing Nugget, because it didn't seem like him. I also noticed that Walter (John Meillon) was conspicuously absent, and I found out it was because Meillon passed away in 1989. More's the pity... but I don't think Walter could have saved this movie.
See, this was really sort of a rehash of Dundee coming to America, only this time he brings Sue (Linda Kozlowski), his common-law wife, Mikey (Serge Cockburn), his son, and Jacko (Alec Wilson), a friend and "nanny" for Mikey. There is some humor in Mick driving Jacko around LA and teaching him the "way" of all things American. It's not a forced humor, either, but it still seems somewhat contrived, as if Mick never really "got" the USA in the time that he had lived here before. Even so, that wasn't the weakest part of the movie.
I'd have to say that the conflict was the weakest part. It's where Mick stumbled across an art theft ring in a movie studio and he defeated the bad guys by leading them on a merry chase through several movie sets. When it was over, I was thinking that he might go back to Australia with the bad guys right behind him to try and track him in the bush.
Instead, that was the end of the movie.
It lacked the down-under Rambo flavor that the second movie possessed, and it lacked the true fish out of water aspect of the first. Today, in 2009, with the characters being another 8 years older, I only hope Paul Hogan doesn't attempt a Crocodile Dundee IV.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
One More, With Feeling! (and Popcorn)
Added 5/17/2009
This is somewhat predictable and follows a formula. I still enjoyed it and got the popcorn out on a Saturday night. "The Wonder from Down Under" and Mrs. too were great. It is a picture very suitable for the family as well. It is a bit understated, but a very pleasant way to pass the time. I have all three of the movies. I am hoping they will make a forth before Paul Hogan gets to old. At 69 he still looks good and in his prime! (Hell the Mrs. Hogan still looks great too!)
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Third time unlucky
Added 2/13/2008
While great comedy should often appear effortless, that doesn't mean that the word should be taken literally, though on one level Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles can truly be said to be an effortless comedy. Absolutely no effort whatsoever has been made: it's in focus and the microphone never creeps into shot as uninteresting things happen in the most uninteresting way possible while the cast are given uninteresting things to say to bulk out the running time to the contractually agreed length, but that's about it for exertion. That the `plot' revolves around a smuggling operation financing a movie studio producing a guaranteed flop third episode in a dead franchise could possibly be seen as a moment of post-modernism, but it's probably just a desperate cry for help from the screenwriters. All the charm and wit of the first (and to a lesser extent the second) film has vanished, taking the characters and goodwill with them: Paul Hogan is starting to look a leathery as the crocs themselves and the most interesting thing about Linda Kozlowski here is trying to pinpoint the plastic surgery through the soft focus filters she's often shot with and work out how much of her disengaged performance is down to boredom and how much to Botox. Both are saddled with characters that simply aren't believable at their age anymore even if they do now have a rather bland son to acknowledge the passing years. She's a primary school play version of a reporter while somehow Mick Dundee seems to have suddenly become a complete simpleton with no memory of all the things he encountered in the first two films in the hope that the audience will find his newfound ignorance funny rather than simply bewildering - it's not even as if his character took a whack to the head in a contrived plot point, it's just plain lazy writing. Things improve slightly to become vaguely watchable in the last half hour, but that's not exactly a recommendation. Belated threequels are usually desperate attempts from faded stars to revive their career and bank balance, but this is so utterly disinterested in doing anything but visiting the cashpoint that it practically qualifies as a non-film.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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