Lieutenant Jangles

Set in the 80s, Brisbane, Australia, the crime rate is at an all-time high. Gangs are roaming the streets, and the body count is rising. One cop is willing to take all the villains on. His name is Lieutenant Jangles.

Lieutenant Jangles (Matt Dickie) and Dickens (Andrew Dickens) are partners. While having a urine contest (yes, a urine contest) they are interrupted and called to a shootout. During this shootout, they are surrounded by gangs who are armed with machine guns and unfortunately Dickins gets shot in the groin and dies. Lieutenant Jangles is now seeking revenge. Soon after this incident, he discovers there is a mysterious crime boss in town pulling all the strings. Can Lieutenant Jangles stop this new villain and get revenge for the death of his best mate and partner?

In case you are not aware by now, Lieutenant Jangles is, in fact, a comedy movie. I would go so far as to say that this is more of a spoof movie than a straight-out comedy. This film is loaded with one-liners and crude jokes, but there is more to it. The film adds in elements which pay respects to other well know films, not just from the 80s. The type of humour we see here is comparable to Danger 5 (TV Show), Kung Fury, or even better, Team America. The humour at most times will shock audiences and may even offend, going a little too far for some, and involves nudity and extreme language. But in the end, this film does not hold back when it comes to its humour, and it is evident the cast had a blast. I found myself laughing at the smallest jokes as they always surprised me.

It should also be noted this film is a directional debut by Nicolas Champeaux. Considering this is a directional debut, the overall results are positive. The film is generally well shot, and its story moves at a solid pace. I am also rather impressed with the results based on the film's budget. After doing some research, I even discovered that some of the cast had multiple jobs/roles while working on this film. One example is the actor Daniel Cordery. Here Daniel serves on the film as an actor, co-writer & visual effects artist. Large workloads like this equal to a huge task, but once again, the cast and crew have indeed pulled off a miracle.

The film's musical score is also worth praising. After watching the movie for the 1st time, I instantly found myself looking up the soundtrack. It feels retro, and it was a great compliment to the film. Other elements such as the dust on the lens give the movie a real grindhouse vibe, which is a welcome touch given the film's tone. Generally, there is not much to frown upon when it comes to this film. I did find Jangles slightly silly when he first appeared, but I was surprised to see how quickly I warmed up to him and found myself laughing at some of the most random dialogue.

Overall, Lieutenant Jangles is an Australian spoof film which is loaded with one-liners and crude humour. Considering this film is a directional debut, the results here are quite an achievement. With a stunning soundtrack and impressive visual effects, there is not much to dislike here. It is obvious the cast and crew enjoyed making this film which is always great to see. In the end, it is a refreshing comedy, and I hope more movie lovers support this film, because if you don't, Lieutenant Jangles may punch you where it hurts the most.

8.1/10

Full of juvenile toilet humour and playground insults. I made the mistake of watching this while sober.

However, if not sober may be considered funny. That is if you enjoy pissing competitions and sh****g on beds.

The jokes are really bad, the references to 80s action movies so blatant it's yawn inducing.

The over the top digital effects are like someone just got an FX package they were determined to use all the features at every opportunity.

I was not surprised to read it cost $15000 AUD to make. What a waste, could have bought a used Nissan Micra.

It was a struggle to watch all the way through and in the end I was left wondering how the film crew managed to stick through the endless repetition and bad jokes with awkward silences as if waiting for someone to laugh.

Usually I enjoy slightly off kilter Aussie and NZ humour such as Bad Taste, Black Sheep and Kenny but this one left me cringing and is not in the same league.

I can only imagine the producers were aiming to make a film so bad it would gain a cult reputation. Maybe it will with a certain demographic after they return home having drank a skinful of beers?

Lieutenant Jangles offers moviegoers a lewd take on 80's trash movies, which have had somewhat of a revival in recent times. Although the film's basic premise seems promising, it somehow fails to be clear on where its pastiche lies, whether its lampooning buddy cop films or Australian culture itself, is often uncertain. The humor is broad, and most of the time it's hard to distinguish between baddie characters and the film's protagonist himself, whose foul-mouthed and arrogant demeanor often gets in the way of the events unfolding around him.

FILM: 6/10.

Alright, let me lay it out straight: Lieutenant Jangles isn't exactly winning any awards for quality filmmaking. Shot on the cheap, deliberately crass, and not exactly reaching for the stars, you might wonder, "Why the heck did I watch this?"

But here's the kicker - it's an unapologetic slice of Ozploitation, and hell, anything goes. For us Aussies, the humour hits the bullseye... if you're willing to let it. I mean, where else can you witness two cops being put in their place with a good ol' punch in the dick, delivering a message of respect for women in the most Aussie way imaginable? It's irreverence on steroids, taking a wrecking ball to boundaries.

Now, let's talk production. With a budget that wouldn't cover a decent barbecue, Lieutenant Jangles flaunts stock visual effects, wildly fluctuating video that looks like it's having an identity crisis. And drone shots with more jagged edges than a Smith's potato chip. The audio? Passable, but not exactly stealing the show.

The cast? They're not aiming for Oscar-worthy, but damn, they look like they're having a bloody brilliant time. Action scenes are cheesier than a slab of cheddar, and the dialogue? You'll either be rolling your eyes or chuckling - possibly both. Warning: you might question your life choices during this cinematic adventure.

This film is like Vegemite - an acquired taste. Not for everyone, and the Aussie humour might get lost in translation internationally. But right here in the land Down Under, Lieutenant Jangles is bound to tickle the fancy of a certain crew of genre film fans. Give it a crack if you're up for a wild, budget-busting ride with a distinctly Aussie flavour. It's destined to o be a guilty pleasure. Besides, if you don't like it, Lieutenant Jangles is going to punch you in the dick.

FORMAT: Blu-ray

VIDEO: 6/10.

1080i presentation, Detail level: Moderate, Colour reproduction: Moderate, Level accuracy: Moderate, Encode: Good, Master condition: Excellent

AUDIO: 7.5/10.

DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio, Dialogue reproduction: Good, Soundtrack & effects clarity: Good, Dynamics: Good, Surround sound presentation: N/A, LFE content: N/A

MOOFIEMETER: 6/10.

Awesome cast / crew and story Check it out Quinton ;) Meet Lieutenant Jangles, a foul-mouthed, cigarette-smoking, true-blue Australian cop/cowboy. He's also the eponymous star of a new short film which,judging by the trailer, looks set to deliver action-packed absurd eighties nostalgia. Following a successful Indie go go campaign, the film has finished production and is now in its final stages of post-production Lt. Jangles began his life as a joke that writer/director Nic Champeaux started to develop into a series of long narratives. Eventually, hungry to do something with the character, Champeaux set his sights on an upcoming local film festival