Crackerjack

I was very impressed with the latest production from Mick Molloy. As a fan of his, I was used to a different kind of humour than displayed here. He wisely opted with a more subtle, broad style of comedy in Crackerjack, rather than his usual low brow, in-your-face ramblings. It is, at times, inconsistent and un-even, but a decent script works past that, and makes for some entertaining viewing. Directed by Paul Moloney (who has directed almost every Australian TV series imaginable), Crackerjack tells the story of Jack Simpson, a bloke that belongs to his local bowls club for the sole reason of parking. When the club hits financial trouble, he is forced to bowl competitively in an attempt to raise the funds to save the club from becoming a poker machine haven. A familiar, and successful formula, that is handled well. There is no denying that the film owes it's success to the great casting of Molloy. He seemed to have a great rapport with Samuel Johnson, and excellent chemistry with Judith Lucy, and while the character is probably not a far stretch from his own personality, you can't help but wonder why he hadn't tried his arm at film earlier. To smooth out the in-experienced cast, the delightful Frank Wilson and Bill Hunter support, and often steal their scenes. They are two fine actors and the pair cruise through their roles with ease. Had it not been for the huge success of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding', Crackerjack would have made it to number 1 at the Australian box office, but when you consider what he film is about and who is involved, even making it to number 2 was an outstanding effort. All in all, a witty, feel-good movie. Great cast, great crew, and a great soundtrack, combine to make one of the better Australian films of 2002. 7/10.

A lot of fuss was made about the new Australian movie ‘Crackerjack', with many people saying that it was great. If it was going to be as good as Australian movies before it, such as ‘the castle', ‘the dish' and ‘the nugget', I was sure to be in for a good time. However by the end of this movie, I could not have been more wrong, as I found, the characters, the story and the direction of ‘Crackerjack' to be disgraceful. This movie does nothing for the game of bowls or the Australian film making industry.

Meet Jack Simpson - office-worker, drifter and total scammer. When he joins the local bowling club just to score free inner-city parking, little does he know he may become the key to the future of the club! With the Cityside Club in financial straits and shady developer Bernie Fowler breathing down its neck, the club is forced to enter a cash prize tournament. But with aging and ailing members, the team numbers are down. When they discover the enigmatic Jack on their books, they threaten to withdraw his membership and his car-park, if he doesn't play! With the battle lines drawn for a do or die match, the club's very existence now rests in Jack's hands.

The main problem I have with this movie has to be in its story. Perhaps I have a different sense of humour to writers Mick and Richard Molloy, because there scripting writing was for one of a better word – terrible. I found some of the characters created for the film to be ‘empty', the love element of the film just thrown in for good measure (while us as the audience could not see how they came to be that way). Then there was the stupid element of the ‘flipper', the magical bowling move by Jack. By the end of the film I was totally sick of it, and speaking of the ending, it would have to be one of the worst and most predictable I have ever scene, as if it was trying to make the movie bigger than it actually was. I especially hated the final voiceovers by Jack, as they were totally ridiculous. However the story did have some good aspects, like what the powers behind a bowls club are really like, and what is like to be inside such a club, as a member or a fly on the wall.

There was also some bad acting in this movie. Mick Molloy does nothing for me as an actor. I believe that he should stick to his comedy stuff, as his performance in this was below par. His character of Jack Simpson was annoying me by the end of the movie, being a loser in so many ways, and having an annoying nature as well. Dave Jackson (Samuel Johnson) is Jack's flatmate, who is another crazy character. The pair do share joints from time, which suits their metal state of mind. Jack gets involved with local journalist Nancy Brown (the strange and wacky Judith Lucy). Her introduction I have to admit was funny, when Jack says `Nice pins', with Nancy's reply of `F#&k off' between two older bowling patrons, classical. Jack then says the funny reply `I wasn't talking to you!' Yet as I have said, Jack and Nancy's romance was not that romantic, and did nothing to help make the story that great from where I viewed it.

There were some characters I did like. The evil Bernie Fowler (John Clarke) was an interesting bad guy. Clarke was the one comedian that I believe could act after watching this film. His character really brought out those ideas of powers behind such an organisation as a bowling club extremely well. Then all the actors playing the various roles of the bowling club member were pretty good. I especially liked Stan Coomb's (Bill Hunter), who had added a very Australian flavour to the movie. His character loved a beer and his bowls.

The locations used in ‘Crackerjack' are another positive for it. In particular, I like the way that the movie took advantage of one of the world's biggest bowling green in the southern hemisphere, that of ‘Corowa bowling club', near Albury on the Vic/NSW border, Australia. Crackerjack was badly directed by Paul Moloney, famous for directing many Australian TV shows, such as ‘Neighbours', ‘The Henderson Kids', ‘Blue Heelers' and ‘Sea Change'. Now considering what he had to work with here, both in script and acting talent, the movie was very hard to like from the directing point of view.

Now usually I am a fan of Australian movies, as I want our film industry in this country to keep getting stronger and stronger. However I am not a fan of ‘Crackerjack'. I kept asking through my viewing of the movie ‘I wonder what the inspiration for this film was?' I still ask it, and have no satisfactory answer. The reason I have for asking it, is because of the film's before Crackerjack (like ‘the castle' and ‘the dish') that have really well defined stories, which are easy to understand why they were brought to the big screen. Yet with this movie's story, I still struggle to understand why the writing was done or the production ever started for it. Perhaps if the ‘Working Dog' team had helped on this film, it might have helped make it a better film than I think it is. That being said, if you have not realised before now, I hated this movie, I hated it a lot.

CMRS gives ‘Crackerjack': 1 (Bad Film)

This is the first feature film from Australian comedian Mick Molloy. Mick wrote the film with his brother Richard with help from John Clarke, another comedian and actor. Mick & John also have starring roles along with several other iconic Australian actors - Bill Hunter, Frank Wilson et al. The basic premise of the movie is that slimy Jack Simpson (Mick Molloy) has become a member of a Lawn Bowls Club for the sole purpose of getting a free car park near his work. The Club is in dire financial straits and calls on Jack to help. John Clarke plays the clubs arch nemesis - he is trying to take the club over and turn it into a "Poker Machine Slum" Jack and the other club members band together to try and save the club with many funny twists and turns and Jacks eventual redemption. This is quite a clever little movie. It is well above Mick Molloys usual gutter humor. It is pretty well written and well acted. The older Aussie actors are brilliant (Bill Hunter, Frank Wilson Monica Maughan and ors) The film meanders along rather then going at break neck pace, but that adds to the charm of the movie. There is low level coarse language.

I was reticent to see this flick before reading the external reviews and user comments posted here. Why? Firstly because Mick Malloy's humour can (in my humble opinion) be pretty crass and over the top, evidenced by his ill fated shemozzle of a television show some years back. And secondly because good Aussie comedy films are sadly as rare as the Tassie Tiger.

Sensibly Mick has restrained his natural comedic exuberance in this surprisingly watchable movie. Who would have thought that a bowls club would provide the setting for one of the funniest Australian films in years. The cast is excellent with familiar local old timers all putting in believable performances.

Interesting to see John Clarke playing the villain in this piece. It's a one dimensional part but JC still adds a touch of class, as always. Good to see Judith Lucy also getting a Guernsey or should I saw bowls uniform on the big screen. She's a real talent, pity a number of her retorts were expletives. Her own material is a lot wittier. Interesting character though. Bowls reporter on a local rag. How low on the journalist food chain can one get!!

Crackerjack may not be the funniest film I've seen this year but it's certainly an enjoyable diversion, well worth a look. Lots of other people obviously agree with me as it's headed to be the biggest grossing Australian film this year. Good to see someone finally make a quirky, gentle comedy without trying to sledgehammer the laughs like so many Australian 'comedies' before it.

Finally a bit of trivia. If you're wondering which Aussie Rules team Mick supports check out the flag on his workstation. Also look out for his old partner in crime, Tony Martin doing the announcing in the final bowls scene.

I have loved Mick Molloy, Tony Martin and Judith Lucy, in addition to the rest of the D-Generation, for almost my whole life now, having started my love affair with these comedians at about the age of seven.

I never saw "Crackerjack" before, though, and I'm not sure why. Was it because Mick fell on hard times after "The Late Show" and "Martin Molloy"? Some of you may still be unfortunate enough to remember "The Mick Molloy Show", which was so laid back and lazy in execution it felt like they weren't even trying.

It might also have been because the movie is about lawn bowls, surely one of the top three most boring spectator sports ever invented, alongside golf and cricket.

It's true that you do need some understanding of bowls to follow the movie's climactic scenes (an understanding I don't have, nor care to acquire).

The movie begs the comparison to "Happy Gilmore", but in Australia with bowls instead of golf. However, whereas "Gilmore" went all out with typical Adam Sandler goofiness, "Crackerjack" is in some ways an affectionate homage to the culture of lawn bowls clubs for senior citizens. It's actually kind of realistic, which I wasn't expecting.

The movie's pretty funny at times, though never hilarious. The humour is light and ever-present, but I only found myself laughing a few times.

Seems strange to say, but I think "Crackerjack" may have been made with a very specific audience in mind: lawn bowls enthusiasts. It has just the right amount of realism and affection that I bet elderly folks down at the bowls club would love it.

And you know, I have to hand it to filmmakers who are that true to their purpose that they make a film for such a specific crowd of people, and one which is sure to please them.

Not that the rest of us can't enjoy it too.