Crackerjack

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)

The first surprise is that the film, set at an Australian bowls club, attracts more than bowling fanatics. While players of the noble game will appreciate the comedy, which features Australian comedian Mick Molloy in his first feature film role, there's plenty for all ages. Molloy plays opportunist Jack, who joins the club as a non-playing member in order to rent out his club parking space to colleagues for large wads of cash. When the club hits rock bottom Jack is forced to mix with the aging members and play to keep his parking space. When friendships are struck up he ends up playing for far more. He meets the world weary journo Nance (Judith Lucy) who has been relegated to reporting bowling tournaments after turning down the advances of her editor. Frank Wilson is more than gentlemanly in his role of club president Len, Bill Hunter puts in a sterling performance as Stan, who takes Jack under his wing, while female support comes from Monica Maughan, Esme Melville and Lois Ramsey. In fact the cast reads like a Who's Who of Australian film. John Clarke appears as bowling-big wig Bernie bent on buying the club and installing pokie machines, much to the charign of members.

While bowls has been in the public conscience since Elizabethan times when Sir Francis Drake insisted in finishing a game at Plymouth Hoe, on the south coast of England, before defeating the Spanish Armada, this film will put it back on the map. Crackerjack, now showing at Te Awamutu's Regent Theatre, made me laugh out loud as well as Richard Wallace (who was sat behind me). It's a must see for Te Kuiti and Otorohanga bowling club members as well as those who loves films like Dalkeith, Brassed Off and The Full Monty.

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.

Right from the start, it felt like I just needed to stretch out in a pair of old trakky pants, 'me ugg boats' and kick back to enjoy. I love Aussie films as I do not need to strain or listen hard to work out what's been said. I also love the simpleness, there is nothing glamorous about the content of this movie, it gave us a 'warts and all' impression of Melbournian inner suburban living. There was something cultural about this movie also. These were Australians that weren't trying to be anyone but themselves. The sarcasm and the jokes were flying nicely and not too much 'in ya face humour' either. Mick Molloy and Judith Lucy (both renown comedians) slid into this movie as if they both love ambling around in front of the lens. Although Mick Molloy probably knew this wasn't going to be Box office hit of the century- thanks to him and the crew for making a movie that wasn't seriously insulting our sense of humour.

When I saw the trailer for Crackerjack, I thought this film was going to be an absolute shocker. How wrong was I? This is such an exquisite piece of Australiana. It's as if a time capsule was dug up from a bygone era and inside was this film. The true stars of Crackerjack are not Mick Malloy or Judith Lucy but a cavalcade of veteran Australian actors, brought back to cinematic life. A bit like Wim Wenders bringing back to life the ageing musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club. Where the comedy of 'The Nugget' failed to deliver, 'Crackerjack' more than succeeds. "Can I fix you a Radox bath champ?" This is just one dialogue related example of how engagingly Australian this film is. And you have to love the modern technology that is 'Bowl-cam'. The sound of the ball cutting through the manicured lawn and the camera following every movement of the ball is truly hypnotic.

'Crackerjack' is not aimed at mocking the ways of the elderly. Lawn bowls is more than sport. It's about friendships, a sense of community and values that now have probably escaped modern day society. It's also about tomato sandwiches, beer at genuine 1976 prices and helping yourself to the wheel of cheese! 'Crackerjack' takes aim at big business, which is squeezing out smaller clubs with the introduction of poker machines and the social and financial impact it's having on the elderly. There are so many things to be gained from seeing this film. Jack highly recommended!