Blinky Bill: The Movie

'Paws in'

Popcorn, M&Ms and a large drink... roll the film... The weekend is coming and parents will be looking for a break. The cinemas have a few options this season. An Australian children's icon has been given new life with a CGI version of the young koala adventurer.

Kid's Korner rating: 2 stars Parent's Rating: 3.5 stars

The original storyline of the Blinky Bill character was for Blinky to have adventures that will stop the deforestation of the Australian Outback. The newest instalment of Blinky Bill (Ryan Kwanten) takes a less environmental stance and centres on saving his home by bringing his family back together. The battle is for Green Patch and the antagoniser is the evil Cranklepot the Goanna (Barry Otto) who wants to rule their little community.

Blinky Bill's story begins when he is a young koala and the origins of his adventurous side are revealed by following the example of his father, Mr. Bill (Richard Roxburgh). After his adventurous father heads off on his latest mission to save trapped animals in the red desert, he goes missing. The younger koala never loses faith in the return of the family patriarch, but while his father is away, Cranklepot moves into leadership of their animal menagerie home. Blinky takes it upon himself to find his father and bring order to their small community. Through a series of signs and death defying events, Blinky connects with a band of young outback creatures that help him to sniff out the trail that Mr. Bill took through the Australian landscape. His new friends Nutsy (Robin McLeavy), a zoo koala, and Jacko (David Wenham), a neurotic frill-necked lizard, help him to make his way through traps, feral animals and well-intentioned zoo keepers to stay on course to find the answers to his father's disappearance and save Green Patch.

One joy of this animated journey through the Australian Outback is the vocal talents of the who's who in the Australian acting community (Toni Collette, Barry Humphries and more). They add a level of credibility to this pedestrian tale of Australian folklore and may make it easier for parents to stomach the cringe-worthy stereotypes of Australian culture. The script is elementray and the animation is reminiscent of any Nickelodeon CGI series, but the viewer only needs to be reminded that this chapter of Blinky Bill is meant for children under the age of six years of age. Unlike many of the animated films by Disney and Dreamworks, this film has a small target audience. Parents will be able to appreciate that this film is a safe option for their kids, but it is not designed for an older audience. There are a few jokes added to provide fathers an opportunity to chuckle (Grab your gumnuts and let's go!), but in the end this excursion to the theatre will be to entertain the little ones. Fortunately, the message is focused on bringing a traditional family and their community back together. There is no hidden agenda undergirding the storyline that parents need to be weary of their children being exposed to. Blinky Bill the Movie is far from being ground- breaking cinema, but it does fill the need for parents who are looking for an option to entertain their children during the weekend.

Blinky Bill the Movie does provide a wonderful opportunity for parents to talk with their kids about the importance of family. Regardless of the family atmosphere that people bring into the theatre, this film has a strong message for any family at its heart and a basic plot point that little children can appreciate and grasp. After walking out of the theatre and cleaning the popcorn out of their hair (from the child sitting behind the family), this would be a fun time to talk with children about the film and about family. What does family mean to your kids and what are we willing to do to keep the family together? An easy conversation in the car afterwards and a special time to connect with the each other.

Dad asked the question on the ride home, 'What did we think of the film?'

The animation and the dialogue are designed for younger kids, even though some of humour was meant for older audiences. Blinky Bill is not offensive and will not be embarrassing for parents to share with their little ones, but it the film is meant for the young at heart.

Reel Dialogue: What are the bigger questions to consider from this film? 1. What is the importance of the neighbourhood? (John 14:18, James 1:27) 2. Why is family important? (Matthew 22:36-40, Romans 15:2)

Kid's Korner are shorter reviews written by Russell Matthews's kids perspective and based on a five star rating system @ Russelling Reviews #russellingreviews #blinkybillthemovie

This is an amazing coming of age film that demands your attention and connects with any young person on a deep and emotional level.

Blinky's character is amazing and highlights struggles of the Aussie. The superb script gives insight to his innermost feelings and the whole movie creates a feeling of family. Blinky is a nervous teen on the edge of the rest of his life and the writing has highlighted this is the best possible way.

I recommend this to anyone with a sense of adventure and familial bonds. This movie is a stunning masterpiece and a classic. Charles Bukowski would be proud.

Being somebody who does have a fondness for Yoram Gross' work, most of which are good representations of Australian animation apart from the odd disappointment. The Dot film series and Blinky Bill are notable examples.

So when hearing that there was an animated film from 2015, part of me was enthused and was interested into seeing it. After watching it, it is watchable and has its likability, but it was rather disappointing as to how unremarkable the overall film felt at the end of the day. Those who grew up with Blinky Bill may find themselves disappointed at 'Blinky Bill: The Movie' missing an opportunity to bring back the original voice cast even for a short appearance or doing it in hand-drawn animation, which would have made it feel closer in spirit.

Nothing is done terribly in 'Blinky Bill: The Movie', but not much is done exceptionally at the same time. The most consistent aspects are the music and voice acting. The music is rich in energy and robust as well as with times where it's pathos-filled and understated. The voice acting is very good all round from the likes of Ryan Kwanten, Toni Collette, Rufus Sewell, Richard Roxburgh and Barry Humphries, with the only regret really not bringing the original voice actors back even it was just for a short appearance.

Even though they don't have much depth to them the characters are cute and likable, with Blinky showing easily identifiable traits (apart from the lying to his mother). The Australian stereotypes can be pretty cringe-worthy however.

Animation in 'Blinky Bill: The Movie' is a mixed bag. Done in CGI rather than traditional hand drawn animation, there has certainly been far worse-looking CGI (looking at you Video Brinquedo and Spark Plug Entertainment) but far better as well (Pixar for example). The colours are bright and colourful and the characters mostly well modelled but the backgrounds can lack detail and fluidity, they don't look that vivid and transitions can look choppy and unfinished.

Writing is also mixed. There are some amusing moments, the film certainly has its heart in the right place and does have a lot of heart and charm and the messaging of perseverance amongst others are sincerely presented. It is cliché ridden however, with some crude adult humour and language too that really doesn't belong with the rest of the film, just felt like a clumsy attempt to draw in a wider audience.

Story is one of the weaker assets, despite having a lovely idea that actually is not that far off in spirit to Gross' Blinky Bill outings. It does have parts that are bright and breezy and there is heart and charm. Other parts are rather pedestrian and the film never shakes off its constant and at times excessive predictability.

Overall, watchable but unremarkable. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Now I understand I'm watching this as an adult and not with a childlike mind or sense of wonderment but, my 5 year-old and 9 year-old kids were so bored they walked away. I watched to see what was happening and I have to say, I understand why they walked off. It is terrible. There are so many great kids movies and incredible animated features to watch, new and classic - this isn't one of them.

I remember feeling a little sad for my kids that I missed the theatrical release of this movie, for them. There was such a big ruckus about it, as if it was a milestone for Australian animated features. So I bought it for them when it became available. It has sat on the shelf for weeks now and no one is interested. And I don't care if they never play it again. A very mis-able movie.

This reviewer missed the plot completely. The bush is a noisy place, a cacophony of sound. The chatter and crackle go on and on at a dizzy place. Normally, we humans only hear a small part but if we listen carefully there is a lot going on and the film makers captured this wonderfully. I was returned to a child's place as I watched this move in wonder and awe. So many obvious cliches were avoided brilliantly and this made me grin. I'm sure I missed a lot as there was so much going on so I will be sure to watch this again and again. Yes, the cat was overdone but the Lyre bird was fabulous A great Aussie movie for young and old.