Under the Radar

Here was another comedy that disappointed me. Why? Because it comes off as more a drama than a comedy. It's all too serious, and the music score doesn't help, neither does the unsettling jarring start, with a torture scene, in a film that goes back and forth. Wolf Creek's Phillips, someone who really doesn't act, plays an avid surfer, with the frizzy sandy hair to prove it, who gets dropped from the competition, on the account of a violent attack on another surfer, as I remember. His punishment sees him as a carer at a intellectual disabled facility. When going on a cruise, he's not suppose to, I think, taking two of the patients, Steady Eddy, bloody scary when he's angry, and Adrian somebody, the eye catching character who has a shaking condition, tourrettes too, I think. I'm 20 percent sure on it, he runs into some big trouble, where the start fits into it the story. I don't really see how this could of been intended sheerly as a comedy. It's way too serious. The filmmakers must of known, it had more dramatic purpose, or just give it the toss of a coin, and see how it evolves. I'm not saying it's bad. It still is very entertaining, partly thanks to Steady Eddy's input (and yes he can act) Adrian's world isn't all doom and gloom. He shares a screen kiss with Jo, model Chloe Maxwell, in a surprising nominated performance, as a sexy girl. thumbing it, who they pick up en route to the beach, who even scores better than the trying Phillips, who I must admit, got on my nerves a little. As a comedy, this movie doesn't work. As a comedy drama, it just gets by. Both criticisms here, aren't inspiring, or an invitation to a good movie.

Yeah, this film is a blend of Momento and Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, but I'm yet to see a completely original film that hasn't borrowed something from another film. Under the Radar takes these themes and makes them its own. The actors do a top notch job and the director handles this well written piece with pace and style. Evan Clarry and Steve Pratt have managed to weave together the multiple genres seamlessly in a form that keeps us guessing right to the end. The locations across the Gold Coast look stunning and are well utilized and the surfing sequences take you face first into the waves. The stunts are big for a low to mid budget film, but it looks and feels anything but low budget. In my opinion this is one little Aussie gem that has truly slipped; Under the Radar. Steady Eddy - Keep on shaking'. You owned the screen with a great first time performance.

In Under The Radar, Nathan Philips plays Brandon, a surfer sentenced to community service in a home for the intellectually disabled after a "surf rage" incident. He befriends a shifty bogan, Trevor (played by comedian Steady Eddie, who has cerebral palsy), and recurring amnesiac Adrian (Clayton Watson from "Matrix Revolutions"). The three of them go on a road trip and meet up with runaway waitress Jo (model Chloe Maxwell in her first acting role), and two warring groups of gangsters.

The latest film from Evan Clarry (Blurred) is an enjoyable mainstream experience, although it does look like it was made for television. There's little new here, but it's quite watchable – and improved by the non-linear narrative. With his brain resetting every half hour, Adrian's the most interesting character, and his coping mechanisms are explored in some depth, though this is not nearly as well done as in Memento. Special mention to the tropical Queensland forest, which was made to look both temperate and menacing by cinematographer Philip M Cross. **½/***** stars.

There are countless films with the same plots or they have riped off stuff from other films and they still suck. Yes this film may have taken ideas from other movies like Momento and Tarentino films but at least it is entertaining. It has a good story, interesting characters and is very funny in spots. Steady Eddie comes up with some classic lines. It does have that amateur feeling about it that you get with many Aussie films but it's achieves what I consider the most important thing a movie should do and that is entertain you. I've given it a 6/10 but it probably deserves a 6.5/10. It's worth watching if you don't want to watch something too serious.

I watch about 100 to 200 films a year.

Some are just crap. This one was NOT.

I really enjoyed this Aussie Film. I liked each and every character in this film. So many genre twists I couldn't work out what was going to happen next. Which usually turned out surprising and funny. So funny and so entertaining. I watched it three days ago and I'm still smiling and laughing about it.

And yes the ending surprised even me. Brilliant! This was just a fun film for me.

Thanks to all in the Australian film industry who had anything to do with this film.