Robin Hood Junior

I have just watched this movie for the first time. I have long loved Yahoo Serious' first film "Young Einstein" and as such I had high expectations for this picture. The movie does have a few very funny moments but it seems hacked up and undeveloped. The American release is 23 minutes shorter than the Australian version and I'm wondering if many of the unsatisfactory issues in this movie might be resolved in that vast cut. I have no clue why the American version is missing 1/5th of the entire film or what that footage consists of but it lends hope that the entire 103 minute film might prove of more substance. As it stands now I give Reckless Kelly a vote of 7 which is under Young Einstein which I gave a 10.

Yahoo Serious is Reckless Kelly

In the realm of modern comedy, this particular Yahoo is very series about being funny, even if this sentence is not. 1994's 'Reckless Kelly' comes in the middle of his carrier as one of Australia's most creative film makers. Right behind the popular 1988 'Young Einstein' and right before 2000's 'Mr. Accident. A movie for each decade. No more, no less. I think he is due for another one about this time.

Reckless Kelly is part of the infamous Kelly Gang of Australia. While his rather big family runs the Glenrowan Hotel and Video Rental on Reckless Island, located near a national park, Ned robs banks. He is an expert marksman who can shot a fly at point blank range and also holds the record as the most shot man in the world. He rides around on a makeshift bike that is fast but likely to fall apart at any minute. But unlike Republican bank robbers who steal money just for themselves, he is a Democrat bank robber who steals to redistribute the wealth amongst those who need it.

When Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving as Sir John) decides to sell the island to the Japanese, Ned takes to robbing banks for himself, but only in America where his conscience is free to steal. American bank robbing turns out to not be so lucrative, but a carrier as an actor in a low budget 'straight to video' movie studio does. Aided by his Shakespearean quoting actress girlfriend Robin Banks, he seeks to get the money to save his island, as 'The Christian Cowboy'.

Several visual gags with great shots of kangaroos and other Australian wildlife mixed with Yahoo's smiley and sunny personality make 'Reckless Kelly' a likable and potential comedy classic. The classic is taken out of the comedy with some characterization that is introduced and not used to it's funny potential and some gags that are lamely delivered. The climatic gun battle with Agent Smith and the armed bankers is fairly amusing and caps off the comedy to create smiles but not belly laughs.

If you want to take a good hard look at Serious Australian Cinema it's worth a look and some laughs. If your particular about your limited time on earth to watch extremely quality funny films it might be better to check out one of his other films or one of the old comedic masters or Mr. Bean. According to Wikepedia as of December 2008 he is working on his 4th feature, a war movie about the Kokoda Track campaign.

Even though he shoots flies dead in the picture, the end credits lets us know that 'No fly was harmed during the making of this motion picture.'

I turned over to find this showing during the small hours, and started watching it out of curiosity. Young Einstein had a certain amount of wacky charm, whereas Reckless Kelly merely attempts to be wacky and ends up being self-indulgent and painfully dire.

If this was supposed to be a satire on Hollywood and how we should all 'save the animals', Yahoo Serious is about as subtle as a kick in the groin. But that's what you get from a man called Yahoo Serious.

Okay, so the bank shootout was actually quite good fun, but it's all downhill from there. Watch out for Agent Smith himself (Hugo Weaving), starring in yet another awful Aussie film before the Wachowskis gave him the 'Travolta' (read: career resurrection).

The Kelly gang is a longtime Robin Hood bank robbers. However the family business has changed over the years and only Ned Kelly (Yahoo Serious) is in the bank robbing division. He is taken by bank teller Robin Banks (Melora Hardin) during a stickup where he deposits money into the accounts of the poor. Sir John (Hugo Weaving) is angered and British Major Wib is assigned to hunt down Kelly. Then the bank sells their Reckless Island and shipping it to Japan. The Kellys need to raise $1 million to buy back the island. The problem is that any money the Kelly Gang robs in Australia must be given to the poor of Australia. So Ned Kelly decides to rob banks in America.

Yahoo Serious used to be a thing for two seconds. He was funny for about just as long. He's trying to be wacky but he's not wild enough. The comedy is not smart enough. There is an oddity about his comedy that may not be translating. I don't find any laughs in this although I do appreciate him giving his all. It's stupid but not the funny kind.

I thought this was and still is a cool film, I feel it just hangs together so well. You are just carried along on a swift stupid ride through the adventures of an outlaw trying to save his home from an evil corporate banker. The gags are hilarious and Yahoo is just as good as in Young Einstein. My favourite part has to be the bank get away scene, it's just so stylish! I recommend this to anyone who just wants a fun eighty minutes of senseless fun. Great cast, great gags, great film. The only thing I would wish is that they release this on DVD in its original widescreen format with both cuts of the film on it and possibly a directors commentary and music only sound track. That would just make my day I give this 9 out of 10 cause it's just so easy to watch and so much fun.