Recensioni degli utenti

This movie was quite a surprise, and a pleasant one at that. To be honest, I would probably never have rented nor watched this movie if broadcast, based on the amateurish look of the video cover and the ads. My reaction to it, before seeing it was that it was another movie slapped together to piggyback onto the success of another movie with the same actor/director/theme etc.etc. while the fire was hot. But, a friend borrowed it from the library, and the video was sitting there, so I decided to watch it. Was I happily surprised! The one liners make this movie, if you pay attention and catch them all, this movie has many a belly laugh. It was true to life too, I KNOW these people, whether they come from Australia or Arkansas, they're out there, and this is their reality.

Remove the accents, put a few non working appliances in the front yard, a car up on cinder blocks, and you have the American version. A very nice surprise for me, if you like humor that doesn't insult your intellect, you'll like this movie. Many a memorable line in it too.

I would disagree with others who have commented on the profanity in this movie. In this case there is very little profanity for profanity's sake, it's usually very well timed and ads to the storyline, like when he passes the barrister the note in court.

The plot is very standard, predictable fare, and frankly, from what I'd heard through word of mouth, I was afraid that this would be a MIRAMAX formula feel good picture like "The Full Monty", or "Little Voice". Well, I'm very glad to be able to say that it isn't. This is the real thing, and it is the character of the family, all their quirks, and the small touches that makes this a great comedy. I have no doubt this will be a film that I'll revisit again and again. How many films do you see that, the next day a number of lines, and bits still playback in your head? If you like films like "This Is Spinal Tap", and the other Christopher Guest films, and like characters from "Fargo", I'd recommend "The Castle". It's a charming little gem.

Every once and while you find yourself watching a movie you have heard nothing about. A film with no A-Listed actors, no director with a treasure trove of awards and the sheer name of the films title at an office water cooler would result in blank stares and crickets scratching their hind legs in the background. Such was the case with the 1997 Australian gem, The Castle.

Directed by Rob Sitch, who went on to help another underachieving treasure with The Dish, the story is about an Australian family's struggle to keep their home in lieu of being given a compulsory notice from the government that the airport is expanding where their house presently stands. Although I try not to be simplistic and sum up an entire plot in as little as one sentence, really, that is all you need you know to enjoy this independent comedy.

The family is played by a host of unknowns. Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Anthony Simcoe, Sophia Lee and Wayne Hope play Darryl, Sal, Dale, Steve, Tracy and Wayne Kerrigan. The family lives a simple life and enjoys their time together to the fullest. They complement each other at each dinner table, they watch television as a family unit and they spend their time discussing items listed for sale in the trades papers. Their sister just got married and other than the eldest son being in jail for a crime the family holds no grudges, things could not be better.

So when the government sends notice that they must leave their house for the airport expansion, they agree not to go down without a fight and they illicit the help of other street families and a local barrister that has no business defending in Federal Court.

You might think this all sounds very serious for a comedy plot line, but it's the exact opposite. The story begins with a long narration from the youngest son who reflects on how proud he is of his family. He talks about how each member bring a unique talent to the unit and how the father figure is the one that is full of positive reinforcement. The narration and visuals surrounding his description are Australian humor at its best. Whether we are laughing at the fathers adoration and praise of simple tasks like the scooping of ice cream from a tub or the wonderment of family members over an invention of a motorcycle helmet with a brake light on the back, we marvel at the sheer naivety of the family and what it deems to be important.

The best way to covey this functional family unit is to describe it as a family of Woody Boyd's from Cheers or a litter of Joey characters from Friends. They all utter words we would deem obtuse, but it is all in good fun and it comes across as simple people simply observing their surroundings and commenting on how they interact with the world. As example, when Dale Kerrigan is speaking of the family's fame after taking the matters to court, he narrates, `Dad said it was funny how one day you're not famous, and the next day you are. Famous. And then you're not again.' There speech is entirely primitive, but funny in the same vein.

To go into more detail about the film would give away too much and this film must really be viewed and enjoyed without expectation. You may not belly laugh at any time during the short 84 minute running time, but I doubt you won't spend time shaking your head in reaction to something a Kerrigan family member utters with a ‘I can't believe he just said that' notion.

So I recommend The Castle. I recommend it with pause. It is an above average comedy that was made for less money than the cost of the Matrix end credits (They used the family name Kerrigan so they could use Kerrigan trucks during the shoot), but it can teach us a lot about the family unit. Here is a group of simpletons that love each other, respect each other and will do anything to preserve their ‘home'. What better lesson is there than that?

This is one of those movies, like "This Is Spinal Tap", that appears to aim low but taps into a certain subculture so precisely that it is elevated into something wonderful.

As a pom living in Sydney, I always insist that all overseas visitors watch this film in order to "get" Australia and Australians. The Kerrigan family are easy to mock, but qualities of togetherness, moral courage, unpretentiousness and un-PC earthiness embody a great strand of the national character and warm them to us.

Most of all, though, The Castle is just plain funny. You'll find yourself using the catchphrases over and over again, and you'll smile every time you do it. It's just one of those films. A classic.

I loved this movie! My family loved it. My friends loved it. My co-workers loved it. Even though none of us have ever been to Australia we somehow all managed to understand about 99% of the humor in this very funny and lovable film. As perplexing as this may seem to some of the Americans who didn't like it, or give it half a chance, one only needs a rudimentary knowledge of Australian culture or a modicum of intelligence about life outside the US to enjoy The Castle.

Yes, the Kerrigans are tacky. Yes, they are not the brightest people on God's earth. And no one is going to accuse Darryl Kerrigan of having an eye for real estate. But they are decent folk who look out for one another and their friends, and for this reason we come to root for them. Refreshingly, the movie gets big laughs from its quirky characters and not from crude sight gags like some movies I could mention.

Who cares if it didn't play well in the States? "This is Spinal Tap" didn't do well at the box office either, and it's one of the funniest films ever made. "The Castle", for me, goes down as one of the funniest films of the 1990's.

"How much do jousting sticks go for, Dad? Not more than 250."

Of all the excellent comedies the vastly underrated Australian film industry makes, this is the only one which I insist that every single friend I make from overseas must watch.

This is the quintessential Aussie film - a simple story about a family trying to keep things the way they are, not afraid to have a go at those in power who think they would like to "develop" these people. It's brilliant.

Basic plot: The Kerrigan household is a happy one, but a knock on the door one day changes that. Faced with a compulsory acquisition notice, the family's patriarch decides to take on the system, and to prove for once and for all that a man's home is his castle.

The jokes are funny, but are very Aussie-centric. I'm really surprised at the amount of positive feedback in these reviews from non Aussies, I've always felt that this is one movie which requires a 'native speakin' translator' if you are to get all the jokes! (And tend to recommend overseas folk watch The Dish, made by the same film team but is far more accessible and wider in scope than the very narrowly aimed Castle, which is really just driven by Australian humour, language and colloquialisms).

A true gem, very vibrant movie. For anyone who grew up in a similar location (not next to an airport, but in a 'bogan', working class suburb or small town) it will remind you of so many things you saw as a child. Profanity? Get over it, that's how we talk!

Finally after 20 years of hearing about this movie I found a copy of the DVD and have now watched it a couple of times. It is immensely enjoyable.

Like the lawyer in the movie says "Its the vibe of the thing". The tone of the film is very gentle and funny. The family are simple folk and it would have been easy to mock them but the script writing and editing is sharp and it hits the spot.

I first visited Australia in 1985 and even lived there for a few years. This movie was released in 1997 and shows a a window into an Australia culture that has largely gone now but that is part of its charm.

There are plenty of jokes in the film and you probably know some of them already. Michael Caton in the lead role is a master class of under statement. I also like that Charles "Bud" Tingwall plays a lawyer who does the right thing.

The vibe of the movie is the thing and even after more than 20 years it is a classic moment in Australian fictional history that is still worth viewing into the future.

I just loved everything about this movie. This is how comedy films should be made. It's just a really beautifully scripted and perfectly acted film and there are just so many extremely funny scenes in it that it's hard to pick out a favourite.

It would have been so easy to ruin this movie by overacting, as happens in many American comedies, but everybody gets it just right and the end result is that rare thing - a perfect movie! The Kerrigan family home is under threat from the local airport authorities who want to use the land their house is built on to extend the airport. Their father, Darryl Kerrigan, played brilliantly by Michael Caton, vows to fight them all the way and engages a local lawyer, Dennis Denuto (played by Tiriel Mora), to help him fight the case in the courts. Unfortunately, the lawyer is a small-time criminal defender who has no knowledge of property rights or constitutional law - but this doesn't bother Darryl since he has complete faith in Dennis' ability to save his home.

The film follows the Kerrigans battles through the various courts and contains some of the funniest and most heart-warming courtroom scenes that I've ever seen. Everyone should see this movie!

Fans of THE DISH might want to check out this delightful `David and Goliath' tale set in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

Ignore the misguided poster on the video and give THE CASTLE a chance. If you're not hooked within the first five minutes, turn it off and save yourself the trouble - it's not your cup of tea.

But for those that are laughing their heads off in the opening scenes detailing the plight of the Kerrigan Family's `castle' - a gaudy yet lovably home next to a major airport - you're in for a ninety minute treat. Director Rob Sitch works magic with a minimal budget and a fine ensemble cast headed by Michael Canton. The screenwriting quartet of Sitch, Cilaur, Gleisner & Kennedy keep the laughs and the story fast and furious, while never losing sight of the fact that THE CASTLE is actually a clever parable on the importance of home and family.

If anyone tells you they didn't like this movie, `tell ‘em they're dreamin'.'

On first watch, it's quite possible to think this film as something that was hastily put together on a shoe string budget in the hopes it might make some cash. It will seem so completely cheesy as to be ridiculous.

But then, as you watch, something rather amazing happens. You realise that the acting is first rate, the timing is impeccable, the humour quite outstanding. This is no accident at all. There is in fact so much more here than meets the eye.

Simplistically speaking, at the very least there is the interplay between family members and friends that makes you feel that you wish you could be their friends as well. There are also so many quotable phrases that will stick with you that you'll find yourself using time and time again, and when you do, you'll find yourself smiling. It's not for me to point them all out to you here, discover them for yourself and you'll feel all the better for it. Dig deeper and you'll see how important the sense of camaraderie is to all of us. Here, with this David versus Goliath storyline you'll also find an incredibly important reference regarding the Marbo decision regarding Aboriginal rights to land that reflects to this modern day parable.

Most of all however, you'll find yourself caring for the people on the screen. Oh to be a friend of the family, to be invited to Bonnie Doon, to bask in the mutual respect and admiration that these people share between themselves. But finally, you'll revel in the humour, and what humour there is. It is quite simply sublime. Grins that would seem utterly ludicrous elsewhere, will leave you with a warm glow and a smile from ear to ear.

This is not a lucky accident, it is as much a work of genius as might be The Seven Samurai, Jaws, Pulp Fiction or The African Queen.

Bravo to Australia for its making, but even more bravo for you for having the good taste to enjoy this superlative piece of divine comedy.

The Castle is about a typical Aussie battler family who happen to live directly next to an airport in Melbourne, and by next to I mean that the runway ends about 100-200 yards from their house. Their family is extremely happy and almost every member of the family seems to be living a satisfying and 'fulfilling' life. All is well until one day the father, Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton), is approached and is told that he must sell his house because the airport is expanding. After an initial f**k off, Dale realizes that this is a serious threat and decides to fight the big business and take everyone to court. The result is a comical journey of the Kerrigan family struggle to keep their house and remain a tight knit happy family. The Castle is a small guy versus the big guys film that has a sentimental emotional core, and many jokes are derived from the story of a charming family defending their home against a compulsory acquisition.

Performances from a talented Australia cast breathe life into a bunch of quirky but lovable characters. Michael Caton is especially great as the father of the family, Darryl Kerrigan, a lovable oaf with a heart of gold. Veteran actor Charles (Bud) Tingwell also appears as a wise lawyer who takes it upon himself to defend the Kerrigans.The script was written by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy and Sitch - all regulars on TV's The Panel. They have a sound sense of joke timing, and how to keep audiences interested. The Castle is a rare find; a funny, wonderful piece that shines in its own homely, honest way.

This is a shocking movie. Shocking in the sense that it's centered around a family that genuinely loves each other. It came across as such an odd concept in this day and age that I thought at first that there must be a catch - could the family be cannibals? Zombies? A cult of pagan jaywalkers? But no, they were simply a "family" in absolutely the best sense of the word. The conflict of the movie arises from the fact that the airport bordering their loving home wants to expand and uses some Australian law that grants them the right to buy out their neighbors without the neighbors having any sayso in the matter. Well this just won't do and so the plot is set into motion when the quirky homeowner decides to fight the ruling with his reluctant friend, a probate attorney who is woefully unprepared to take on the big guns in law, but who nonetheless feels obligated to help his friends no matter what the obstacle. Overall the movie has such charm, such style and such love that, by films end, you want to be adopted by the family, quirks and all. An excellent movie.

The castle is a 1996 Australian Movie. The movie is about a family trying to save their house from being bought by the government. A family against the bureaucracy is a very common plot. Throughout history we have seen the little mans fight against the government that tries to take everything from them.The execution is also a tried and tested one. There is an emotional speech, initial disappointment , final savior.

However what really makes the movie is not the plot. It is the characters. The great father character and the narrator. The narrator 's dialogues are extremely witty and very warm. The family has so much love for each other that it seems unreal but it doesn't matter.

A movie with a saccharin sweet plot but it is for a nice afternoon with your family.

I was drawn in by the quirky characters and cute 90s decor. The premise of the story wasn't bad, man refusing to sell his home: I can picture an over the top, surreal comedy with Jack Lemmon in his bathrobe chasing off the construction people. However this movie took no directions like that. No melodrama, no rage, no tears. I got bored about half way through waiting for something to happen, and was disappointed up till the very end. The narration just made it even more mundane. I have no idea how this film got a 7.7 rating, I found it neither entertaining nor inspiring.

This is an very Australian film built for a particular sense of humour. Having lived in both Sydney and Melbourne, I feel I can say that this will appeal more to the Melbourne than the Sydney sense of humour.

Forget "The Crocodile Hunter", Nicole Kidman or Russel Crowe. This is a lot closer to your typical Australian.

Reading the other comments, two things surprised me.

1) That anybody outside Australia, the UK, NZ or Ireland actually got this movie. To those Americans who praised it, thank you for taking the time to appreciate something outside your normal experiences.

and

2) The ferocity with with those who didn't get it damned the movie.

The Castle is very very clever. Yes, there are references to "wogs" and "lebs", but if given how that's exactly how a large percentage of these ethnic groups refer to themselves, they are terms without power and thus are rarely used in a racist sense. Melbourne is a wog city. It has the largest Greek population outside of Greece and is the third largest Greek city in the world. It also feature a huge population of first, second or third generation Italians. Some of my ex-coworkers sounded like they were straight out the Godfather. Then there are the lebs and the polacks and and a great mix of European Cultures.

Wogs. The lot of them. :)

To reduce the movie to laughing at the lack of intelligence in the family or to picking on racial minorities (not that the wogs are a minority in Melbourne), is to miss the point entirely. If you don't live in Aus, I can fully understand why this would be the case.

But simply because a movie is a outside your understanding or experience or doesn't fit your personal expectations of what is "funny" it no reason to condemn it. Once you get more sophisticated than "Beverly Hills Cop", you are not going to carry 100% of the audience, and the audience shouldn't expect that it would. (Notable exceptions exist.. Dead Poets' Society immediately comes to mind)

Personally, I like movies is one that makes a social comment, or those that a rift in society and stir informed debate. The Castle is a reflection on the "Australian Dream", if such a thing exists, which is that everybody should get "A fair go". This is streets apart from the American dream of riches beyond imagination at the expense of everything else, and highlights the great difference between the two cultures.

This is undoubtedly one of the funniest films ever made, and needs to be considered alongside This is Spinal Tap for consistent and enduring brilliance. That said, if (as another reviewer has said here) you haven't laughed after 5 minutes, just give up - it isn't for you.

While Tap has muted backhanded affection for heavy rock while simultaneously ripping into its absurdities, The Castle completely LOVES its characters as much as it makes them look utterly ridiculous. The entire cast are superb, there are a hundred quotable lines, and the simple story may seem clichéd, but is nevertheless executed to warm-hearted perfection. A special nod should go to Tiriel Mora as inept solicitor Dennis Denuto, who has the ability to make you cry with laughter on the 10th viewing.

No family has less taste or less of a clue about, well, anything than the Kerrigans. And yet by the end, there is no family you'd rather belong to.

This film, most definitely, is going straight to the pool room.

this movie is one of those gems that will affect your use of language. The cast -even the smallest roles- are gifted and hilarious. It's unfortunate that movies like these get put into the rarely opened box of 'foreign comedies.' Audiences stateside who can't easily find this title are deprived of monumental one-liners and brilliant performances by everyone involved.

One worries about some 'intrepid' type attempting to re-make this film in the U.S. It's easy to imagine executives wanting to translate the magic to more known U.S. actors. But while the humor itself is hardly parochial, the cast displays such a tight sense of comic timing that duplication seems hard,if not impossible. 'The Office' comes to mind...

The Castle reminds me a bit of Gregory's Girl. It's not that these films share similar plot-lines, they don't. It's just that they're both comedies with very regionalized characters with awful haircuts, shot on a tiny budget, with a dated cheesy soundtrack and zero cinematic style. Both films, too, have deep affection for their central characters. While I do prefer Gregory's Girl, this is because I can relate to it more. I found The Castle to be amusing as opposed to laugh-out-loud hilarious. Its story about the little man against the big corporation wasn't in truth all that interesting but it did serve the film with a narrative thrust to base its characters around. And I guess that really this film is very much more about the characters than anything else plot-related or otherwise. I watched the film with an Aussie who seemed to pick up more specific things about these people than I ever could. It does seem that The Castle is a film that is unashamedly primarily made by Australians for Australians. That's not to say that most Aussies resemble this family of honourable half-wits. They do not, but the unpretentious attitude of the Kerrigan family and friends is one that seems to fit the rest of the world's perceptions of the inhabitants of Oz.

If I'm being honest I found the story of the court battle against the big business to be the least satisfying aspect to this film. It was much better when it just concentrated on the little things like its characters quirks. The whole court battle almost seemed forced, as though the writers felt that a character-driven plot-less film would not have been enough. I think it would have though and the whole little man against The Man stuff made it all less believable and less interesting.

Overall though, this is a good film. It's not essential but it will provide you with a few laughs along the way. Oh and another thing, the boy who narrates the story sports a mullet so disgusting that I swear it made me feel a little unwell.

I'll pay it! I saw this film on TV on vacation in NZ and think it's one of the funniest comedies ever, and I'm not "dreamin". This film just goes to show you that we are just about as happy as we set out to be no matter what happens to us or what we have, and our personal situations make only a small difference in that happiness as it's is more a state of mind than of fact.

I bought the American DVD and it is just as good as the original. The car name change was no big deal, and the rest of it seemed the same and surely was the "vibe" of the thing. I just loved this film and recommend it to everyone I see.

The Kiwi's I asked about it said that that was the dumb way Australians really are. Now I'm sure they're dreamin', as I know at least one who isn't that way.

The Castle is an enjoyable film. It is plain, one dimensional, and predictable, and, yes, funny. The characters can be described in the same manner. It has a couple of deeper themes like home and family, hence the title, and the average man vs. the big corporation, but all in all it was very lightweight. I think I wanted more substance but I guess that was not the intent. One thing that puzzles me is this film was rated "R". With the exception of a couple four letter words (unless I'm forgetting something) this film was very tame. Again something to think about when violence and some sexual situations can get a PG-13. If you accept The Castle for what it is, it is entertaining. Three stars!!!

Although this is an "Australian" film I must respectfully disagree with the other reviewer. I am an American and I absolutely loved this film! I have never been to Australia but I completely fell in love with every aspect of this movie. If you are a fan of over the top physical comedy, a la Jim Carrey, you may not care for "The Castle". But if you like films that rely on actors to masterfully deliver subtle comedic dialogue then this is one not to miss. I found the Kerrigans to be absolutely endearing and the recurring jokes a treat. "The Castle" is a film that is not only funny but poignant as well. Maybe its just me, but the Aussies that made this film totally get this American's sense of humor.

wow, I know comedy is a matter of taste, but I am flabbergasted at all the glowing reviews. I adored "Local Hero", just rented this, and hated it. The corners of my mouth never moved upwards once. The "humor" in the movie mainly consists of snickering at what rubes, bumpkins, and generally simpletons the protagonists are. For those who disagree, then tell me, what IS supposed to be funny in this movie? A funny line, a funny visual, anything?