Kangaroo Jack (2003)
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Two childhood friends find themselves in a chaotic predicament when a wild kangaroo steals a large sum of mob money during a delivery to Australia.
The story
In 1982 Brooklyn, Charlie Carbone and Louis Booker become best friends after Louis saves Charlie from drowning. Twenty years later, Charlie operates a beauty salon for his mobster stepfather, Sal Maggio. After a series of mishaps, Sal tasks the duo with delivering a package to a man in Coober Pedy, Australia. While on a plane, Louis opens the package to find $50,000 in cash. Upon arriving in Australia, they accidentally run over a red kangaroo. The animal regains consciousness, grabs the money-filled jacket, and flees, leaving the two friends to embark on a desperate chase across the Outback.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1982 Brooklyn, Charlie Carbone and Louis Booker become best friends. Twenty years later, Charlie works for his mobster stepfather, Sal Maggio. After botching a job, Sal gives them one last chance: deliver a package to Mr. Smith in Coober Pedy, Australia. On the plane, Louis discovers the package contains $50,000. In Australia, they run over a red kangaroo named 'Jackie Legs.' The kangaroo steals the money and flees. While trying to reclaim it, the duo crashes a plane, stranding them in the desert where they meet Jessie, a member of the Outback Wildlife Foundation. They are eventually captured by Mr. Smith's henchmen and later by Sal's apprentice, Frankie. A chaotic fight breaks out between the two groups, allowing the trio to escape. After a final chase, Louis retrieves the money, and Charlie saves him from a cliff. Frankie reveals Sal intended for them to be executed, but the Australian Federal Police arrive to arrest the villains. One year later, Charlie and Jessie are married, and the trio has started a hair care line using the $50,000. Jackie Legs, now known as Kangaroo Jack, lives happily in the Outback and breaks the fourth wall to end the film.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 89
- Production countries
- United States; Australia
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David McNally
- Writers
- Steve Bing · story; Barry O'Brien · story; Steve Bing · screenplay; Scott Rosenberg · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jerry O'Connell · Charlie Carbone; Anthony Anderson · Louis Booker; Estella Warren · Jessie; Michael Shannon · Frankie Lombardo; Christopher Walken · Sal Maggio; Robert Reid · young Charlie Carbone; Shawn Smith · young Louis Booker; Dyan Cannon · Anna Carbone
- Genres
- buddy action comedy; adventure comedy; children's comedy
- Themes
- Friendship; Survival; Loyalty
- Tone and mood
- Comedy; Action; Family-friendly
- Premise and plot tags
- Buddy Comedy; Road Movie; Animal Adventure; Mob Comedy
- Franchise connections
- Kangaroo Jack
- Reception
- The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, who criticized its script, humor, and marketing, though it was a financial success at the box office.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 16 · scale: 100 · review count: 25
- Awards and nominations
- Kids' Choice Award · Favorite Fart in a Movie · Win; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Supporting Actor · Nomination (Anthony Anderson); Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Supporting Actor · Nomination (Christopher Walken)
- Production trivia
- It was originally conceived as an R-rated mob comedy titled Down and Under.; The film was included on The Age's list of 'worst films ever made'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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