The Honourable Wally Norman

The economy of the small town of Givens Head depends on the local meat-processing plant. Wally Norman, Kevin Harrington, works there and lives a reasonably contented life with his wife, Roz Hammond, and kids. A federal election is looming, and Givens Head is the seat which may decide the outcome, a contest between the TCP, Total Country Party, which is VERY conservative, and the mildly conservative APP, Australian Peoples Party. Currently, the sitting member is the TCP's appalling Ken Oats, Shaun Micallef, a smooth, shifty, corrupt operator; his opponent is the amiable but seriously alcoholic Willy Norman, Alan Cassell. When an inebriated Willy mistakenly fills in Wally Norman's name on the paperwork - essential for a would-be MP if he wants to stand for parliament - it's an initially reluctant Wally who finds himself on the hustings.If ever we needed some pungent political satire it's now, but, disappointingly, The Honourable Wally Norman seriously lacks bite; it's a determinably retro affair, amiable and mildly amusing, but pretty bland. Kevin Harrington possesses an engaging personality, and he does the best he can to bring the character of Wally, the Aussie battler, to life; but he doesn't have enough to work with, and nor do such agreeable players as Greg Pickhaver, who plays the Chairman of the APP, or Bryan Dawe, as a TV anchorman. Ted Emery, director of the popular Kath and Kim TV series, disappointingly doesn't show much aptitude for feature film comedy.