Damned inconsiderate of a certain oxygen-sucking millionaire fugitive to go and die like that. Still, not that it is going to bother this 'have a go’ all-action new Aussie farce (good taste and Aussie comedy have never been the closest of associates). The thing about Skase is that he became an Aussie icon as much for his 'un-gettability’ as his actual actions. It was the idea of him holing up in his Spanish mansion, leaping out of his wheelchair to cock a snook at his would-be extraditers, which led to his press-fueled demonisation.
This wacky comedy starring the talented Lachy Hulme and Alex Dimitriades, takes off from The Andrew Denton Show spoof campaign to grab Skase and bring him back to justice. No one really takes this very seriously until an overconfident bullshit artist called Peter Dellasandro (played with sickening self-regard by Hulme) storms the directors’ meeting and announces that he is going to make it a reality. Snatch team recruitment scenes and a few mild plot diversions about a rival bid led by a reality TV host follow, and it all ends up in high farce in Skase’s Spanish mansion when 'our boys’, disguised as waiters, make their final dash.
The film flags a bit in the middle, and the other team members are underdeveloped, but there is no doubting the commitment of those involved. Dimitriades, although almost too intense in the final action scenes, looks terrific in battle fatigues. Hulme’s performance is perfect for the broad comedic approach. It’s a one-joke film really but so was Crocodile Dundee and Young Einstein. The film bursts onto the screen with such manic conviction that you hardly have time to notice. Taken in that light it has got some wonderfully mad moments. Slight, silly but a lot of fun too.
Filmink 3/5
