Kangaroo

CinemaSerf

Based loosely on a true story, this follows the outback antics of television weatherman “Chris” (Ryan Corr). He had been moaning to his producer “Liz” (Brooke Satchwell) that his was a dead-end job, so she suggested that he prove his worth. That opportunity presents itself when he rescues a baby dolphin caught in the shallows of Bondi Beach. That's a short-lived success though when the thing is duly found washed up on the sand next day. Now labelled a "dolphin killer" across social media and “let go”, he heads across the country for the only job he can now get. En route, more tragedy strikes - he hits a kangaroo! It’s got a little joey in it’s pouch which he saves and takes to the neatby town, and that’s where he meets the young “Charlie” (Lily Whiteley). She’s had an affinity with the roos as long as she can remember and now recovering from the recent death of her dad, cares for many an injured critter she finds. “Chris” is keen to just hand the thing over, but she explains the “custom” locally and with his car still out of commission after his accident, he has to stay and bond with the townsfolk. From here on in, it’s fairly predictable stuff, but it’s all quite an engaging watch with some light-heartedness woven into a story of human kindness and community. The star of the film is the pugilist “Roger”. He’s a kangaroo that “Chris” saves from the butcher’s knife only to find that he doesn't quite get the thanks he might have expected. It can be a little bit sentimental, especially towards the end, but Corr and Whiteley work quite well together and there is plenty of humour to be had from a supporting cast that go some way to contradict many an impression of those living in Australia’s vast interior whilst keeping their tongues firmly in their cheeks.