CROCODILE DUNDEE (1986)
Tagline: He's survived the most hostile and primitive land known to man. Now all he's got to do is make it through a week in New York.
(Action, Comedy, Adventure [PG-13]
I'm always all right when I'm with you, Dundee. God, that sounds corny. Why do always make me feel like Jane in a Tarzan comic?
In this one, an American reporter has finished a story in Australia but decides to stay to follow up on another story about a man who had half his leg bitten off by a crocodile and survived. Upon meeting him she discovers he’s an eccentric legend in the town of Walkabout named Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee and after a run-in with a crocodile herself, she decides to invite him to come with her to New York.
First off, this was the first feature film for both Linda Kozlowski (who plays Sue Charlton in the original trilogy) and Paul Hogan (who plays Crocodile Dundee in all 4 movies). Linda is best known for this series but was also in 1995’s VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED. Believe it or not, this was actually the 2nd highest-grossing movie of 1986. The first that year was TOP GUN.
Most of the comedy holds up in this, but not all of it is going to go over smoothly with the PC crowd. There are two scenes in particular though that I don’t think anyone should attempt. I actually liked the scenes in Australia a lot better than the ones in New York because watching Michael struggle through adapting to New York did hit the same comedic tones as Sue’s adjustment in Australia. The chemistry between Michael and Sue seemed better prior to New York as well because it wasn’t complicated by Sue’s boyfriend who she really should have just dumped before she went to Australia. You will see why if you watch the movie.
Cinematically there is nothing amazing happening here, but the score and soundtrack work. This movie also provides a bit of New York nostalgia for fans of New York. Regarding the pacing, the last 30 minutes or so only include maybe 2 funny lines and really comes to a crawl.
Acting-wise everyone is pretty solid in this. We even get a few cameos from Reginald VelJohnson who most people know from the TV show “Family Matters” and the movie DIE HARD. John Mellion is also in this, he is most famous for this series, but he was in over 109 film and TV projects including THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS.
Overall this movie starts off pretty interesting but falls flat as it moves along especially in the last act. As much as this thing captured the attention of America in 1986, looking back on it, I don’t think it was quite as charming and wonderful as it may have been perceived. Now it watches more like a “you had to be there at that time” movie than a “timeless” masterpiece, with cute moments, but a just okay overall production. For those reasons, this is going to land at a 3 out of 7 for me.
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