THE CRAIC (M). (Village Roadshow) Director: Ted Emery Stars: Jimeoin, Alan McKee, Colin Hay, Robert Morgan, Nicholas Bell, Jane Hall, Catherine Arena, Charles Tingwell, Bob Franklin, Greg Evans, Beverley Dunn, Reg Gorman, Peter Aanensen, Kyle Morrison Running time: 92 minutes.
Taking its quaint title from Irish slang for a good time, The Craic delivers just that. This enjoyable enough film is likely to be the most popular home grown comedy to hit our screens since The Castle. It has a similar likeable humour and unassuming style. Popular Irish comedian Jimeoin makes his film debut with this wonderfully entertaining but slightly off beat tale following the adventures of two Irish larrikins on the run from the Australian immigration authorities. The success of the film depends largely upon his own popularity.
Jimeoin plays Fergus, a fun loving Irishman who visits Australia to escape retribution from Colin (Robert Morgan, also currently appearing in Redball), a tough Irish thug whom he has insulted. His friend Wesley (Alan McKee) joins him for fun times down under. But when they outstay their visa, the immigration department tracks them down. On the run, the pair journey through many out of the way places that the average tourist doesn't get to see. These two likely lads discover that we are indeed a weird mob.
Complicating matters is the arrival of Colin, who has been "relocated" to a remote location in Australia, as part of a witness protection scheme. Eventually, their paths will cross with unpredictable results.
The Craic combines warm Irish blarney with coarse Australian humour to good effect. Jimeoin turns an outsider's eye on our culture and our idiosyncrasies, wringing many laughs out of some obvious targets. He takes a sledgehammer to the usual stereotypes, but he also reveals a deep affection for the Australian way of life. Unfortunately, The Craic seems episodic in nature, almost like a collection of amusing anecdotes that Jimeoin has fashioned together. Many of the incidents are actually drawn from Jimeoin's own experiences living and working in Australia in the early '80's, which gives the film a strong autobiographical bent. Even his appearance on the tacky game show The Meet Market is based on Jimeoin's appearance on the popular '80's show Perfect Match. Former host Greg Evans contributes a droll cameo as himself.
Many of the peripheral characters are quite interesting, but remain under developed. McKee delivers a quite boisterous and energetic performance, and he effortlessly steals most of his scenes. Colin Hay, former lead singer of Men At Work, is good as the tough SAS soldier assigned to protect Colin while hiding out down under. Veteran Charles Tingwell contributes an amusing cameo as a foul mouthed farmer.
Director Ted Emery cut his teeth on television shows like the seminal Countdown and Fast Forward, and he brings pace and energy to the material. He keeps things moving along at a nice pace. John Wheeler's beautiful cinematography captures the wonderful locations in all their glory. The main complaint about The Craic is that it seems to run out of energy and inspiration towards the end, and finishes on a vaguely unsatisfying note.
*** greg king http://www.netau.com.au/gregking
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