Crackerjack
Review by
Clint Morris
 For
those who'd hoped they had seen the last of TV bad boy, Mick Molloy,
when Channel 9 gave him the boot... Bad Luck - he's back.
But don't get out your arsenal just yet,
because this time, the actor – who cut his teeth on the grand ABC
series The Late Show before forging a promising
radio career – is serving up something quite endurable:
A quaint, characteristically Australian and
mostly witty feature film, which he has co-written with his brother
Richard.
I never thought I'd be saying this, but Mick
Molloy might have crafted the best Australian comedy of the year...
The script wouldn't have read like much.
Jack Simpson (Molloy), a calculating prankster who works in an
inner-city office block, is up in arms when he's suddenly forced to
play lawn bowls.
You see, he joined the Cityside Bowling Club
years before - but only because they offered great car parks near his
work – and now, unfortunately, the system has caught up with him and
the local team is one player short.
Seems Cityside is in financial dire straits,
and with the addition of the anomalous Jack to their team they’re able
to enter a tournament for a cash prize. Naturally, Jack discovers the
sport ain't half bad, and neither are the old coots he plays with and,
pretty soon, he forms a relationship with both, ultimately becoming
enmeshed in the fortunes of the club, who need to win this tournament
to survive monetarily.
While one might have suspected Crackerjack
to deliver to only one type of audience – those who like loutish,
untasteful jokes – the same people will be even more pleased to find
it's actually a pretty well-rounded comedy with a charming enough
storyline and a great lot of performers.
Molloy has actually done wonders with the
bare bones script.
John Clarke provides apt offensiveness as
merciless local businessman, Bernie Fowler, who has plans to take over
Cityside with pokies. Veteran Bill Hunter gives a downcast but
convincing turn as the observant Stan, Frank Wilson is delightful as
Len, while Samuel Johnson and Judith Lucy add weighty support as the
film's token best friend and love interest.
So how's Molloy I hear you ask? First things
first: He's no actor. Not even half of one. But he's still got
something. Whether it's his ultra-Aussie style of humour, his
in-your-face mind-set or uncultured looks – he works for this film.
The Molloy brothers have done the
unthinkable and made a movie fit for anyone. It'll be the furthest
thing from AFI ballot sheets come next year, but if you're looking for
a film with enough zest, charm and old fashioned humour, you'll be
bowled over by just how bearable Crackerjack is.
3 out of 5
Crackerjack
Australian release: Thursday November 7th
Cast: Mick Molloy, Bill Hunter, Frank Wilson, Monica Maughan, John
Clarke, Samuel Johnson, Judith Lucy, Tony Martin.
Director: Paul Moloney.
Website: N/A
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