Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee
Linda Kozlowski as Sue Charleton
Jere Burns as Arnan Rothman
Jonathan Banks as Milos Drubnik
Alec Wilson as Jacko
Gerry Skilton as Nugget O’Cass
Steve Rackman as Donk
Serge Cockburn as Mikey Dundee
Aida Turturro as Jean Ferraro
Paul Rodriguez as Diego
Summary:
Overall, a thoroughly forgettable experience. It’s not really good or really bad either way.
Story:
Years after the last movie, Crocodile Dundee lives in the outback with his son and Sue Charlton (they have not married). Dundee is one of the last of a dying breed, and he and his friends are more tourist attractions now than anything. But he’s happy teaching his son the ways of the Outback.
Sue’s father calls her with a favor to ask. The head of his Los Angeles newspaper has died and he’d like her to temporarily take over. She agrees and the family flies back to America. While Mick and his son take in all the tourist attractions, Sue begins to investigate what her predecessor was looking in to. She finds he was investigating a local movie production company who keeps on cranking out flops, yet stays in business. She suspects the film company is a smuggling front of some kind. Mick volunteers to take a job with the company as a “mole” and discover what they’re up to.
This film is rated PG for some language and brief violence.
What Worked:
I was expecting this movie to be a total dog. Luckily, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t horrible. If you enjoyed the first Crocodile Dundee movies, then this is a lighter less entertaining version of those. It’s interesting to catch up to those old favorite characters and see what they’re up to, but it’s not terribly exciting.
Mick Dundee is most interesting when he’s in his own element – the outback. The beginning of the film concentrates on that, so it’s the most fun. There’s a funny scene with Dundee and one of his rival hunters trying to catch an aggressive crocodile. Mick also has a funny encounter with an aborigine as they both wait for their kids to get out of school. Those are the best parts of the flick.
What Didn’t Work:
This movie simply didn’t work. They had a lot of potential to try something new and different, but they relied on the same old gags that just don’t work anymore. Mick Dundee being baffled by technological wonders is just not funny. The jokes are especially tiresome when they don’t make sense. Mick and his son talk about watching NYPD Blue and wrestling on TV regularly in Australia. However, Hollywood movies, Wendy’s drive thrus, and TV remote controls baffle him. Does smog induce stupidity? He also claims to have no idea what a skunk is, but he knows how to communicate with chimps and lions. What, you never saw an Australian chimp before?
Then there’s an entire cameo with Mike Tyson. Yes, that Mike Tyson. He is shown meditating in a park in peace and harmony and teaches Mick and his son the ways of the Force. Think of Mike as a big, black Yoda with better grammar. This guy should be in jail rather than being glorified in a movie. Then again, this movie generally sucked, so maybe it is appropriate for him.
Dundee’s son is almost in there as an afterthought. He has no significance to the plot at all. There was a lot more potential with the kid than was used. He was way too normal for the son of Crocodile Dundee. Maybe make him a mischievous little kid who finds creative ways to get in trouble, get dirty, and play with snakes, lizards, and other creepy-crawlies from Australia. It would have made him more interesting.
I would have rather have seen a different plot. Leave Dundee in the outback. Have him be a guide for a Survivor-like group shooting a TV show. They could have had more fun and comedy potential with something like that rather than this film.
