Charlie & Boots
Charlie & Boots
After a family tragedy, estranged father and son Charlie and Boots try and put their differences aside and head off on the road trip of a lifetime - from regional Victoria to the Cape York Peninsula - they overcome many challenges to reach their dream - to fish off the northern most tip of Australia.
匚卂尺ㄥ reviewedFebruary 1, 2025
This is a warm comedy from Australia made in 2009. It stars the inimitable, Paul Hogan as the title named Charlie. His beloved wife dies suddenly and he loses the plot, retreating to a world of prescription drugs and despondency. His younger son just carries on with the farm and lets his dad get on with it. Then slightly estranged older son, Boots turns up. Boots is played with real care and compassion by Shane Jobson who had a part in `The Bourne Legacy' and aint half bad.
He remembers a promise his dad had made to him when he was a nipper. That was to go fishing on the Northern most tip of Australia at Cape York. So he packs Charlie into his car and they start on a three thousand mile road trip. On the way they rekindle their flagging relationship and get to meet some great characters and have some very amusing adventures. They also get to visit some cultural high spots, like the Giant Koala Tourist Complex and stay in a period Georgian Motor Lodge true class there methinks.
This is a heart warming tale which is funny, but not side splitting, it has one foot firmly in reality and does not shy away from the real issues that face families at a time of crisis but it does so in a really caring and understanding way. I really enjoyed it and all praise to Screen Australia for putting up the cash, it is great to see some more brilliant antipodean cinema and if you want a real treat check out `The Castle', one of my favourite films ever.