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Crocodile Dundee In Los Angeles
review by Zach B.
Rated PG
Studio: Paramount
Running Time: 94 minutes
Starring Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, Jere Burns,
Jonathan Banks, Aida Turturro and Paul Rodriguez
Written by Matthew Berry & Eric Abrams
Based On Characters Created by Paul Hogan
Directed by Simon Wincer
Retail Price: $29.99
Features: The Making Of "Crocodile Dundee In Los
Angeles", Theatrical Trailer
Specs: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, English Dolby
Digital 5.1, English Dolby Surround, English Closed
Captions, English Subtitles, Scene Selection
Released: September 18th, 2001
It only took thirteen years and much debate, but a third
"Crocodile Dundee" movie finally made it to the screens, and
then DVD. The real question you're all asking: "Why?" While
the beloved character of Mick Dundee made his way through
two sequels, why a third all of a sudden? I suppose since
Hogan's career wasn't going in a direction he really wanted
("Lightning Jack," anyone?) and he thought he could
recapture an audience with another installment of his famous
character. I heard him go on how he juggled with the idea
for a bit before signing on. So what happens this time?
Let's see...
The plot this times has Mick "Crocodile" Dundee (Hogan,
of course) being a fish out of water again sorta, this time
in the City Of Angels. It's been a bit, as Mick and his love
Sue (Kozlowski) have a nine year old son. Sue wants to take
a job in Los Angeles to help her father's paper after an
associate was killed in a car accident. Mick doesn't have a
problem since their home is one giant tourist trap now (poor
Walkabout Creek). So they're off to Los Angeles. However,
Sue's journalistic integrity leads her to some corruption at
a movie production studio called Silvergate Pictures. Mick
gets a job there to help uncover some wrong doing. Oh, did I
mention the wacky and zany moments that poke fun at
Hollywood?
Okay, the second one wasn't great in the series and now
all these years later, a revival of a franchise is born.
Kinda, I guess. The film opened to mediocre reviews and less
than stellar box office, compared to how much the first
made. I suppose we won't be seeing a fourth one made.
So how does one stack up? I did enjoy it a little more
than the second (I swear I'm not crazy), but the first still
reigns king. There was a bit of a controversey upon the
movie's original release, where Paul Hogan complained how he
wrote most of the movie and did not get writing credit due
to crazy WGA rules. I guess he wanted credit for a movie
that was bashed so much (credit went to Matthew Berry and
Eric Abrams). The script has some fun slapstick moments, but
has Mick in a new place and discovering new things like in
the original movie. The movie takes shots at Hollywood, but
the jokes for those have been done over and over before
(wow, a guy who is trying to break into the business and
drives a limo on the side). Still, it's fun as long as you
don't take it seriously.
Simon Wincer has a nice, quick visual approach to this
movie. His direction is solid and he paces it good with fine
editing, so it works too, even if it feels somewhat
standard. The acting is good. Hogan is great as Dundee, and
Kozlowski as Sue seems a bit wiser. Smaller performances
from Paul Rodriguez and Aida Turturro are also nice. While
this movie is more family fare and a lot lighter than the
first two, it's enjoyable. Just don't take it seriously and
you'll be okay.
The first two films were shot in the aspect ratio of
2.35:1, this one is in 1.85:1 (the transfer is anamorphic).
Out of all the transfers, this one looks the best, probably
because it's the most recent. It's really sharp and pops
right out at you. Fleshtones look quite nice as everything
in the film has great saturation. Colors are deep and bold.
Black levels are great and so is the detail. Blemishes and
little annoyances appear here and there, but they're nothing
major. I didn't notice any noise or shimmering. Very nice,
truly a great transfer for a live action movie.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 is incredibly active. The loud
music sounds really nice and is well mixed through the
channel. The action scenes are pretty cool with great
surrounds (check out the highway scene in chapter five).
Dialogue is clear and crisp, and there's an equal balance to
the sounds in this mix. Imaging here is pretty good as well
and the subwoofer booms at all the right times. There's just
a nice crispness to everything here and it's filled with
some zing. A very nice mix, especially as a comedy.
Surprisingly and nicely done. A English Dolby Surround track
is also included, plus English subtitles and true English
closed captions.
Another bare bones Croc release. The Theatrical
Trailer is in non-amamorphic widescreen (that surprised
me) and the featurette The Making Of "Crocodile Dundee In
Los Angeles" that is pure fluff. Clips from the movie,
behind the scenes footage amd interviews with Hogan,
Kozlowski and others are here. It even takes a look back at
the first two. Kudos again to Paramount for providing
subtitles on this featurette. It's only eleven and a half
minutes, and just explains the films' plot.
While the franchise came back, this installment died and
I'm sure a lot of people missed this. I guess no one took
into consideration that "Crocodile Dundee" is a thingy of
the 1980s, and times as well as audiences have changed.
Still, if you missed it and liked the first two, this one is
worth checking out.
 (3.5/5 - NOT included in
final score)
 (4.5/5)
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 (1/5)
 (3/5,
NOT an average)
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