Three things to know about Paul Hogan before watching this: 1 – He’s repaid all his debts to the taxman. 2 – As a painter before acting, he helped paint the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 3 – His voice is just as ocker as it’s always been. These explain his allowance to film in Australia, the post-credits blooper and, well, that this is an Aussie comedy. But Hogan’s not the hero in this father-son bonding journey as we see a road-trip yet again the story centrepiece. Australian films use this regularly (see Thunderstruck) but Charlie & Boots maintains enough decent humour with an entertaining duo to create an engaging story.

The relationship between father Charlie (Hogan) and son Boots (Shane ‘Kenny’ Jacobson) may be fractured, but the death of matriarch Gracie gives Boots the heave-ho to fix the problem. The consequential road-trip eventuates with the purpose to fulfil a forgotten childhood dream of fishing at Australia’s northernmost point (Cape York, Queensland), and it results in a fairly cruisy ride across three states, with the camaraderie similar to that of an old married couple. Hogan’s still cool with his leather watch and cuffs although he’s playing an old geezer, while Jacobson minus the lisp uses expression well – just his face can be enough to make you laugh. It’s enjoyable at best when it plays on the comedy itself – the jokes they banter around are fairly amusing (particularly one that discusses how Jesus dies). Cheap laughs are few and far between as it moves between funny and more serious moments. Some attempts at raw emotion fall a bit flat because of the comedic emphasis, but Hogan does particularly well here as Charlie struggles to accept the fact his wife’s gone. The film doesn’t ask for sympathy much but it’s important in context to remind us of why they are where they are. The back-story of Boots is explored enough, but when the truth about his own family is revealed it’s not overly satisfying. The outcome is predictable but having said that, it’s done in such a way that there’s enough fuel to keep the engine running.

Charlie & Boots works a bit of randomness in between likeable characters and a plot that flows. Charlie is initially sad and cynical as Boots tries to instil excitement in him (and recite an entire tour guide speech too), and their adventures surround what men like best – talk of women, fishing and trying to outdo each other. It is ‘Australia-fied’, complete with broad accents and stereotypical country folk, but a real sense of pride comes from the landscape of our rural areas. Even with a predictable story the setting makes up for it in some part and invites curiosity about what knowledge we have about our own backyard. The film shows some wonders of the East Coast and reveals Australia’s love for the ‘cowboy’ lifestyle (of rodeos and country music). Tenterfield in NSW deserves to do well out of this, and not just because it’s the home of Peter Allen; claiming to have the world’s thickest thickshakes is a worthy interest.

Verdict

There’s nothing fresh about larrikins on a road trip but Charlie & Boots still holds laughs without the cringe factor.

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