Kangaroo
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (out of 5)
The founder of The Kangaroo Sanctuary, Chris' Brolga' Barns, came to prominence when Roger, one of his resident kangaroos, became a viral phenomenon. This led to the Australian kangaroo carer's story becoming the inspiration behind the latest cinematic release, Kangaroo.
The outback tale begins in Sydney, where Chris Masterman (Ryan Corr) works to make a name for himself as a local weatherman. Until a beach mishap turns him into a media pariah, and the only place he can get work is in Western Australia. As he drives across the country to his new future, Chris hits a kangaroo on the road and manages to save the joey in the mother's pouch. This simple, merciful act leads to a new chapter in the weatherman's life as he gets help from the local community and a young girl named Charlie (Lily Whiteley).
Director Kate Woods (The Umbrella Academy, The Lincoln Lawyer) delivers a movie that will transcend the shores of Australia as it taps into the heart of the Australian outback and family. Ryan Corr convincingly transforms from the arrogant media darling to a kangaroo conservationist in a convincing manner and carries the story through to the heartfelt conclusion. Yet, it's Lily Whiteley's performance and the fantastic supporting cast that give this kangaroo tale the depth and colour to make it into one of the most endearing films in recent memory. When a production brings in cinematic legends like Rachel House, Deborah Mailman, Rick Donald, and Wayne Blair to deliver an Australian movie that will make audiences yearn for a trip to Australia's red centre.
Beyond the beauty of the landscape and the adorable joeys, this screenplay has a familial heart that should draw families to the cinema. As Charlie's story addresses loss and grief, she begins to see the value of family, community and friendship. All the while, Chris must come to terms with how fame can be fleeting while the road to redemption may be found outside of the limelight of the internet. Suppose families can embrace the fantastical nature of the storyline and enjoy the heartwarming elements of these outback residents. In that case, this is the movie parents have been looking for all year.
Kangaroo will steal your hearts, deliver the laughs and tears you expect from a comedic, family adventure, while drawing you to the red earth of the outback. As it is based on a real story, every family should get their mob together and head to the cinema for this wonderful Australian journey.
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What should parents know about Kangaroo?
This outback adventure has all of the magic and wonder of classics like Red Dog. The Australian landscape, fauna and community will entertain and captivate all ages. The real facts of life are addressed in a manner that will lead parents to conversations about life, death, grief, friendship and suffering. There is little to warn parents about with Kangaroo, except for the harsh realities that come into everyone's world, and how running away from them is never the answer.
Topics for parents to consider from Kangaroo:
- Grief: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18
- Redemption: …hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. - Psalm 130:7
- Conservation: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” - Genesis 1:26
