lisafordeay When I was a kid I used to own this film thinking it was about a talking kangaroo that teams up with two dimwitted guys and the kangaroo is the big star. But sadly this wasn't the case. Instead its a mafia kids movie about two childhood friends(Jerry O Connell,and Antony Anderson) who travel to Australia with A lot of cash as O Connells stepfather(Christopher Walken) gave them the money. So when the two bfs end up in Australia with the money they find a kangaroo who took their money and now the two have to get it back,with O Connell falling for a beautiful woman who's a kangaroo hunter. Question is what is the money that Christopher Walken gave O Connell. Overall this film shouldn't be a kids movie. The marketing sucked,the film is boring and has nothing to do with the main star in the film. Do yourselves a favour and skip this film. Watch Snow Dogs instead. At least the poster makes sense unlike the poster for this film. 1/10

Steve Pulaski Kangaroo Jack seriously has me torn. Torn between my childhood love for the film and my current thoughts on it. Years ago, this was one of my favorite films. I watched it various times, and for some reason, couldn't get enough of it. This was also the first film that spawned my love for Anthony Anderson. He sort of reminded me of a new age Chris Farley character. He had no limits, and he was always lovable in his presentation.My thoughts on the film has slightly changed since my last viewing, roughly three years ago. My view on the film didn't change as much as when I rewatched Hey Arnold!: The Movie having not seen it in x amount of years, but it didn't stay the same like it did when I rewatched Good Burger.Still, it's difficult to hate a film so lively and amusing. It revolves around Jerry O'Connell's Charlie, a hair stylist barely making end's meet at his current salon and Anthony Anderson's Louis as his slow-witted, dopey accomplice. After a deal gone completely wrong, Charlie's stepfather Salvatore Maggio (Walken) tells both of them to take a plane to Australia and deliver a confidential package to a man named "Mr. Smith" in the Australian Outback.Even after being told not to open the package, Louis opens it to reveal over $50,000 in Benjamin Franklins. Upon arrival to Australia, by accident, Charlie runs over a kangaroo and believes to have killed it. Louis gets the bright idea to put his red Brooklyn jacket, with the money, on the kangaroo after recognizing the beast as "Jackie Legs." The kangaroo turns out to be alive and hops away with the jacket and the money, leaving both Charlie and Louis hopeless, desperate, and pessimistic of the consequences if Sal finds out.I recently mentioned in my review of Three Amigos that the fish out of water premise rarely works. Here, it doesn't break a whole lot of new ground, yet it doesn't make a game out of humiliating the outsiders like many other films of the genre do. Also, the Outback scenery is fantastic with the rusty colored sand and the heat of the desert is captured with pure realism. This is the case where a kid's movie goes a bit beyond expectations.Yet, it goes below expectations with some of the kiddy jokes. Case and point, the camel scene. Unnecessary and not funny. It furthers my thoughts that Hollywood, sometimes, compiles the lowest common denominator of childish entertainment and throws the scattered, messy bag into a film.The film redeems itself by offering characters we'd probably like if they were realistic, and brings above average backstory to its plot. I don't think I've seen a kid's film recently that had as much story focus on the character's lives since Kangaroo Jack.Now comes the inevitable kangaroo, which is the least impressive thing in the film. The kangaroo is odd, and even stranger when he speaks. His lips move in a very odd manner, and his movements are very unnatural. When he jumps, due to the sketchy technology at the time (also present in Ang Lee's Hulk, released the same year) the sound seems to break as if a strong, abrupt wind is blowing by. It's odd, but doesn't happen often. I think the most haunting scene involving the marsupials is when Charlie has a hallucination with several characters voicing several other kangaroos. Even at the end when Jackie Legs says goodbye it comes off as unappealing, and we're glad to be rid of such a peculiar character.Director David McNally also tries to pay homage to the film many of us refer to as "wet, young, voluptuous women bar dance on a table for about an hour and a half. Of course I'm talking about Coyote Ugly, one of his earlier works. The scene involves Estella Warren showering under a waterfall. The scene is very tame and is likely to go unnoticed. It's no worse than the subtleties in shows like Rugrats or Spongebob Squarepants.Kangaroo Jack has a heart, but sometimes it gets too rambunctious with its immaturity. Its strange protagonist doesn't help matters, but its sufficient plot, steady characters, and fantastic scenery do. It's a cheery, entertaining film. Sometimes, that's good enough for the kids. But maybe not so much for the adults.Starring: Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Estella Warren, Christopher Walken, and Michael Shannon. Directed by: David McNally.

Chad Halsman A somewhat original idea takes the stands, this movie is called Kangaroo Jack. Underrated in my opinion this movie is funny at times and is more kid friendly. Its one of those movies in which its stupid, but so stupid its decent. The story starts out slow in which we see our main characters meet one another for the first time. It turns out that they become life long buddies. As adventure soon meets them, they find themselves on a journey to Australia to deliver a package to a old friend of the step-father of Charlie played by Jerry O'Connell. The step-father is played by Christopher Walken, and Charlies lifetime friend Louis is played by Anthony Anderson. As the two venture through Australia, they run into a kangaroo and fear that they have killed it. Louis then gets the idea to dress up the kangaroo to make him look like Jackie Legs. But as it turns out the kangaroo is not dead at all and takes off with Louis' jacket containing the package. And so the plot begins, it starts off somewhat slow but does pick up. It has elements of slapstick and snappy one liners that add to this film's atmosphere. This movie isn't horrible but then again its not amazing. Its more for the kids, and reaches a very limited audience. This movie also slows down after a while and then winds back up and then winds back down. I recommend renting it. Overall this movie in my opinion is still underrated as it would appeal more to children than older audiences. Still this movie is decent. I'm gonna rate this movie with an 80% because of its wild cast and small bits of slapstick.

monkey_kelstar I know...ten stars seems excessive, but this is one of the funniest movies that I've ever seen. Top five. I'm watching this movie as I write this. I've seen it a couple of times, and I swear it gets better every time I see it. It only got one star out of four, which is the worst it can possibly get, and I understand that...really, it is not the most intelligent movie in the world. However, if you feel like kicking back and relaxing, you feel like watching a movie that doesn't provoke thought or discussion, you feel like laughing hysterically, this movie's for you. I'll admit that the entire premise of this movie is dumb, but it's funny, genuinely funny, and I love it.