Send in the Animals

Editorial

Yes, Red Dog has knocked The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert out of the Top Ten best domestic performing Australian films. It’s now passed The Man From Snowy River; The Dish is next, and a great story for the Little Film That Could.

It’s a no-brainer, really. Throw an animal into a film and you’re guaranteed box office success, according to the Motion Picture Distribution Association of Australia. Here’s how the All Time Australian Top Ten stands now:

1. Crocodile Dundee (1986) $47.7 million
2. Australia (2008) $37.6 million
3. Babe (1995) $36.8 million
4. Happy Feet (2006) $31.8 million
5. Moulin Rouge (2001) $27.7 million
6. Crocodile Dundee 2 (1988) $24.9 million
7. Strictly Ballroom (1992) $21.8 million
8. The Dish (2000) $17.9 million
9. Red Dog (2011) $17.8 million, so far…
10. The Man from Snowy River (1982) $17.2 million

A couple of things stand out. Paul Hogan’s first two Dundee back in the ‘80s were huge. No sign of the third dire Dundee disaster from 2001 though – thankfully. Baz Luhrmann is box office gold, with only 1996’s Romeo + Juliet not making it in (probably because it wasn’t an Australian film). And even though Australia received very mixed reviews, it’s still at number two.

But look at all the animals: crocodiles, pigs, penguins, dogs, horses; this is how you do it. And if you set it in the outback, you’ve got even more chance of making it into the Top Ten. Throw in a bit of period costume as well, and you’re laughing.

It’s a little sad to see films like Priscilla drop out. Along with Muriel’s Wedding back in the early ‘90s, these two films, along with Strictly Ballroom redefined what an Australian film could be. They didn’t involve the outback, or period costumes, or even laconic comedians; and they were allowed to tell contemporary, urban and suburban stories. Because, let’s face it; that’s where most Australians live.

But hey, just think if Muriel’s Wedding had Muriel swimming with the porpoises instead of just leaving Porpoise Spit – what a hit that would have been! Or if Priscilla saw the three drag queens finding a lost dingo and taming it. What about if Romper Stomper had Hando rescuing a talking pig from a dark back alleyway on his way to a fight? Now we’re talking Aussie film gold!

Just as Red Dog demonstrates, Australian films don’t need to be box office failures; it’s just a matter of getting the mix right. Whack the Red Centre in as a backdrop, and your film could be about a lost child thought murdered, but really brought up by a mob of kangaroos – and a box office hit!

What are you waiting for? Get out there and make The Desert Book: The Real Story of Azaria now!

Tim Hunter, Citysearch