Kangaroos are not threatened with extinction. Therefore, orphaned young animals in Australia are not particularly protected. So if you find one of the motherless youngsters named “Joeyys” and do not want the meat that may end up with any plate, you somehow have to take care of the accommodation.
In this case, a possible starting station would be the Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, which is run by Chris “Brolga” Barns and his wife Tahnee. More than 1,000 Joeyys have already been brought through in the reception center and then released. With their station, Brolga and Tahnee were already the subject of a BBC documentary series under the title “Kangaroo Dundee”-a reference to the Australian cinema “Crocodile Dundee” from 1986. “Lilly and the kangaroos” now spins a fictional warm story about the founding of the Sanctuary-with sympathetic characters and a number of custody Young animals.
First he becomes a “Delfiniller”, now he also has a kangaroo on his conscience: weather frog Chris (Ryan Corr).
Weather moderator Chris Masterman (Ryan Corr) is afraid for his job in Sydney. Even his ex-loved one, the treble television producer Liz (Brooke Satchwell), cannot calm him down either. When Chris discovered a presumably stray dolphin during a live broadcast, he climbs into the water for the purpose of image boost and shook the animal towards the open sea contrary to the advice of an expert. But the supposed rescue operation backfires. Shortly afterwards the dolphin is found dead. He was sick and just wanted to rest near the shore. Instead of many likes, Chris reaps a veritable shitstorm.
Nevertheless, he is promised a new TV show. However, not in Sydney, but in Broome. The financing is not yet, but he may go there. On the way he runs over a kangaroo in the Australian outback with his chic Chevrolet Corvette. He just lacked that: first dolphin murderer, now also a kangaroo! When he takes a closer look at the fatally injured animal, he notes that it has a boy in the bag. And the car is also broken. What to do? The eleven -year -old indigenous girl Lilly (Lily Whiteley), who happened to watch the incident, offers him help when he takes care of the “Joey”. Well then: Chris has to endure in Silver Gum anyway until his car is repaired. And that can take …
Memories of Bill Murray are awake
Chris Masterman may be self -centered and mainly think of his career. But he is not a cynical misanthrop like the weather announcement Phil Connors in “And the marmot greets every day” (1993). But like his colleague played by Bill Murray, he also has to go through a process of change predetermined by the script. In his case, this means not only thinking about himself, but also to others and taking responsibility. Chris thus advanced as part of a refreshing “Fish Out of Water” comedy from the weather frog to the “kangaroo dome”. The city of Chris, who was as personable and convincingly embodied by Ryan Corr, often acts like a hinterwäldler in the long -standing Silver Gum.
On the side of the Australian favorite of the public, Lily Whiteley shines with plenty of natural charisma. In dealing with Chris it has her kangarning Lilly Faustdick behind her ears, although she feels almost as strange in Silver Gum as he was. After all, after her father's death, she recently moved there. But she is a strong personality and will already find her place in the community of the small town. The supporting roles are also well staffed. For example, from Deborah Mailman as Lilly's good-hearted artist mother, who has so far not processed the death of her husband as little as her daughter. Or by Rachel House as a bear-born boss of the local restaurant hotel, who follows him with Chris, whose dubious reputation as a “Delfiniller” to Silver Gum, initially at war.
Lilly (Lily Whiteley) struggles with the death of her father and the new surroundings – but the little kangaroos donate their consolation!
And then there are the many Joeyys. The charm of the cuddly young heads, which are raised in cups in bags, can be avoided. Another caliber is, however, the injured kangaroo. It actually existed: The animal, who died in the Kangaroo Sanctuary in 2018, was a veritable internet star thanks to its bodybuilder body building. In the film, the imposing muscleprotz experiences its CGI resurrection.
The pictures of the Australian outback at Alice Springs are also impressive, which the experienced series director Kate Woods (including “Dr. House”, “Bones: The Bone Hunter”) always incorporates. Your view of the community of the (fictional) village Silver Gum and its cohesion may be a bit idealizing, but fits well with the optimistic basic attitude of your film. We will witness a boat race on the dry. What appears to be a little abstruse is by no means a brain -fitting of the screenwriter. Such a race takes place every year in Alice Springs.
Conclusion: A classically beautiful family film with an exotic flair and a young title heroine with which you can easily identify.