CROCODILE DUNDEE II

Australia, 1988, 110 minutes, Colour.
Paul Hogan, Linda Koslowski, Ernie Dingo, John Meillon, Gus Mercurio.
Directed by John Cornell.

Crocodile Dundee II came out two years after the original. Crocodile Dundee was an extraordinary success story, not only in Australia, but right around the world. In the sequel, Paul Hogan and his co-writer, his son Brett, reverse the structure they had in the original - this film opens in New York and then finally moves back to the Northern Territory.

The element of surprise, of course, is gone. There is a rather elaborate drug-peddling plot which is derivative of so many Hollywood adventures with the touch of Romancing the Stone and the Indiana Jones films. There is little suspense because no one is in any doubt that Mick Dundee will pull through.

However, there are quite a number of laughs, many chuckles, despite the flatness of so much of the narrative. Paul Hogan is at his best when he is spontaneous, small jokes, looks, little bits of action which are not essential to the plot but which give the audience a great deal of laughter.

Linda Kozlowski as Sue gets more attention than in the first film, as does John Meillon as Wally. Aboriginal comedian Ernie Dingo takes the place of David Gulpilil. Once again the Northern Territory scenery is well-used, there is an enjoyable amount of action as well as commentary on world issues and local issues. Direction is by John Cornell.

1. The success of this sequel? Audiences expectations? Its impact? The less than favourable reviews?

2. The work of Paul Hogan as producer, writer, star? The film relying on him? Audience response to his lovable Australian character, the innocent naivety and to him as a type of Down Under Indiana Jones?

3. The success of the film as a comedy: visual humour, verbal, timing, situations? Mick Dundee's laconic style and understatement? Good-natured comedy?

4. The structure: the U.S. and then the Northern Territory? Mick Dundee coming home? The drug story and the action adventure?

5. Mick Dundee in New York, his fishing in the harbour, using the explosives, the friendliness of the police, his lackadaisical looking for work, his friendship with Leroy and the offer of a job, playing with the kids and hitting the can with stones, going into the bar, walking on the ledge to rescue the would-be suicide, the range of friends, the Nixon impersonator at the hotel? His relationship with Sue? The strong bond between the two?

6. Sue and her work, her friends, her ex-husband and his work in Bolivia, his letter, the danger, her having the information, the kidnapping and her being held? Mick wanting to rescue her?

7. Bolivia: Bob, the photographs, the execution and his seeing it, his escape, the phone call to the police, to Sue, his death?

8. The criminals and their ruthlessness? The execution in Bolivia? The killings, especially of Bob? Their coming to New York, the mansion? The attempts at getting Mick, the subway humour (and the Japanese tourists and their help, thinking him Clint Eastwood)? The door and the punching? Hanging the gangster over New York?

9. Mick and his being followed, elusive, the policeman in the toilet? The subway, the hanging, the leaping and swinging through the window, going to see Rat with Leroy, the infiltration into the house, hitting people on the head, not using weapons? Rescuing Sue? The breakfast sequence, its danger, the grit in the egg for the policeman, going to Australia?

10. Australia and its landscapes, the musical themes with the contrast for the New York melody and the Northern Territory? The bush, Walkabout Creek and its people? His own shack? The water, the rocks, the flora and fauna?

11. The Australian characters and their reappearance, Wally and his stories, his capacity for being lost in the bush, his being captured, shot at by Mick, the cover, the tall stories, leading the criminals in the wrong direction, being taken by the 'crocodile', lost? The help of Dong and of Nugget?

12. The criminals, their ruthlessness, their wanting to get Mick, their henchmen in New York, their being attacked in their mansion? Their contact man in the Northern Territory? The pilots? The chase, the aboriginal tracker, their being taken silently, being tied up, the vigil, the bats? Their being caught?

13. Mick and Sue, eluding the criminals, bush telephone, the coming of the aborigines, their guarding the prisoners, the jokes, the bats, playing games, the crocodile, the disappearance, Mick's changing clothes and the final shooting?

14. The happy ending and Crocodile Dundee as pleasant, naive and innocent, Australian, decent, at home? The mellowing of Mick Dundee and the male and female roles, his not being chauvinist? A lovable ocker symbol and role model?