JOEY

Australia, 1997, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jamie Croft, Alex Mc Kenna, Rebecca Gibney, Tony Briggs, Ruth Cracknell, Ed Begley Jr.
Directed by Ian Barry.

Joey is a family film from the middle 1990s. It stars and Jamie Croft who appeared in That Eye, the Sky.

Billy has lost his father, lives with his mother, is a serious boy and photographs kangaroos. When his neighbours try to shoot the kangaroos, he frightens them off, and finds a Joey and takes home. There’s a comic scene as Joey upsets the kitchen. However, Billy feels that he should take Joey to Sydney, to reunite him with his parents so that he can learn to live as a kangaroo. However, he is taken by a group who promote illegal boxing bouts with kangaroos.

When Joey escapes in the city, Billy encounters the daughter of the American ambassador who has been neglecting his daughter. Together the two children try to get Joey back to his parents, going to the boxing matches, getting the help of a TV presenter and his camera man who are able to broadcast the scenes on all the television channels.

Rebecca Gibney has charm has Billy’s mother, Ed Begley is the American ambassador, Ruth Cracknell is the benefactor and promoter of animal causes,
Tony Briggs who plays the aboriginal hand at home was later the author of The Sapphires.

The film is quite colourful, children will enjoy the scenes with the kangaroos. They will also enjoy the exaggerated comedy and comic style especially with the police and the sendup of the of ASIO.

1. An entertaining Australian family film? Children? Animals? Kangaroos?

2. The title, the joey, in the bush, with the older kangaroos, the family of hunters, Billy annoying them? Rescuing Joey? In the house, feeding him, the upset in the kitchen, Billy’s decision to take him to Sydney, the adventures in Sydney, Linda and her claiming him, Sylvia and her help, the organizer of the kangaroo fights, the American ambassador, the police, CIA? The bouts, filming, the rescue, Joey in the wild? The kangaroos on the property?

3. The street and settings, the bush, the scenes of Sydney, streets, warehouses, mansions, the underground boxing location? The stunts and chases? The fights?

4. Billy, his age, his father dead, his love for his mother? Mick and the help with the house and the trucks? His helping Billie with Joey? Billy and his age, love for the older kangaroos, photographing them in secret, his camera? The upset at home, his needing to take Joey to his parents? Taking the money, later paying it back? Train, the trip, in Sydney, shelter, Joey getting away, his pursuing him, at the mansion, Linda taking him, the discussions, getting him away, on the back of the TV man’s van, the encounter with Sylvia and her helping them, the organiser of the bouts? The use of Billy’s camera, photographing the people, the fights, the bets, the speech?

5. Linda, in Australia, her father, his shouting, not caring for her, at the reception, her going out, finding the kangaroo, the clash with Billy, Joey getting away? Her sharing his adventures?

6. The cameramen, the comedy and the presenter in his shorts, Davo and missing a shot, the pomposity? Their hopes? Their realisation that they were on to a good thing? With Billy and Linda? Going to the fights, the camera, fixing the television transmission, everybody watching the scene, listen to the words? The television presenter, the director and his allowing the material to be shown? Sylvia and the parents seeing it?

7. The breaking of the camera, the cameraman and his setting up the live feed and photographing? The humor of the presenter and his show, three weeks after the events?

8. Billy’s mother, at home, her concern, the policeman and his offering to marry her, his later giving the information about Billy and suggesting a criminal record? His comeuppance? Billy’s mother, going to Sydney, the police, the ASIO, with Sylvia, the happy reunion?

9. The ambassador, his consciousness of his neglect of Linda, finding her, the reconciliation?

10. Sylvia, her background, with animals, her collection, her confrontation of the boxing organizer?

11. The picture of the police, fairly inept, timing, the way they were photographed, comic cops?

12. The CIA, the pomposity, the comic turns, taking control, hit the phone number in the phonebook!

13. The comic style of the film, children’s view of adults and silly behaviour, especially of authority figures?

14. The combination of the comic, the serious, children’s lives, needs, animals and protection?