THE BBQ
Australia, 2018, 91 minutes, Colour.
Shane Jacobson, Magda Szubanski, Julia Zemiro, Frederik Simpson, Mano Fieldel, Nicholas Hammond, John Stanton, Lara Robinson, John Flaus.
Directed by Stephen Amis.
The BBQ is in the spirit of such films as The Castle, light comedy set in the Melbourne suburbs. However, it is rather slighter. While it appealed to audiences, it did not appeal to serious reviewers and critics.
There is an amusing connection of the Cook family with Captain Cook, finally revealed to be not true, quite inaccurate. However, amusingly, there is a link with the Cook on Captain Cook’s voyages, especially with the particular barbecue itself, a family heirloom.
Shane Jacobson, in the vein of Kenny, is Darren (Dazza) Cook, a great salesman for barbecues, hosting a barbecue every weekend with the week in preparation and the following week the family finishing off the meat at meals. Julia Zemiro plays Diane, his wife, very efficient at the supermarket. Frederik Simpson is the son, Jayden, who narrates the story and Lara Robinson is the younger daughter, Montana, who has decided to be vegan, keeps silent in the house, communicates by placards and signs, especially boycotting the BBQ.
While there is some tensions at home, Dazza is asked by his boss to be a part of the Great Australian BBQ Bonanza. He is not expected to win but just simply to promote. He has also assigned to The Butcher for training. She is played by Magda Szubanski in serious comic form and her assistant, Carver, is played by Nicholas Hammond in a good role (long memories of The Sound of Music). There Is a dastardly Frenchman who has had a bad effect on The Butcher and Carver (memories of his sabotaging their being cooks to the Royal Family at Balmoral).
The film echoes multiracial themes, aboriginal issues and Captain Cook, aboriginal neighbours, an Indian friend, a Japanese beef farmer – all with comic touches but, finally, at school, the Australian flag and the aboriginal flag at the back of the stage.
Comic touches in preparation. Comic touches in the tensions at home and Dazza as being the typical Australian man who does not always “get it� as regards wife and family.
No bets about who wins the Bonanza, It is a sure thing. And it all ends with a rather rollicking song in praise of the BBQ.
1. The title, the Aussie barbecue? Its place in Australian popular culture?
2. The Melbourne suburbs, homes, the streets, the yards? The shopping centres? The butcher shop? The barbecue sale store? Offices? The competition, the crowds, the tents, the stoves and barbecues? The contrast with the countryside, the cattle, the paddocks, the stalls, the IT equipment?
3. The musical score, the title song, rollicking over the final credits?
4. The Captain Cook connection, Darren (Dazza), the memories of Captain Cook, the Endeavour, voyages, exploration? The replica in the backyard? Dazza and his stories about Captain Cook, Jayden and his belief in the stories? His voice-over and enthusiasm? Telling a family story?
5. The explanation of the barbecue, the later explanation of the cook on the Endeavour, the meals, the actual barbecue, family heirloom, finally handing it over to the museum?
6. Dazza, Shane Jacobson and his comical style, love for Diane, her role in the supermarket, efficiency, creative ideas, the offer for promotion? Jayden, at school, his close friends, his speech about his family, going to the wharf, finding the Museum and the Maritime expert, the documents? His support of his father, a good relationship? The contrast with Montana, vegan, silence, her placards and protests, even at the table? Boycotting the barbecue?
7. The friends, the racial mix, the Indian and his ideas, his wife, his yellow coat, his vehicle – and coming to the rescue with the meat at the end? The contrast with Diane’s parents, politician, Szubanski, the serious comic tone? The background story with the Frenchman, the poisoning of the Royal Family at Balmoral? Losing her job, their coming to Australia? The resentment? The tough stances, bossing Dazza around? Making demands on him, the meat cuts, the knives, having to wash up everything, the visit to the country, the Japanese and his method for treating the cattle, grain feeding, in the paddocks, the computers and testing, the Japanese language and methods and rituals? Dazza and his having to choose the best cut, succeeding?
8. The time of training, the growing bond between The Butcher and Dazza, the discussions with Carver and his devotion?
9. The Frenchman, his arrogance, the back story and The Butcher wanting revenge?
10. Diane, her becoming exasperated, Dazza and his lack of awareness? The possibility promotion, going to Albury? Her making demands, no barbecues? The fact that the week was in preparation – and the week after in eating all the meat? The discovery that Dazza had to go into the competition, her ousting him? On the boat, going to the motel, the lonely men at the motel?
11. The day, the rivalries, the crowds, the cooking, the competition, the results? The sympathetic Americans and helping with the meat? The Frenchman and his horse meat, stealing the good meat from The Butcher? The desperation, the phone call to the Indian, his hurrying with the meat? The victory?
12. Jayden and his friends, their being present, rejoicing? Montana seeing the letter at home, Diane reading it – reunited with Dazza, and the end of the letter and his wanting the best for her?
13. Delivering The Butcher to Carver, his escorting her – and her remarking that it was too soon!
14. Happy ending? A light Australian suburban story?
