THE DA KATH & KIM CODE

Australia, 2007, 82 minutes, Colour.
Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Glenn Robbins, Peter Rowsthorn, Magda Szubanski, Barry Humphries, Michael Buble, Rove Mc Manus, The Wiggles, Rhonda Burchmore, Peta Brady.
Directed by Ted Emery.

Kath & Kim was a very successful television series, set in the Melbourne outer suburbs, satirising everything about suburbia, a combination of laughing with and laughing at. The mother and daughter were played by Jane Turner and Gina Riley. Their respective husbands were played by Glenn Robbins and Peter Rowsthorn. There neighbour, Sharon, perpetually turning up – and being put down by Kim was played by Magda Szubanski.

After several successful seasons, the decision was made to make a feature film, incorporating all the characteristics, the satire and exaggerations, the humour with misused words, the humour with all the fads and fashions of the time, especially down at Fountain Gate Mall. There was also satire with two characters working at a fashionable boutique, again played by Jane Turner and Gina Riley, fake accents, fake attitudes attitudes – although the background of their husbands was fraud and imprisonment.

Kath is a very likeable character, the personification of the Australian response to popular advertising and fashions, determined always to be “with it�. There is a lot of kitsch in her house. She is admirably supported by her husband, Kel, a local butcher. They do have their fallings out, but have the reconciliations.

Kim on the other hand is completely self absorbed, narcissist par excellence. She has married Brett and they have a baby. She is always complaining, her mother trying to urge her to better things, she is always making comparisons with Sharon. Brett is on the upper at this stage but is romantically eyeing Kelly (Peta Brady) who is his boss. This leads to excessive tantrums on the part of Kim, wanting a separation, ousting him to the local hotel, eventually persuaded to a reconciliation – although he does seem to have an eye for Kelly.

There is a subplot for Sharon, exercising to get her weight down, going online for dating and creating an imaginary Beau, even going to the airport to meeting, a wish-fulfilment in her mind. And providing Kim with another opportunity for jealousy and put down.

With the title, the film was made in the immediate aftermath of The da Vinci Code. The connection is very loose, Kath and Kel having made a tour of da Vinci Code areas and fallen foul of the albino, John Monk, who sends them messages, follows them to Australia, appears at the house, seemingly sinister. His played by Barry Humphries. However, he has been so impressed by them that he wants them to lead da Vinci Code tours in Australia!

Kath and Kel are great dancers and they go to salsa classes, are chosen to perform on television with singer Michael Buble – and Kath takes a shine to him, gifts, visiting his dressing room, Kel being very jealous which leads to the rupture and the reconciliation.

Ted Emery has a strong reputation for Australian television comedy – as do the two leading ladies who from the 90s were in a series of comedy programs which showed their skills and versatility, their ability to mimic any female characters.

Five years later there was another bigger-budget Kath and Kim feature film, Kath & Kimderella.