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Australia, 2020, 102 minutes, Colour.
William Lodder, Richard Roxburgh, Frances O' Connor, Anastasia Bampos, Dan Wyllie, Cooper van Grootel, Damien de Montemas, Darius Amarfio Jefferson.
Directed by Owen Trevor.

Certainly an energetic title. And, in fact, this is quite an energetic film. It is a film designed for the family, youngsters enjoying the action, teenagers identifying with the central characters, some tough family situations, some valuable lessons in understanding oneself, the role of parents, the role of mentors.

This is a film from Western Australia, very proud of its locations, promoting state and national Go- Kart competitions. Starring as the mother is Frances O’ Connor whose family migrated to Western Australia where she grew up. The film is a kind of welcome home to her. The other adult star of the film is Richard Roxburgh, the veteran driver who is rather disillusioned, disappointed in life, running a Go- Kart track and being challenged to become a mentor.

But, it is the teenagers that we focus on. Jack (William Lodder, in his only role so far) arrives with his widowed mother and precious memories of time with his dead father, into the small town of Busselton where his mother intends to set up a shop as Well Is renovate a house for their home – which she does. In the meantime, she urges Jack to go to a party, a party for Mandy (Anastasia Bampos also her only role so far) at the track. He meets a young aboriginal friend, Colin Darius Amarfio Jefferson), who is bullied by Mandy’s brother and some of the locals.

Jack immediately wants to participate in the race, full of exhilaration. And, this is his story, plenty of ups, plenty of downs, the kind of issues familiar from this kind of film where we know, ultimately, he will be successful.

While Richard Roxburgh as Patrick acts in an expected way, he is still different, reluctant to help Jack, not wanting any backchat, getting him to do menial jobs and repaying him with rides around the track. Eventually, there are many scenes of training and wise advice for those contemplating a Go-Kart? amateur career or professional career!

The trouble is that Mandy is the daughter of the local entrepreneur whose bullying son assumes that he will be champion. Father and son are chauvinist and ignore Mandy’s talents with machines. Jack doesn’t and she becomes part of the team.

Meanwhile there is a pleasantly awkward romantic set up with the local policeman, inevitably named Barry (Daniel Wyllie) and Jake set setting him up for a date with his mother, much awkwardness and all.

Some of the races don’t go as planned, Jack discovering how stubborn he can be, wanting to beat his rival at all costs – but Patrick explaining anger and “red mist� advising him to count backwards from five in order to clear his vision and motivation.

In many ways, this is a formula film (whatever formula number Go- Kart racing has) but, the plot and the performances are much better than usual, meaning that even elderly audiences might be drawn in to enjoy a family outing.

1. The title? Action? Go- Karts? Racing and competitions?

2. The Western Australian settings, the town, homes, shops, streets, mechanics, the racetrack? The musical score?
3. The target audience? Youngsters? Families?
4. Christie and Jack arriving in town, the car, the house, needing repairs, going to the shop, setting it up? The dead father? Jack and his memories, his grief, keeping it in? His mother encouraging him to speak? The new life in the town?
5. Mandy, her party, Dean and his racing, the pressure from their father? Jack going, meeting Colin, getting into the uniform, the go-karts, racing? Patrick watching? Dean and his success? State prospects, National prospects?

6. Jack and his ambition, the experience of Dean and his friends? The race, competitiveness, going on the outside, the pebbles, his crashing? Patrick’s reaction?

7. Patrick, in the caravan, his past career, memories, keeping to himself? The guitar and Jack breaking the string? Mike Zeta, his request for training Dean? Patrick’s refusal, saying that he lacked the talent?

8. Jack, the bond with his mother, her setting up the shop, her patience with her son and love for him? Jack and the donuts, Barry and his taking him home, his mother upset?

9. Barry, with his speedometer, Jack cycling past? Jack and his idea, talking to Barry about a possible date, Barry awkward, living with his mother, getting information, actually proposing the date? Christie agreeing? Her knowing that Jack put him up to it? Their walk along the beach, the outing, Barry singing the Daryl Braithwaite song? The beginning of the friendship?

10. Jack, going to see Patrick, trying to persuade him to let him ride, the cleanup? Patrick thinking, his chop chop response? The seemingly menial tasks? Patrick and his later explanation for their strengthening muscles? Hard work, Patrick letting him ride?

11. Jack, cleaning the rubbish, the makings of a go-kart, the friendship with Mandy, getting her to help? The continued friendship with Colin? Their preparing the go-kart, the uniform? Going into the race? His anger with Dean? The crash, the second-place disqualified, Jack and able to go the national race?

12. Mandy, working for her father, her suggestions for improvement, their being ignored? Her blunt talking to Dean? Working with Jack? Dean and his gang wrecking the kart? Mandy deciding to help? Their stealing the piece from her father shop?

13. Jack, his anger, hurting Colin, hurting Mandy? The apology to Colin? The double please to Mandy?

14. The issue of anger, Patrick’s explanation about red mist, counting backwards from five, Jack using it during the race, his tricking Dean and overtaking him? Dean shaking hands on the stand? Everyone happy in the crowd of spectators?

15. The achievement? Jack claiming that he had drawn Patrick out of his caravan in retirement? Patrick explaining his story, the death of his friend? Mike Zeta and his congratulations?

16. Happy prospects?