KENNY
Australia, 2006, 103 minutes, Colour.
Shane Jacobson.
Directed by Clayton Jacobsen.
Kenny is an ordinary, decent Ocker (that’s a popular Australian term for an Aussie for those not in the know).
One of the pleasant pastimes of the last twenty years has been speculating on the ‘typical’ Australian, at least the typical Australian male. One of the main icons of this typical type was Crocodile Dundee. Because in those days Paul Hogan was the smiling television entertainer who used to work on Sydney Harbour Bridge and who could confidentially advise his admiring audience, ‘Anyhow…, have a Winfield’, people liked him. And when he surprised them in creating Mick Dundee, the genial man of the Outback, who could spin a yarn locally let alone in New York where he could say to would-be muggers, ‘Now that’s a knife…”, he seemed to fit the bill.
The admiration for the late Steve Irwin – and the many eulogies at his untimely death – highlighted how we rather take to people with Crocodile in their name or title. Crikey, he was a national hero.
But how many of us have ever seen a crocodile in real life, in the Northern Territory or Queensland – which question gives this reviewer the possibility of a minor boast and declaring, yes, he has seen a number of crocodiles while being rowed along the Daly River (thank goodness they were small and mostly on the banks!).
This afternoon I was switching channels and lo and behold there was The Castle as the Sunday matinee movie. Now Michael Caton’s Dad seems to be a fine candidate for the typical Australian male. He was genial, kind and worldly-wise in a nice kind of way, very affirming of people. I watched the bit where Dad goes to court and the judge asks him for his argument as to why he should be moved out of his house. Righteously upset but ruffled, he urges that they just can’t. ‘That’s my argument.’
So what now?
As Kenny might well ask, how many of us go to the toilet every day – even, how often do we go during the day? Kenny reminds us that he will never be out of a job and every major public event needs its porta-loos and plenty of them, so as one of the regular employed because of our regularity, Kenny is a solid nomination for a male icon of the ‘typical’ Australian male. We can identify with him one way or another.
These meagre attempts at a little toilet innuendo are quite mild when we listen, with ever broadening smiles, to Kenny’s down-to-earth comments and jokes. Kenny offers toilet humour which is really quite sanitary.
His film, a self-subsidised venture of the Jacobson family, with Shane Jacobson as Kenny and co-writer, with his actor-director brother, Clayton, directing and with Ron Jacobson as Dad. And they ended up with all kinds of nominations for the Australian Film Institute awards, the Australian Film Critics’ awards and they went on to win best actor and best original screenplay.
One journalist summing up the films of 2006 referred to him as ‘our beloved Kenny’!
Speaking of screenplay, some of the humour seemed so funny I jotted some of it down. Maybe that will provide a clue for the typical Australian male and his type.
Samples – best to start with the often quoted one: there’s a smell in there that will outlast religion.
Some more:
Dad’s emotional account had two cents in it.
I’ll give 150% to God when introduces himself but now I’m pretty busy.
On the plane toilet flushing: Suck yer guts out through yer bum.
On the plane: I wonder what the fine is for not wearing yer seatbelt. It’s $150.00 for a car so it must be thousands.
There’s lots of money in crap. To be honest, there’s a shitload.
The US: Land of bloody flags and anthems.
Commenting on the size of American meals: They must give their toilets here a flogging.
No, he’s as serious as a heart attack.
Makes about as much sense as a nun at a rock concert.
For our family, it’s Christmas cards at twenty paces.
The format of Kenny is mockumentary (in The Spinal Tap and Christopher Guest vein of Best in Show) as we follow Kenny around on the job – and, in close-up, he really confides in us. We feel he is really our friend. We are irritated with his obtuse co-workers with him, puzzled by his cantankerous father and disdainful brother, worried about his rather harridan-like ex-wife and hopeful for his son. We are charmed as is the flight attendant and supportive of Kenny with the Japanese businessman – and delighted when he gets a sale. It is a pleasure going on his conducted tour of the toilet industry expo in Nashville (his words of admiration are in the tradition of The Castle’s Dad). Camping with his ailing father and contemplating the sunset, we like Kenny.
So, here is the average, hard-working, long-suffering but humorous, ordinary, decent (very decent in fact), respectful bloke who has found a place in life, appreciates it and is satisfied, not envious and not wanting to put anyone down.
Actually, that makes him sound like a bit of a saint. And why not? We need secular saints.
Kenny is quite outgoing socially and at work but not extravert off the page.
Kenny is down to earth and detailed with humour, right here and now.
Kenny can look reality straight in the eye with a homespun logic and solid principles, but agreeably so.
Kenny gets the job done but can let people be.
There’s a great theoretical yearning at times for the typical Australian male to be a bit of a ‘She’ll be right, mate’. But, when all’s said and done, Australian’s do like to get things done. That too is, she’ll be right, mate.
It is difficult to gauge how well Kenny will travel. It will depend on senses of humour and familiarity with the Australian language (and how to translate that for sub-titles). But, for a toilet movie, it is delightful.
1.The Australian acclaim, the awards, the popularity?
2.Kenny as an Australian archetype, the urban man, ordinary, decent?
3.The small-budget, the family collaboration to make the film, the sophistication of the techniques, the editing? Musical score and songs?
4.The importance of the verbal humour, expressions, imaginative slang, worldly-wise, down to earth, principled, courteous? The combination of all these aspects?
5.The visual humour, the jokes, the realism, the work of the plumber with the toilets?
6.The pseudo-documentary style, the voice-over of Kenny, the interview style, Kenny confiding in the audience, explanations, treating the audience as friends, informing them, Kenny’s various attitudes, checking these out with the audience, verifying his experience? The sense of wonder, his learning as he went along in his life? The style of the editing for the narrative, for the interviews? The fact that Kenny was close, even friendly and intimate with the audience?
7.The Aussie male, age, look, height and weight, clothes, sloppy, manner of speech, manners? On the job, capability for organising, friendship with his mates, the various workers? His friends? Limited number of friends? Exasperation with Pat, with Sam? His interactions with the public, being helpful, his relationship with his family, his ex-wife, his son, his father, his brother? Not pushing himself forward and his father’s comments on him? His liking his job, staying put and not taking the desk job? The reasons? Wanting to be near his son, wanting his son to have better opportunities?
8.The toilets and the literal toilet humour? Kenny’s phone calls to his clients, the discussions of food with the consequences for the toilets? The needs of the events? Down to earth, real? Statistical information about toilets? Always in need? Time, management, the upsets, pipes leaking, the search for the ring for the lady, the aristocratic Melbourne Cup-goers and their disdain (and later vulgar behaviour)? The toilets being knocked over? Kenny and his reflections on the human body, human functioning, making it real?
9.Kenny at work, with Pat and his speculations about marrying, Sam and his sense of arrogance, Pat’s being upset with him? The various part-timers, observing the event rather than doing their work? His wife’s visit, her shouting at him, delivering his son, taking his son out, sharing life with him? The phone calls from his wife about the language her son used? Kenny’s trying to keep the peace, being good-mannered? The visit to his father, his not visiting his father often, the discussions? Being proper in front of the boy, his brother’s party and his dress, not allowed in, his reaction? Taking his father to hospital, his care for him? Dave and Kenny and their getting the tent, their father’s illness, wanting to watch the sunrise? Dave going off, Kenny talking with his father, his father’s affirmation in his rough way? His father’s advice about his work?
10.Kenny and his relationship to the boss, the decision to send him to Nashville, on the plane, enjoying the flight, talking to people, the toilet being blocked, his own intervention, fixing it, with Jackie, discussions with the crew, liking the chardonnay – a variation on the beer? Meeting Jackie, taking her over the exhibition, going out for drinks, helping the Japanese man and his riding the bull? Propriety in seeing Jackie home? Leaving, arranging to meet her later? His having to go home – and the unexpected meeting at the end of the film?
11.The exhibition, the tour, the technology for toilets, Kenny explaining everything to the audience? The jokes, the slogans? The Japanese, on the town? The importance of the deal, the phone calls, Kenny’s promotion?
12.Kenny’s father, his character, cantankerous, the way he brought his children up, Dave’s reactions? His not wanting to go to hospital? His concern about his grandson? His illness, Kenny’s reaction, keeping him company, going with Dave on the camping visit, where his father was with his mother?
13.The supporting characters, Dave and his not being comfortable in Kenny’s company? Kenny’s son, his age, cantankerous behaviour, liking being with his father, at the Melbourne Cup, getting lost, being found? Dave, his not liking his brother?
14.The audience enjoying Kenny’s company, reactions to him, Australian style, ethos, comic, an archetypal image?
