Search - Kangaroo Jack [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 06/24/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 29 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Total Copies: 30 Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Adventure Comedy, Animal Picture See Also: Kangaroo Jack [Fullscreen], Kangaroo Jack [MD], Kangaroo Jack [Widescreen], Kangaroo Jack [Widescreen]

Two low-level American crooks head to Australia, where they match wits with a kangaroo (who appears to have an intellectual edge on his pursuers) in this broad comedy. Charlie Carbone (Jerry O'Connell) is a hairdresser from Brooklyn whose best friend, Louis Booker (Anthony Anderson), scrapes together a living moving stolen merchandise. Charlie's stepfather, Sal Maggio (Christopher Walken), is a crime kingpin who has loaned Charlie a lot of money and wants to know when he'll get it back; Sal's not especially fond of Louis, especially after he and Charlie accidentally lead the police to a storehouse of burgled goods owned by Sal. Charlie owes Sal a big favor, and Sal wants Charlie and Louis out of his hair for a while, so Sal sends them to Australia, where they're to deliver a large amount of cash to a mysterious Mr. Smith (Marton Csokas). En route to their meeting in the outback, Charlie and Louis accidentally run over a kangaroo, and the half-bright tourists decide to dress the dead marsupial in sunglasses and Louis' favorite jacket for snapshots. However, the animal wasn't as dead as they imagined, and it soon hops away, shortly after Louis realizes the payment to Mr. Smith was in the pocket. Now Louis and Charlie are out to find the fast-moving critter, with the help of Jessie (Estella Warren), a wildlife expert; Mr. Jimmy (David Ngoombujarra), a wilderness guide; and Blue (Bill Hunter), a pilot familiar with the outback. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Jerry O'Connell - Charlie Carbone
Anthony Anderson - Louis Booker
Estella Warren - Jessie
Michael Shannon - Frankie
Christopher Walken - Sal Maggio

Although the DVD for Kangaroo Jack looks like a special edition, the actual supplements don't amount to much. Granted, there is a decent, but hardly revealing, scene-specific commentary from director David McNally, visual effects supervisor Hoyt Yeatman, and actors Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, and Estella Warren, but also included is a 13-minute commentary from Kangaroo Jack. Yes, only 13-minutes, and it's just not funny. Next up is "Casting Sessions -- Uncut," a very brief Animal Planet-style piece with animals doing funny things. While that's cute, the next segment isn't. Entitled "Behind the Gas," sound designer Steve "Bud" Johnson discusses his contribution to the film: farting camels. This is followed by "Jackie Legs' Dance Grooves," from which you, too, can learn to dance like the titular character, and the five-minute featurette "Marsupial Magic," which, without going into depth, looks at the different visual effects used for the kangaroos. Finally, there is a gag and outtake reel (click on the icon to the right of this section to reveal some hidden production sketches), the theatrical trailer, and some basic cast and crew filmographies. Fortunately, things get better with the picture and sound. The 2.35:1 anamorphic picture is not without its faults, but still looks exceptional. As is common, a pan-and-scan version is also available. Colors are reproduced nicely, but there is often a certain lack of detail, although it's not enough of a distraction to be a problem. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is also reasonably decent. Bass comes in at the appropriate moments and, while the surrounds aren't used extensively, there are moments where the right effect is created. The dialogue is clear and without any significant breakdown or distortion. Although childish in every way, this isn't a horrible film, and while the DVD is nothing extraordinary, it does have enough to entertain. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide