 | Aussie battler, tow-truck driver, and certified eccentric Darryl Kerrigan finds his ramshackle yet much-cherished house perched upon a toxic dump is about to be taken by the State government for an airport expansion. Darryl protests "It’s not a house – it’s a home," and takes them on.
The Kerrigan family’s story is an uproarious yet also gentle account of Darryl’s battle. It really should 'go straight to the pool room.' See Darryl tell the State Court that he rests on "the law of common bloody sense"; see his suburban lawyer Dennis De Nuto tell the Appeals Court: It’s the constitution, it’s Mabo … it’s the vibe!" (and thus give untold lawyers everywhere access to the new ‘De Nuto Defence’) and find yourself doubled over like I am at this hilarious yet warm (yes, warm, Eeek!) film that asks us to laugh at Darryl’s many well-meant miscues - "power lines are a reminder of man's ability to generate electricity" - while never actually laughing at him.
Only Australians seem to do ‘feel-good’ movies quite like this one. Without the cloying saccharine-ness of many feel-good films, this delivers instead the ‘feel-sore’ of split sides and a tear-stained face from laughing too much.
And does the airport get to take the Kerrigan house? Nah! They were dreaming! |
