Kangaroo: Feel-good family tale that puts the Skippy back into marsupial drama

Thursday, 18 September 2025

Kangaroo is now screening in cinemas nationwide.

Kangaroo (PG, 107mins) Directed by Kate Woods ***½

Sure he might be Australia’s favourite weatherman, but Chris Masterman (Ryan Corr) wants more.

Yes, there was the Brazilian dental floss commercial, but, tired of being the butt of jokes on Channel 6’s Logie-Award winning morning show Rise and Shine Australia, the 35-year-old Sydneysider is desperate to secure a hosting role.

Told he needs to prove there’s more to him than just incoming fronts and storm warnings, he spies an opportunity when an adolescent dolphin wanders near the shoreline of Bondi Beach. Despite pleas from the lifeguards to leave it alone, Chris wades in during a live-cross to steer it back towards open water. The next morning it’s found dead on the sand and the amiable presenter is now public enemy No. 1.

In Kangaroo, Ryan Corr’s Chris Masterman finds himself having to undertake an unexpected course in animal husbandry.

Fired as a result of the fallout, he also finds himself near unemployable, the only one willing to take him on, Warburton Entertainment, keen to do some kind of Western Australian travel show based in Broome.

To his dismay, a pit stop near the “Red Centre” proves just how viral he’s gone, the Silver Gum locals giving him a less-than-warm welcome. Chastened, Chris speeds off, only to strike more trouble when his beloved Corvette clips a roo.

As his tears flow freely, he discovers he’s orphaned a young female. With his accident witnessed by young Charlie (Lily Whiteley), his walk back into town seeking assistance for car repairs also now requires him to undertake a spot of animal husbandry, as she convinces him its local custom to take responsibility – or “something bad” will happen.

Newcomer Lily Whiteley plays Kangaroo’s Charlie.

After the heinous Hollywood nightmare that was Kangaroo Jack soiled the memory of Skippy some 20 years ago, it’s nice to finally have a feel-good family tale (inspired by the real-life exploits of The Kangaroo Sanctuary founder Chris “Brolga” Barns) showcasing Australia’s largest marsupial.

Thankfully most of the on-screen roos here are real, supplemented by some animatronic ones and a single, obviously CGI creation (who’s involved in the film’s one jarring moment, an ill-advised “cage match”).

Credit veteran TV director Woods (also responsible for beloved 2000 coming-of-age flick Looking for Alibrandi) for also putting together an impressive, scene-stealing cast, who include Wayne Blair, Ernie Dingo and Kiwis Roy Billing and Rachel House.

And while the script is littered with predictable beats, pratfalls and pee gags (as well as poo milkshake), at least Harry Cripps’ (The Dry, Penguin Bloom) redemption tale, featuring joeys and juvenile delinquents, provides something of a fresh spin on the traditional Doc Hollywood/Cars/Groundhog Day conceit.

That’s at least partly down to the charisma of both newcomer Whiteley and former Packed to the Rafters and In Limbo actor Corr and their furry co-stars, who ensure Kangaroo is a school holiday crowdpleaser to rival Runt, Red Dog or Oddball.

Kangaroo (PG) is now screening in cinemas nationwide.