Product Details

• Actors: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Ritchie Singer
• Directors: Peter Faiman
• Writers: Paul Hogan, John Cornell, Ken Shadie
• Producers: Jane Scott, John Cornell, Wayne Young
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: December 7, 1992
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300218066
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,659 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1986 comedy out of Australia is so old-fashioned in its romantic charm that one can't help but wonder what it would have looked like with Clark Gable and Carole Lombard in the leads. On the other hand, it's hard to imagine anyone besides Paul Hogan as the title character, a laid-back Aussie tracker who shows an American reporter (Linda Kozlowski) around bush country, then accompanies her to New York City. Sure, Hollywood has done the fish-out-of-water scenario to death in the last 20 years, and while this film has sufficient sport with the gimmick, it is largely driven by the principal characters and their developing love affair. Hogan cowrote the script and director Peter Faiman evokes the goofy, enchanted air of screwball comedies. The climactic scene, set in a subway station with scores of bystanders witnessing a conversation about relationship commitment, feels like vintage Capra. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing but Fun from the First "G'day" to the Last, September 17, 2002

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Reviewer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crocodile Dundee (DVD)

One of the great things about movies is that every once in awhile the unexpected happens, something comes along that you know immediately is just a bit different and special somehow. Usually it's the film itself, but on occasion-- and this is one of them-- a character will emerge who is not just a character in a movie, but IS the movie. Here, it's the title character of "Crocodile Dundee," directed by Peter Faiman, and starring Paul Hogan as the inimitable Mick Dundee, a rather unique individual hailing from the small hamlet of Walkabout Creek, Australia. Mick hit the big screen in 1986, and from the first moment he appeared, right up through the end of the second sequel, it's been a "G'day" for audiences around the world.

In Australia on assignment for her New York newspaper, journalist Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) runs across a story she just has to pursue. It's about a legendary "local" from one of the small towns on the cusp of the bush, a crocodile hunter who, the story goes, had his leg bitten off by a croc, then managed to survive by crawling, alone, for days on end across the outback. So it's off to the town of Walkabout Creek in search of this larger-than-life character, who it turns out is quite a "character" to say the least. He is, in fact, one of a kind.

After a memorable meeting in the town's only pub (one of about four buildings in the whole place), Michael J. "Mick" Dundee agrees to take her on a tour retracing his steps and reconstructing the famous event where it actually took place. He promises a hard journey through some rugged terrain-- no place, in fact, for a "Sheila"-- but, like any good reporter, she's ready for anything; or so she thinks. And it's the beginning of an adventure she, as well as the audience, will never forget.

Hogan concocted the story and created the character, then wrote the screenplay along with John Cornell and Ken Shadie, after which he turned it over to director Faiman, who did a worthy, if not exceptional, job of translating Hogan's vision to the screen. Faiman, however, is destined to be the forgotten man with regards to this project, inasmuch as he was not only necessarily overshadowed by writer/star Hogan, but he presented the film in a fairly straightforward manner, without anything particularly noteworthy that "he" did that would put his "signature" on it. Add to that the fact that this was the first of only two films Faiman ever directed (his second was the lackluster "Dutch" in 1991); simply not enough to reference him, nothing added to his resume afterwards to make you take notice and say, "Oh, yes, he directed `Dundee,' too." Still, filmmaking is inherently a collaborative medium, and as they say, a film does not "direct" itself; so credit must be given where it is due, and considering how good this film is, and how well it did at the box office, it points up that whatever Faiman did, he did right. And he deserves to be acknowledged for it.

It's no secret, of course, what really makes this film work. Aside from the engaging story with it's romantic notions of adventure, from beginning to end it has the four "Big Cs" going for it: Character, Charisma, Chemistry and Charm. Let's face it, Paul Hogan is "The Man" as Mick Dundee; he's the guy other guys admire and want to be (whether or not they'll admit to it), and he has the kind of natural good looks, charisma and charm that is irresistible to the ladies (whether or not they'll admit to it). And the chemistry between Hogan and Kozlowski is irrefutable; it's the kind that makes you want to put another shrimp on the barbie. Besides all of which there is an innate honesty about Hogan's Mick that shines through like a 1st order Fresnel light in a London fog. He's laid-back and grounded, with a refreshingly logical outlook on life-- this guy's never going to need a pill for hypertension-- and what adds even more to his appeal is that there's a touch of larceny in his make-up, hiding just beneath that twinkle in his eye and his obvious integrity. You also know instinctively that this is the guy you want in your corner when the chips are down. All of this and more is what Paul Hogan captures in his performance; this is the Mick "Crocodile" Dundee he brings to the screen.

In her motion picture debut, the lovely Linda Kozlowski brings some sizzle to the screen and proves to be the perfect counterpoint to co-star Hogan. Something of an "Ibsenesque" role model, she demonstrates that a woman can be strong and ultra feminine, capable yet vulnerable, and all at the same time. It makes her portrayal of Sue Charlton convincing, well rounded and real; much more than just a cardboard cutout kind of a character that could have been used as nothing more than a vehicle to move the story along. Instead, though this is without question Mick Dundee's story, she makes it her story, too, and it gives the film an added perspective and considerably more depth than what is usually found in light comedy, which is essentially what this film is. And there's a look in her eye and something in the way she smiles at Mick that has an absolute ring of truth to it. You could say, in fact, that Hogan and Kozlowski are the Bogie and Bacall of the outback.

Another invaluable asset to the film is the performance of the likable John Meillon as Mick's friend, Walter Reilly. The part is a true character actor's character, and Meillon does it beautifully. The supporting cast includes Mark Blum (Richard), Michael Lombard (Sam), Steve Rackman (Donk) and Reginald VelJohnson (Gus). A memorable film filled with unforgettable characters, "Crocodile Dundee" will take you to the top o'the world... "down under."

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Walkabout Romance, April 19, 2006

By 

Brian E. Erland "Rainbow Sphinx" (Brea, CA - USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crocodile Dundee (DVD)

'Crocodile Dundee' is a highly entertaining comedy romance released in '86 that implanted such delightful Aussie terms as; "G'day" and "out for a walkabout" into Amercian mainstream consciousness.

Paul Hogan is absolutely perfect as the man from down under, Michael J. 'Crocodile' Dundee who is pursued by an American reporter (Linda Kozlowski) in search of a good newspaper story about the elusive crocodile hunter roaming the Australian Outback. When their brief but intense encounter blossoms into romance she invites Mic to return to New York with her and see the sights. Can a naive Aussie fresh from the bush cope with the perils that accompany life in the Big Apple? You Bet!!

Great family fun with good performances by Hogan and Kozlowski as well as John Meillon as Mic's Outback partner, Walter and a brief but memorable cameo by David Gulpilil.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining movie., July 13, 2001

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J. Gibson (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crocodile Dundee (DVD)

Paul Hogan (Lightening Jack, Flipper) stars as Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee, a crocodile hunter. Wealthy reporter Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski, Favorite Son, Almost and Angel) meets him during an excursion into the Australian Outback.

Dundee accepts Sue's invitation to return to New York City with her. He soon finds that New York life is much different than the life he is used to. Not only must he learn to acclimatize himself with the new surroundings and deal with the jealous boyfriend of Sue Charlton. There are so many excellent 'fish out of water' scenes from this film; too many to list in one review.

This movie is very charming in its simplicity. It isn't full of confusing and complicated twists and turns at every angle, doesn't have several different subplots to keep up with and isn't full of murky characters that really have no purpose other than to take up a frame. It is a simple romantic comedy that is very much worth the time spent viewing it.