Man's Gotta Do, A

Synopsis: Eddy (John Howard) is a fisherman by day but leads a double life as a standover man at night in order to keep his wife, Yvonne (Rebecca Frith) in spending money. His daughter Chantelle (Alyssa McClelland), whose Russian fiancé has disappeared is overwrought and he enlists the assistance of his young sidekick, Dominic (Gyton Grantley) to restore domestic harmony.

Australian films struggle at the box office and one of the reasons are their limited marketing budgets. So you would wonder why anyone interested in attracting an audience, and producer/director/writer Chris Kennedy undoubtedly qualifies as this, would call their film A Man's Gotta Do, with its uninviting implications of witless, blokey humour. There is an aptness to the content it is true, as this is yet another blue singlet comedy, but of course the point is less the subject in itself, than what the film does with it. And Kennedy manages to do quite a bit that is, if not outrageously funny, then consistently amiable.

The opening scene with a very gruff John Howard in shorts and fish-scale encrusted gumboots suggests that we are about to be punished by another try-hard ocker comedy. Eddie's moonlight gig as a toe-cutter only reinforces that suspicion. Mercifully, these pointedly uncouth elements give way to an engaging story of four ordinary Australians, working class relatives of Kath & Kim living on the outskirts of Wollongong. Like the hit ABC comedy, some of the best moments of the film are in its wry observations of Australian suburban life and the inarticulate beating of the suburban heart. Unlike that show, it does not pay enough attention to the everyday but dallies with generic devices, such as guns and bolt-cutters, aspects more suited to the more twisted American comedic style. Here they only serve to undermine the strength of its credible situations and well-drawn characterizations.

In this latter respect full marks should go to casting. All the actors turn in winning performances with John Howard outstanding as the unflappable big man, husband and father. Although in a less prominent position Gyton Grantley is entirely believable as his reluctant offsider, the diffident and good-hearted Dominic. Alyssa McClelland is a near-ingénue as the strong-willed Chantelle whilst Rebecca Firth does an understated but fine job as the mother and wife.

That A Man's Gotta Do was made as an "Oilrag Production", as the credits tell us, perhaps suggests the source of some of the limitations of this film. It is unlikely to do much at the domestic box office, particularly when stacked up against slicker, star-driven Hollywood product, although when it hits the shelves of the suburban video stores hopefully it will find its audience.

 

 

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