Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Crocodile Dundee Blu-ray Movie Review

Hogan in high definition.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 12, 2014

Note: "'Crocodile' Dundee" is currently only available as part of a double feature two-pack with "'Crocodile' Dundee II."

"Crocodile" Dundee. It's a name that's synonymous with a decade, one of the 1980's most widely seen and enjoyed films and still one of the most lovably harmless, albeit relatively simple, Romantic Comedies of the past thirty years. The film made a star of leading man Paul Hogan and a name for its female lead, Linda Kozlowski. The affable picture puts their characters in contrasting environments in which they discover that shared roots aren't required when it comes to matters of the heart. The film never proves to be a technical or thematic standout but instead works on its simple premise, charm, and first-rate execution from its leads. It's a classic crowd pleaser, a film of limited ambition but a rather large heart, of basic characterization but complex emotions, of simple roots but legendary status.

Watching the spin-off "Kitty Cat Dowoppees"

New York-based Writer Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) finds herself intrigued by the urban legend of a rough-and-tumble Australian whose leg was bitten clean off by a crocodile. It sounds like a tragic but otherwise uninteresting story until she also learns that he supposedly crawled through the bush for a week before finally finding help. She travels to Australia to meet the notoriously reclusive individual and hear a firsthand account of his incredible story. She arrives to find the story largely a myth. The real "Crocodile" Dundee (Paul Hogan) is a rather outgoing type with both legs and only a nasty scar where he was, indeed, once mauled by a croc but not to the extent that urban legend claims. He shows her around the brush, and the two form a bond. When she proposes he return with her to New York, he agrees, only to find that his potential Mrs. Right is already being courted by another man.

"Crocodile" Dundee is a film of two distinct halves but one complete story. It takes the classic "fish out of water" story and doubles it, spending the first half following a city slicker reporter in Australia and its second half a rough-and-tumble bushman in the urban jungle of New York. The film earns plenty of humor from both ends of the spectrum, but its success comes in its cadence, in its refusal to dumb down its characters in order to make a futile effort at increasing the humor. Sue never devolves into Willie Scott from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. She's not outback material, but she's not helpless, either, capable of at least holding her own and understanding her environment, not falling to pieces when things get a little rough around her. On the other hand, Dundee carries himself well in New York, sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb but showing the skill to adapt to his environment without losing sight of who he is. Both characters fall into funny scenarios and the film certainly plays on their efforts to adapt to their environments, but never does it devolve into mindless slapstick. Instead, it's a surprisingly tight yet still light film, an enjoyable romp that earns jokes at the characters' expense but not at the cost of believability.

More, the film never tries to be something other than a light affair. There are no deeper themes beyond the idea that love need not be shared only between two people of a similar background. The rest of the movie is largely concerned with having fun with its characters, inviting the audience into their own worlds and finding the humor in their interactions in alien environments. The humor is frequently subtle and almost always character-driven. Observations are never empty and there's always a purpose to every shot, whether character building or light humor. The final scene builds on several key ideas introduced throughout, not only the romantic angle but the dichotomy between the bustling city and the intimacy between neighbors. Dundee observes, as he arrives, that so many people living together must mean that there's a large degree of peace and harmony and friendliness. He later shares a story of how psychology works in the outback, where everything is exposed to the open world and problems vanish amongst the people. That end scene ties these ideas together into the happily-ever-after that everyone knows is coming, but don't expect to work so well in the film's greater story and character context.

Crocodile Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Crocodile" Dundee features a somewhat uneven but generally pleasing 1080p transfer. The film begins with a segment that looks smoothed over and very flat, inorganic and poorly detailed. Fortunately, it picks up -- considerably, at times -- to reveal a positive, film-like texture, accentuated by a rather even grain field. Here, detail can be rather striking on everything from beater cars to clothes, from wood grains to facial features. That said, there's an unmissable fuzziness around the edges; shelved liquor bottles are little more than a blur during an early movie bar sequence, for example. The transfer displays the same attention to the urban jungle details as it does some of the weathered bush and back country shots from its first half. The New York City half also produces a much more vibrant color palette than the fairly earthy and drab outback scheme. Black levels can display heavy crush, at times, particularly in dark nighttime exteriors. On the other hand, flesh tones seem mostly even and true. The print carries a good bit of dirt and debris with it, but not enough to distract from the overall experience. While not the refined and remastered transfer fans might want, this is a good HD image that serves the movie well.

Crocodile Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

"Crocodile" Dundee arrives on Blu-ray with a fairly flat but generally active DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. The track offers fair front end spacing in all areas, particularly in its music and ambient effects. The former plays with adequate volume and clarity, lacking nuance and punch but providing a rather good basic presentation. Atmospherics, too, are nicely defined, including crashes and footfalls on wooden planks at an Australian bar and more hustle-bustle type sounds once the action shifts to the city. There's very little energy, effort, or presence to the sounds of a jet engine, disappointing considering it represents the single biggest opportunity for a dynamic sound in the entire movie. Dialogue does play smoothly and evenly from the center. All in all, a decent enough track that gets the job done but accomplishes little more.

Crocodile Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

All that's included in this Blu-ray release is the "Crocodile" Dundee Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:40).

Crocodile Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Crocodile" Dundee may not be the quintessential classic, an important film, or even one that's highly regarded for its depth or breadth. Nevertheless, it's a film fondly remembered, and still enjoyed today, for its accessibility, pure entertainment value, solid characters, and good acting. With that in mind, it's easy to label it as the quintessential movie, easy escapism that holds up well and remains comfortable in its own skin. One can't ask for much more than that. Paramount's Blu-ray release of "Crocodile" Dundee features solid video and passable audio but contains no supplements beyond the trailer. Recommended.