Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 12, 2021

In 2018, a Super Bowl advertisement was created hinting a reboot of the 1986 smash hit, “Crocodile Dundee,” was coming in some form, with Danny McBride taking command of the role. It was eventually revealed to be an elaborate ad for Australian tourism, but the weird result of the mini-movie was excitement for a new “Crocodile Dundee” feature. Few could’ve predicted that response, especially original Mick Dundee, Paul Hogan (who cameoed in the commercial). Instead of capitalizing on the success of the ad with a fresh adventure for the once beloved Aussie icon, Hogan decides to do something smaller, blander, and possibly unfinished. With “The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee,” the actor plays himself living in a world of fading fame and sequel frenzy, participating in a comedy (scripted by Robert Mond and Dean Murphy, who also directs) that tries to be silly and self- referential, but mostly ends up uncomfortably odd. “The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee” plays like a tax shelter production, with Hogan offering the least amount of effort in a film that has no clear idea what it wants to be.

Living a quiet life in Los Angeles, Paul Hogan (playing himself) has been informed by his manager, Angie (Rachael Carpani), that he’s been offered knighthood by the Queen of England, putting his career back in public view. Trying to stay retired, Paul is pitched a new “Crocodile Dundee” sequel by a Hollywood studio, but his time in the media spotlight is short-lived, experiencing a series of miscommunications and public blunders that turn him into a joke. Missing his granddaughter, Paul fantasizes about returning to Australia to live out his golden years, forced to avoid trouble as meets with old friends and deals with Luke (Nate Torrence), a bumbling paparazzi who doesn’t know where Kim Kardashian lives, staking out Paul’s mansion instead.

We learn that “The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee” is a work of fiction in the opening scene, where the reclusive Hogan is tasked with removing a snake from a Hollywood hiking path by a group of little kids, and they all know him as Crocodile Dundee. Sure. Of course, the feature isn’t a documentary, but a comedy that utilizes bits of Hogan’s real life to inform a broader understanding of his diminishing fame, which is recapped during the main title sequence. It seems this Paul Hogan is a man living comfortably but lonely, trying to connect to his brilliant son, deal with Angie’s business fury, and Facetime with his granddaughter, who’s living a happy life away from him. Paul is 80 years old, but new publicity pushes him back into play, finding himself offered a new “Crocodile Dundee” sequel, with Will Smith pitched as a potential co-star, portraying Dundee Jr. Paul’s confusion with this awkward biological parent idea is played for laughs, and it’s the first of a few racially charged bits in the picture, which is painfully old-fashioned at times.

There’s really no plot to “The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee,” just an episodic trip into Paul’s blundering existence. He slaps the aforementioned snake into the face of a bystander, picks a fight with a Hollywood Boulevard Mick Dundee imitator, and gets into trouble with John Cleese, who’s now a lawless rideshare driver taking the pair on a wild chase with the cops. The humor is very vanilla, forcing Murphy to use celebrity cameos to help generate some excitement in this snoozy endeavor. Paul reunites with his “Crocodile Dundee” co-star Reginald VelJohnson, has lunch with Chevy Chase for some reason, is talked into a disastrous “Grease” duet with Olivia Newton-John, and he’s tasked with helping Wayne Knight hide from his wife. Various other famous faces appear in red carpet interviews, perhaps unknowingly contributing to “The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee.” And no, Hogan’s “Crocodile Dundee” trilogy castmate and ex-wife, Linda Kozlowski, doesn’t appear in the endeavor.

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a detailed look at frame particulars, showcasing sharp facial surfaces on aged actors. Exteriors are dimensional, highlighting city tours, and interiors retain crisp decorative additions. Colors are distinct, with lively L.A. hues with signage and clothing. Stage and party lighting is vivid. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory.

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix carries with authority, crisply defining dialogue exchanges, making comedic performances from different accents easy to follow. Scoring cues are defined, and electropop selections offer some low-end beats. Surrounds also deal with musical offerings, and atmospherics are compelling, with a few panning and separation effects to keep things interesting.

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "The Very Excellent Paul Hogan" (5:30, HD) is a short overview of the actor's career and presence in pop culture. Interviewees include director Dean Murphy and actors Paul Hogan, Wayne Knight, Nate Torrence, Chevy Chase, Jacob Elordi, Rachel Carpani, and John Cleese. The only interesting reveal in the featurette is the original concept of "The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee," which was intended to be a television series before its switch to a feature film.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:36, HD) is included.

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Very Talented Mr. Dundee" is random and vague with details, including the extent of Paul's family, which is never clarified. The film tries to grow a heart without putting in the work, loosely defining Paul's homesickness and lack of dating life. There's a Broadway-style musical number wedged into the film as a dream sequence, exposing haphazard editing. Mangled storytelling and characterization aside, there's nothing inherently wrong with a return to Paul Hogan country, giving the charming actor a chance to be likable onscreen again after a long break from the business. However, the new feature is desperate and unfunny, clinging to an antiquated brand name to help prop up the actor for one more ride in front of the camera, giving what remains of his international fanbase all the "that's not a knife, that's a knife" references they love. The 2018 tourism advertisement promised an exciting return to the world of Crocodile Dundee. "The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee" only provides an opportunity to enjoy a nap.