(rated PG, 87 mins.)
During a time of year when Hollywood releases its stink bombs, comes a refreshing, live-action-cartoon-style-family-comedy about two buddies (Jerry O’Connell and “Barbershops” Anthony Anderson) dispatched to the down under by a mob boss, Sal Maggio (Christopher Walken) to make a ‘delivery’. As though it’s not complicated enough, suddenly the boys find themselves chasing a Kangaroo through the outback, who’s made out with their drop-off cash. The lovely Estella “Planet Of The Apes” Warren, escorts the boys through camel-friendly territory (she’s a female “Crocodile Hunter” meets “Discovery Channel” girl). Producer Jerry Bruckheimer tackles a kiddie flick well but can’t help himself with at least one “Armageddon” type explosion (early scene of a car bomb). Anderson and O’Connell have the determination to rally enough energy to make their mission, coupled with some “Dumb and Dumber’ antics a worthwhile ticket-price. And, the camel flatulence jokes don’t hurt either. As for the real star of the movie, Kangaroo Jack, who even talks during a fantasy sequence, he’s half real and half CGI amazement with a lot of thump.