If you thought running in heels was tough, imagine running in a pair of thongs…while trying to outrun border security…on a moving baggage carousel. No need to do it yourself, though, because Johnny ‘Spit’ Spitieri absolutely nails it in this fresh Aussie flick.
In this follow-up to Aussie Action/Comedy hit Getting’ Square (2003), we get to reunite with our beloved side character & ex-heroin addict, Spit (David Wenham). Last we saw of him, Spit was stuck in the middle of trying to appease a corrupt cop, a criminal kingpin, and an agent from the Criminal Investigation Commission. Leaving them (and his crippling debt) in the dark, he faked his own death and fled to Israel to…well, as the predecessors title will tell you, get square.
Picking up 20 years later as he re-enters Australia, still rocking the women’s jeans and perhaps too laid-back attitude, Spit is now off the gear and looking to restart his life. But it seems suddenly coming back to life ruffles more than a few feathers with old associates.
Where on one foot Spit seems like perhaps the most idiotic person you could ever meet, he’s seen by people on the other foot as being a criminal mastermind. So watching the game of cat-and-mouse from both extremities, particularly in moments where they are quickly intercut together, is absolutely hilarious.
As with any great comedy, the story has a lot of heart and each character is played completely seriously, which makes daggy Spit all the more entertaining. Fear stood on end any time Chicka (Gary Sweet) graced the screen, and so much joy came from the relationships Spit made with the refugees at the Immigration Detention Centre.
The whole cast of refugees, many of whom are true refugees/offspring of immigrants themselves according to Wenham, gave a depth to the film that was hugely memorable. Particularly Arlo Green (as Jihad), who played such a beautiful soul that both saw, and brought out the heart in Johnny Spit himself.
A few scenes that hung on a little too long and minor characters that didn’t feel essential (the recast of the late-great Richard Carter, a not-so bright lawyer, and the Tik Tok dancing daughters) were easily bypassed for the joy that surrounded them. Drowned out also by the striking punk/rock soundtrack that added to the grittiness and almost nostalgic feel of the film – thanks to local Australian bands such as Frenzal Rhomb and Amyl and the Sniffers.
Many people are quick to roll their eyes at the mention of a sequel, but this one feels well-earned. With a majority of the cast and key crew returning after 22 years, you could tell that it meant a lot to them and that they felt it was essential to revisit the world.
What stood out from the first instalment was that Spit injects a lot more emotion and had some real shocks that that left a lot of people feeling elated at its conclusion. And for fans of the previous film, don’t you worry, there is still a stand-out courtroom scene and plenty of close-up thong shots to get all you Quentin Tarantino sorts excited.
Spit truly got a chance to be rubbed in and become shiny, creating easily one of the best comedies Australia has produced in a while. It is worth supporting in cinemas, and thongs crossed that we get to see more home-grown comedies like this in the near future.
