Cocky, fun-loving, smart-mouthed and libidinous womanizing American hellion Tex (puckish, tousle-haired Joseph Bottoms) and his shy, quiet, more serious and grown-up Aussie pal Alby (affable strapping behemoth Grigor Taylor) are a couple of bored stiff carnival workers who are eager for some fun and excitement. So they quit the carny life and go hiking across the countryside searching for thrills. The young guys get more than they bargained for when they meet aggressive homosexual drug dealer Arnold (bullish, brutish John Clayton), beat the freak up, and steal both his substantial wad of cash and smokin' souped-up Corvette. Pretty soon Tex and Alby get into further trouble when they cruise the hot, sunny beaches, pick up sweet, fetching female thumber Lynn (the astonishingly cute Judy Davis in her spunky film debut), swing with sexy, wild'n'loose night club singers Sugar and Spice (exuberantly played by Sandra MacGregor and Wendy Hughes), resort to robbery when their money runs out, and try to evade being nabbed by both the police and an understandably vengeful Arnold.
An amiably rowdy, raunchy and rambunctious seriocomic road movie meditation on the youthful need to lead a free, easy and spontaneous "do whatever you want" existence, this picture starts out rather sluggishly, but thankfully gains snap and momentum as it plugs along. Igor Auzins' nimble direction, a catchy, neatly percolating discoid score by Sherbet, Dan Burstall's luminous cinematography, the richly verdant rustic scenery and gorgeous sandy seaside locations, relaxed, charming chemistry between the engagingly roguish Bottoms and the more subdued Taylor, a pleasingly tight'n'trim 82 minute running time, and a rousing last reel car chase ensure that this likably scruffy shaggy dog yarn remains a perfectly mellow and enjoyable diversion all the way down the line.
An amiably rowdy, raunchy and rambunctious seriocomic road movie meditation on the youthful need to lead a free, easy and spontaneous "do whatever you want" existence, this picture starts out rather sluggishly, but thankfully gains snap and momentum as it plugs along. Igor Auzins' nimble direction, a catchy, neatly percolating discoid score by Sherbet, Dan Burstall's luminous cinematography, the richly verdant rustic scenery and gorgeous sandy seaside locations, relaxed, charming chemistry between the engagingly roguish Bottoms and the more subdued Taylor, a pleasingly tight'n'trim 82 minute running time, and a rousing last reel car chase ensure that this likably scruffy shaggy dog yarn remains a perfectly mellow and enjoyable diversion all the way down the line.