Crocodile Dundee is a classic 1986 action-comedy starring Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee, a rugged Australian outdoorsman, and Linda Kozlowski as Sue Charlton, an American journalist. Set in the Australian Outback and New York City, the film blends humor, adventure, and cultural contrasts, becoming a global phenomenon. Its mix of memorable quotes, iconic characters, and a “fish-out-of-water” storyline has made it a beloved classic, though parents should be aware of its content.
Overview of the Movie and Its Cultural Significance
Crocodile Dundee is a landmark Australian film that blends comedy, adventure, and cultural contrasts. It follows Mick Dundee, a rugged bushman, and Sue Charlton, an American journalist, as they navigate the Australian Outback and New York City. The movie became a global phenomenon, showcasing Australian culture and humor while challenging stereotypes. Its success helped popularize Australian tourism and cinema, making it a cultural icon of the 1980s. The film’s mix of wit, action, and charm continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Violence in Crocodile Dundee
Crocodile Dundee features intense fistfights, bar brawls, and knife threats. A man graphically kills a crocodile with a knife, showing blood, and thugs threaten the leads with weapons.
Fight Scenes and Intense Action Sequences
Crocodile Dundee includes several intense fight scenes, such as bar brawls and fistfights, showcasing Mick’s rugged survival skills. Knife threats and a violent crocodile attack, where Mick kills the animal with a knife, add to the action. These sequences, while thrilling, may be too intense for young children, as they involve blood and perilous situations. Parents should consider their child’s sensitivity to such graphic content before viewing.
Knife Threats and Crocodile Attacks
Crocodile Dundee features knife threats, including a tense mugging scene where a beggar demands the lead’s wallet. Mick Dundee responds by revealing his large, intimidating knife, showcasing his survival instincts. Additionally, the film includes intense crocodile attacks, such as a crocodile destroying a kayak and chasing characters. While no one is seriously harmed, these scenes are suspenseful and may disturb younger viewers. Parents should be cautious due to the graphic nature of these sequences.
Language and Substance Use
Crocodile Dundee contains strong language, including “s–t” and one use of “f–k,” along with frequent drinking, smoking, and a scene involving cocaine. This reflects its ’80s humor style.
Strong Language and Profanity
Crocodile Dundee includes brief strong language, such as “s–t” and one instance of “f–k,” which contribute to its PG-13 rating; While the humor reflects its ’80s style, modern parents may find the profanity notable. These instances are scattered throughout the film, often used for comedic effect or to emphasize character traits. Parents should be aware of this content when deciding if the movie is suitable for younger viewers.
Drinking, Smoking, and Drug References
Crocodile Dundee features frequent drinking and cigarette smoking, typical of ’80s comedies. Characters often consume alcohol in casual and social settings, while smoking is portrayed as a common habit. Additionally, there is a brief instance of cocaine use, which, along with the film’s other mature themes, contributes to its PG-13 rating. Parents should be mindful of these elements when assessing the film’s suitability for younger audiences.
Suggestive Humor and Sexuality
Revealing Outfits and Prostitution References
Crocodile Dundee includes suggestive humor, revealing outfits, and references to prostitution, reflecting its ’80s context. Sue Charlton’s attire, like a thong bathing suit, draws attention, while jokes and scenes involving sex work add to the mature themes.
Crocodile Dundee features suggestive humor and revealing outfits, such as Sue Charlton’s thong bathing suit, which may raise concerns for parents. Additionally, the film includes references to prostitution, with scenes implying sex work. These elements reflect the era’s more permissive attitudes toward sexuality in media. While not explicit, such content contributes to the film’s mature themes and may require parental discretion for younger audiences.
Outdated and Problematic Jokes
Crocodile Dundee includes humor that reflects its 1980s context, with jokes now deemed outdated and offensive. A notable scene involves a transgender character, which is handled insensitively by today’s standards. Such moments highlight the film’s cultural limitations and may require discussions with children about evolving social norms and respect for diversity. Parents should be cautious of these elements when deciding if the film is suitable for their family.
Cultural Elements and Stereotypes
Crocodile Dundee portrays Australian culture through stereotypical characters, showcasing the Outback’s rugged lifestyle. However, it also includes outdated and insensitive depictions, such as a transphobic scene, reflecting its era’s limitations.
Portrayal of Australian Culture
Crocodile Dundee showcases Australian culture through its rugged Outback setting and stereotypical characters, such as bushmen and kangaroo hunters. While it highlights the country’s unique lifestyle, the film also perpetuates simplistic and stereotypical views of Australians as unsophisticated and culturally inept. Despite its charm, the portrayal lacks depth, reinforcing outdated notions of Australian identity. The mix of humor and adventure, however, helped popularize Australian culture globally, even if somewhat narrow in perspective.
Transphobic Scene and Its Impact
Crocodile Dundee includes a controversial scene where Mick Dundee unknowingly flirts with a transgender woman, leading to a transphobic punchline. This outdated humor has been widely criticized for its offensive portrayal of transgender individuals. The scene reflects the insensitive attitudes of the 1980s and has aged poorly, making it a problematic element for modern viewers. Parents should be aware of this content when considering it for younger audiences, as it may require discussion about respect and inclusivity.
Parental Guidance and Age Recommendations
Crocodile Dundee is rated PG-13 for brief strong language, drug content, and suggestive humor. Parents may want to restrict viewing to teens aged 13 or older due to mature themes.
PG-13 Rating and Its Justification
Crocodile Dundee is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for brief strong language, some drug content, and suggestive humor. The film includes fistfights, knife threats, and a graphic crocodile attack with blood. Language contains instances of “s–t” and one use of “f–k.” Substance use involves cocaine and frequent drinking and smoking. Suggestive content includes revealing outfits and prostitution references. These elements justify the PG-13 rating, making it suitable for teens with parental guidance.
Minimum Age Recommendation
Due to its content, Crocodile Dundee is generally recommended for viewers aged 13 and above. While it’s rated PG-13, parents should exercise discretion for younger teens due to strong language, drug references, and suggestive humor. Mature themes and some violence may not be suitable for younger children. Parental guidance is advised to ensure the content aligns with individual family values and sensitivity levels.
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles is the sequel, maintaining the fish-out-of-water theme as Mick navigates Hollywood. It mirrors the original’s humor but with less intense content, making it slightly more family-friendly while still requiring parental discretion.
Comparison of Content in the Sequel
Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles features Mick Dundee navigating Hollywood, maintaining the original’s humor but with less intense action. The sequel contains mild violence, occasional strong language, and some suggestive humor, though toned down compared to the first film. Substance use is less prominent, with minimal drinking and no drug references. While still requiring parental discretion, the sequel is slightly more family-friendly, offering a lighter, comedic take on Dundee’s adventures in a new environment.
Historical Context and Modern Sensitivity
Crocodile Dundee, released in 1986, reflects the attitudes of its time, including outdated stereotypes and humor. A scene involving a transgender character is now widely criticized as offensive and transphobic, highlighting the need for modern parents to approach the film with caution and awareness of its historical context.
How the Movie Has Aged
Crocodile Dundee, released in 1986, reflects the attitudes of its time, including outdated stereotypes and humor. A scene involving a transgender character is now widely criticized as offensive and transphobic, highlighting the need for modern parents to approach the film with caution and awareness of its historical context. While the film’s adventurous spirit and humor remain entertaining, its problematic elements, such as stereotypes and insensitive jokes, have not aged well, making it less suitable for today’s sensitivities.
Parent Reviews and Feedback
Parents on Common Sense Media note that while Crocodile Dundee is entertaining, its outdated humor and problematic scenes, like the transphobic bar encounter, raise concerns for modern audiences.
Common Sense Media Insights
Common Sense Media highlights that Crocodile Dundee is a classic 80s comedy with humorous and adventurous elements, but it contains mature themes. The platform notes the film’s outdated jokes, including a transphobic scene, and suggests it may not align with modern sensitivities. While it praises the movie’s lighthearted appeal, parents are advised to consider its content, such as strong language, violence, and suggestive humor, before allowing younger viewers to watch. It recommends the film for teens aged 13 and above.
Crocodile Dundee is a charming, entertaining film, but its outdated content and mature themes require parental discretion. Suitable for teens, it offers a mix of humor and adventure, though modern sensitivities may find some scenes problematic. Parents should review its content carefully before allowing younger viewers to watch, ensuring it aligns with their family values and standards.
Final Thoughts for Parents
Crocodile Dundee is a vibrant, entertaining film that balances humor and adventure, making it suitable for older children and teens. However, parents should be mindful of its content, including mild profanity, violence, and outdated stereotypes. While the movie offers cultural insights and memorable characters, it’s essential for parents to preview it or watch alongside their children to address any sensitive topics and ensure it aligns with their family’s values and viewing standards.