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Amazon.co.uk Review
The title of The Castle refers to a ramshackle suburban tract house so close to an airport that planes fly mere yards above the roof. Worse than that, it's built on a toxic landfill and right beside humming high-power lines. But to patriarch Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) and his dim-witted but cheerful brood, it's home. Darryl has devoted himself to constantly improving it with modifications such as a false chimney that, as he brags to a man sent to estimate the value of the property, makes the house look more picturesque. When the owners of the airport serve Darryl notice that his home is being compulsorily purchased, Darryl hires a small-time lawyer and pursues his case all the way to the Australian Supreme Court.
This Australian box-office smash has something of the same buoyant spirit as The Full Monty. Its relationship with its characters resembles the farcical intimacy of classic sitcoms such as Fawlty Towers, in which crazed behaviour is balanced by the genuine warmth of the whole cast. Caton in particular is a sweet, engaging presence; Darryl Kerrigan is a fool, but a fool with dignity, and he carries you through the movie. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Someone wants your house. They send you a letter saying, You’re going to give it to us, you’re going to be forced to move in an undersized apartment in the big, smelly city, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’d be not a little displeased – right? Would you give up your ‘Castle’ without a fight?
Set in Australia, this is a film about a wonderfully chipper, down-to-earth family (The Kerrigans), who take the most ecstatic delights from life’s such simple pleasures. The father, Daryl, is immensely proud of his daughter’s beauty school degree, his wife’s culinary skills and his son Steve’s eye for a second-hand bargain. He’s also proud of his house; a homely, almost ramshackle construction, situated in a tiny neighbourhood in the middle of nowhere. Anyone else would find the airport at the end of the back garden, and the unsightly, hideous power lines overhanging their property, a tremendous nuisance. Not Daryl. He loves them – they remind him of mankind’s achievements in modern civilisation. He also adores his greyhounds, the pool table in the spare room and the colossal television transmitter hammered precariously the roof. Most of all, he’s proud of his family – despite the fact his older son Wayne is in jail.
When the nearby airport bestows not just the Kerrigans but the entire neighbourhood with a compulsory purchase order for their houses, he decides to fight – and fight he does. Hiring a small-time lawyer, who of course is instantly out of his depth with the situation (played by a show-stealing Tiriel Mora – watch out for his antics with his office photocopier) they ultimately, with some invaluable help from a sympathetic legal expert, give as good as they get.
This film is not only about the plucky courage of the little guy. Caton’s portrayal of a loving, protective family man, doing whatever it takes to preserve their uncomplicated, idyllic way of life, and his doting concern for his neighbours and kin, is heart-rending. The fact that none of the characters (save for one) are the sharpest tools in the shed makes for some hilarious one-liners, cosmically dippy situations, plus, vitally, a feeling of total satisfaction when the film draws to its inevitable conclusion.
The highest grossing Australian film in 1997, The Castle is a gentle, very funny, quite moving yarn about the value of standing up for what is important.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've introduced this movie to Norwegians, English, Germans and many others. It's a bloody ripper! Even just thinking about it now (and I haven't watched it for over a month) I start to giggle.
It's stereotypical, cliched and so honest it's almost scary!
if there was an option for 12 out of 5 I'd award it 15!
It's stereotypical, cliched and so honest it's almost scary!
if there was an option for 12 out of 5 I'd award it 15!
p.s.
I've been to Bonnie Doon and it's just like in the movie!!!
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
To say this is a feel good film is rather an understatement... A fabulously funny and poignant script, wonderfully overstated performances, an ending that leaves you bursting with happiness and, of course, catchphrases a-plenty...
When I first saw this film, I had no expectations - all I knew was that my friend told me I'd love it. He was right. And every time I see it, I only love the Kerrigan family & friends all the more. The narrator, Dale, with his simplistically positive view on life; the great ‘Aussie Battler’ Daryl, whose love for his family, his home and his wife’s cooking is unsurpassed; lawyer Dennis Denuto (as seen on TV) who gives us one of the greatest ‘summing up’ speeches a court room has ever seen; the warm, calm and peaceful Lawrie, who steps in to save the day.
I cannot recommend this film highly enough. It’s a tale about people who love and care for each other and who are genuinely happy with their ... lot, as well as being pant-wettingly funny. What more could you want?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Best film ever....EVER!
If you want something different to romance, horror or action films then this is the film for you. It's very very funny with a beautiful feel good story behind it. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Rich
A must see
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Published 27 days ago by PSLodge
Lovely, happy, Capra-esque and maybe the most cheerful movie you'll...
I actually heard about this film donkey's years ago, when I saw a trailer for it on a rented video back in the late 90's. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Robin Goodfellow
Delightfully Charming
I didn't expect much when I went to watch this on netflix, I though it'd just kill some time when I got bored but I managed to laugh at every turn of the film. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Joe
What a Movie
Great movie, seen it loads of times before but couldn't find it anywhere in ireland, have it now and i'm delighted.
Published 4 months ago by Daryl Burrowes
Family favourite
Bought because we had seen the film in Australia and loved it, we wanted a copy for ourselves. We have recommended it to other people who have absolutely loved it also. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Anne M
A hidden gem
I would recommend (and have recommended) this DVD unreservedly to anyone. I saw this film years ago on TV and have loved it dearly ever since. Read more
Published 7 months ago by D. Conely
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This little gem is well known to Aussies but not so much further afield. So it's great news that it's finally been released on Region 2 DVD after nearly 15 years. Read more
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Finally here on Reg 2
We have loved this great little film since seeing it in the cinema back in the late 90's. Have owned the video tape but have been unable to watch it for some time as we no longer... Read more
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Don't like this film? YER DREAMIN'.
This movie is Australian and it is full of Australians saying Australian things and that makes me laugh A LOT. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Beminekimpine
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