As an Australian, I found the first half of this mini-series to be better than the second. The incredible rise of the cheeky suburban Sydney tradesman and father of five to TV comedian, then Hollywood movie star, is wonderfully told. Paul Hogan is a very unusual person - naive yet cunning, unassuming yet sharply intelligent. Laidback yet ambitious. Anarchic but honest. The second half - when he's very rich and has a string of failed movies and leaves wife Noelene to marry
Crocodile Dundee co-star Linda Kozlowski - is not as interesting. But the second half is fair to everyone involved. Linda and Paul are not portrayed as the devil, and Noelene is not a pathetic loser. But there are just too many soppy scenes - hugs and meaningful speeches - towards the end. You've got to praise Josh Lawson for having a massive go at portraying an Aussie hero. He doesn't look completely like Hogan, but who does? Lawson is good at playing the smart larrikin. I learned a few new things about Hogan, for example how he tried to save suicidal people jumping off Sydney Harbour Bridge when he worked there as a rigger. Hogan is quite unemotional, and admits he's more a comedian than an actor. So he was offered dramatic roles like the lead in Ghost. But he knew that wasn't him, and turned it down. The ending is a bit schmaltzy. But overall, it was a nice program.
Crocodile Dundee co-star Linda Kozlowski - is not as interesting. But the second half is fair to everyone involved. Linda and Paul are not portrayed as the devil, and Noelene is not a pathetic loser. But there are just too many soppy scenes - hugs and meaningful speeches - towards the end. You've got to praise Josh Lawson for having a massive go at portraying an Aussie hero. He doesn't look completely like Hogan, but who does? Lawson is good at playing the smart larrikin. I learned a few new things about Hogan, for example how he tried to save suicidal people jumping off Sydney Harbour Bridge when he worked there as a rigger. Hogan is quite unemotional, and admits he's more a comedian than an actor. So he was offered dramatic roles like the lead in Ghost. But he knew that wasn't him, and turned it down. The ending is a bit schmaltzy. But overall, it was a nice program.