The legacy of Paul Hogan's 'Crocodile Dundee'

Revisiting the timeless classic 'Crocodile Dundee' reveals how successful the "fish out of water" storyline is for the rom-com

"No worries, mate" says Paul Hogan in 'Crocodile Dundee' (CREDIT: Paramount Pictures)

by Jack Linsdell

"That's not a knife", remarks Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee in one of the film's most famous lines. "That's a knife!". 

Paul Hogan's career-defining, leading-turn as the titular character in 1986's Crocodile Dundee has become something of a timeless classic, well-remembered for it's lovable characters, charming humour and beautiful, panoramic shots of the Australian outback. However, no one expected the blow-out success all involved would have with the film upon it's release, especially given it's initial aim being to make an Australian film that appealed to the masses of American society. Indeed, once released it became a worldwide phenomenon, with Hogan's screenplay (based on his original story and co-penned with Ken Shadie and producer John Cornell) becoming Oscar and BAFTA nominated, Hogan winning a Golden Globe for his starring turn as Dundee and commercial successful to the tune of $328 million worldwide ($751 million today), becoming the second highest-grossing film in America that year, surpassed only by Top Gun. Added to that Dundee's character becoming a cultural icon and a two more sequels (Crocodile Dundee II is caulking, the third outing in Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles getting fans by but tasting like s**t), the success really was incredible. 

However, although being one of my Dad's most "comfortable pair of slippers" and therefore one I've grown up watching and loving, it was only on a recent re-watch that it's utter brilliance really hit me. And, what I believe it shows above all is how successful the "fish out of water" storylines are (if told well) in romantic-comedies. Indeed, after persuading Dundee to return with her, Sue Charlton can only laugh with us as Mick strolls around New York City having never been to an urban environment before, trying to fit in and adapt to city life. It's this that provides us with some of the film's most poignant and heart-warming comedy, but also some of the more potent romantic material between Linda Kozlowski's Sue Charlton and Hogan's Dundee.  

When a film takes on this "fish out of water" narrative line, it does several things to the timelessness and emotional, entertainment quality of a given romantic-comedy. Yes folks, Crocodile Dundee is a romantic-comedy at it's very heart. Firstly, it provides audiences with a more sincere and fulfilling level of entertainment and there are numerous sequences that are constructed around an 'outsider' character trying to figure out this new world to which they find themselves. Instead of humour coming from corny one-liners or slapstick trips and falls, the source of the comedy is coming from character - and the conflict between that characters customs/ideals and ours. This is the proper way of writing comedy, and when a screenwriter like myself has the rare occasion of watching a film that does it 'right' it's a treat to see. 

However, the other benefit is that the audience can relate to it more because whether we like it or not, we've all been outsiders in one way or another, and especially given the immigration crisis (happening across Europe from the Middle East, and America with Mexico), perhaps this is why this "fish out of water" stories can become so timeless. Indeed, it's not only relatable, but also pokes fun at our "normal" customs/society to which we become desensitised to how ridiculous some things are. When Dundee asks why there are two toilets and is left to figure out why there's a jet of water shooting from one of them, we are made to laugh at ourselves and how ridiculous it is to have a separate toilet to wash what cannot be seen. And, Hogan has said in interviews, like with the BBC in 2000 how "the germ was born from my first trip to New York" where he felt "like an alien from another planet" and how "some of the 'Bushie' guys I know would feel even more out of place", showing that actually coming from his own experiences (in part) is why Crocodile Dundee is so sincere and so funny. 

Indeed, a more modern example of this "fish out of water" narrative is Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman in 2017. Yes, that smash-hit, female-led superhero caper-turned-WW1 drama grossed over $821 million at the worldwide box office. However, at it's heart, it is a romantic-comedy between Gal Gadot's Amazonian princess/god Diana and Chris Pine's human fighter pilot Steve Trevor. Like Crocodile Dundee, the opening act sees our love interest (Steve Trevor = Sue Charlton) travel to our heroes world (Themyscira Island = Australian outback) which is alien to our culture as an audience, and that character's struggles to grasp the world in which are hero lives gives us the comedy. Then, into the second act, our heroes travel to their love interest's (our) urban world (war-torn London = New York City) and become the aliens now, and their confusion over this gives us yet more heart-warming comedy. As good as Wonder Woman was as a superhero/WW1 drama, I always remember leaving the cinema feeling more entertained by it's comedy and charming characters/romantic storyline than anything else. 

It shows that when comedy comes from the characters in a screenplay, it becomes more meaningful and sincere than a series of (however well constructed) gags or snappy-dialogue scenes. And, given this maybe it's no wonder for you to understand why Crocodile Dundee has an Oscar nominated screenplay as Hogan and co. really did create something compelling and relatable. And, this is why Wonder Woman will probably become a timeless classic in twenty-years time to me, like Crocodile Dundee has to many a generation because it's instance of doing comedy the right way (through character) really does create a gem of a movie. 

It's a shame that the whole "fish out of water" storyline is never really exploited enough in Hollywood films, but it shows that when it is (and when it is done well), the film is guaranteed to become a timeless classic. Indeed, if you haven't watched Crocodile Dundee or it's excellent, highly-entertaining sequel Crocodile Dundee II then you should folks. They are fantastic. However, if there's one thing to take away from this other than how you like your Iguana cooked, then it's that "fish out of water" romantic-comedies can be some of our most fulfilling, entertaining and favourite movies out there.