The Castle

The Castle, directed by Rob Stitch 1997.

The Castle reminded me of british shows like Fawlty Towers. I hestitate to write this, however, because I am not suggesting the two are similar. It's just that like shows such as Fawlty Towers, The Castle manages to perfectly capture the little quirks and nuances of a culture through clever humor and no budget.

The Castle follows the Kerrigan family who have a fabulous house on a prime piece of real estate....right next to the airport runway. The father Darryl is tow truck driver. His wife is 'amazing' at crafts and cooking. Their daughter Tracy is married to a greek Kung Fu specialist played by Eric Bana. As for their sons, Dale is the narrator and perhaps the most 'normal' of the family, Wayne is in prison, and Steve knows how to find a good bargain.

All is not well with the Kerrigan family as they are notified that the airport is seizing the property to expand and build a bigger runway. Daryl, of course, will have none of it and spends the rest of the movie fighting for his 'castle' and home through any means necessary.

What unfolds is like a wierd cross between The Beverly Hillbillies and My Cousin Vinny. While there are of course differences, you will find the similar dynamics of the country 'bumpkin' up against modern 'advanced' society. This clash is played for comedic effect and overall the film is highly successful in its goals.

If you want a good glimpse of Australian culture and humor, take a peek at The Castle.

***Three stars.