Plot
Comedian, actor, and author Barry Humphries wrote and co-stars in this sequel to the surprise international hit The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, based on the comic-strip character created by Humphries. Well-meaning but dunderheaded über-Aussie Barry McKenzie (Barry Crocker) is escorting his aunt, self-proclaimed "housewife superstar" Edna Everage (Barry Humphries), on a trip to France, where they've learned Barry's twin brother, Ken McKenzie, a progressive priest, will be speaking as part of a seminar on "Christ and the Orgasm." En route, a pair of Transylvanian agents, working under the command of the evil Communist vampire Count Plasma (Donald Pleasance), become convinced that Edna is actually Queen Elizabeth II, and not long after arriving in Paris, they kidnap Edna and spirit her away to the count's castle. When Barry learns that his aunt has fallen victim to foul play, he and his mates, including transplanted Australian Colin the Frog (Dick Bentley), set out to find her -- when they're not busy chasing "Shelias," swilling Foster's Lager, or projectile vomiting. In addition to playing Edna Everage, Humphries takes on two other roles in Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, and managed to persuade former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his wife to make a cameo appearance in the film. ~ Mark Deming, RoviReview
This sequel to The Adventures of Barry McKenzie is a substantial improvement on its predecessor in many ways. The humor is as raucous as in the previous entry but the script is much tighter and more skillfully plotted. It's also more ambitious, weaving in satire of spy-films, musicals, horror films and even an amusing swipe at kung-fu cinema. That said, there are more than just gags going on in Barry McKenzie Holds His Own: the film's underlying narrative thread is the relationship between Australians and other cultures of the world, particularly their tense relationship with the English. Bruce Beresford's direction is much more confident: he keeps the gags rolling at a breakneck clip, captures the action with a heightened degree of visual flair and successfully creates an anything-goes tone that makes the film unpredictable fun. The two stars of the first Barry McKenzie outing reprise their roles with great success: Barry Crocker continues to be an endearingly daft hero as the title character and co-writer Barry Humphries steals many a scene as the campy-granny heroine Edna Everage. However, the big surprise in terms of acting is a delightful turn from Donald Pleasance as Count Von Plasma: Pleasance digs into his horror-parody role with relish and sends up vampire clichés in a knowing, hilarious fashion. In short, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own is a wildly humorous delight from start to finish and worth a look for fans of cult comedies. ~ Donald Guarisco, RoviCast
- Barry Crocker - Barry McKenzie/Ken McKenzie
- Barry Humphries - Senator Douglas Manton
- Donald Pleasence - Eric, Count Plasma
- Dick Bentley - Col. Lucas
- Ed Devereaux - Sir Alec Ferguson
Credit
Bruce Beresford - Director, William M. Anderson - Editor, Peter Best - Composer (Music Score), John Stoddart - Production Designer, Donald M. McAlpine - Cinematographer, Bruce Beresford - Producer, Bruce Beresford - Screenwriter, Barry Humphries - Screenwriter| Barry Manilow: Ultimate Manilow! (2002 Film), Barry Manilow: The Making of 2 A.M. Paradise Cafe (1984 Film) | |
| Barry Munday (2008 Film), Barry White: Live in Europe 1975 (Film) |
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Movie Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
