Movie Type: Family-Oriented Adventure, Animal Picture
Themes: Treasure Hunts
Main Cast: Jamie Croft, Jason Robards, Jr., Deborra-Lee Furness, Joe Petruzzi, John Waters
Release Year: 1998
Country: AU
Run Time: 91 minutes
Plot
In the tradition of Babe and Paulie, this Australian family fantasy-adventure features mouthy macaw Mac (portrayed by Tango and three bird stand-ins). Mac, who once witnessed treasure buried on a South Sea Island, is owned by elderly eccentric bird collector Ben Girdis (Jason Robards). His son Rick Girdis (Joe Petruzzi) plans to pay off Ben's debts by putting him in a nursing home and selling Ben's house. Ben's 15-year-old grandson Sam (Jamie Croft), who wants to save Ben's home, discovers that Mac can speak (with a Spanish accent). After Mac proposes a search for the buried treasure, Sam, the bird, and anthropologist Lance Hagen (John Waters) set off on an expedition. Unfortunately, a luxury hotel has been erected directly over the treasure, causing feathers to fly as the determined Sam and Mac continue to seek the treasure while eluding hotel staffers. The film was directed by Mario Andreacchio, who previously made the talking-dog movie Napoleon. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Petra Yared - Kathy Girdis; Simon Chan - Phillip Blythe; Gerry Connolly - Lou Rickets; Robert Coleby - Mr. St. John; Nathan Kotzur - Scarlatta; David Murphy - Mac
Credit
Michael Rumpf - Art Director, Ann Fay - Casting, Rocky Bester - Co-producer, Bruce Hancock - Co-producer, Tim Prescott - Co-producer, Lyn Askew - Costume Designer, John Martin - First Assistant Director, Mario Andreacchio - Director, Edward McQueen-Mason - Editor, Richard Becker - Executive Producer, Ross Major - Production Designer, David Foreman - Cinematographer, Margot McDonald - Producer, Brian Holmes - Special Effects, Bruce Hancock - Screenwriter, Matthew Perry - Screenwriter
