I saw this film on a Qantas flight to Sydney last week. It was about a grown-up son's (Shane Jacobson) efforts to re-establish bonds with his dad Charlie (Paul Hogan) after the unexpected death of his mother. To do this, he brings his dad on a long road trip in order to fulfill a long-time promise to fish at the northern tip of Australia's west coast.

We have seen plenty of this prodigal son stories, as well as road trips, so the unique quality here for me is the Australian background and characters. It is only OK for me. The actors are both very good. I have not seen Paul Hogan since "Crocodile Dundee" and here he is as an elderly cantankerous dad. It was just so apparent that the two actors could never be father and son in real life because of they do not look a bit alike.

The best parts of the film were those with young hitch-hiker Jess charmingly played by Morgan Griffin. She is a welcome (and pretty) addition to their road trip. Too bad her screen time is not longer than it was.

When Charlie's (Paul Hogan) wife dies of a stroke on their 45th wedding anniversary he is consumed by grief. His estranged son, Boots (Shane Jacobson) decides both should go on a cross country fishing trip that might also help them to reconnect.

At first Charlie is not keen on the 3000 miles trip to Cape York, but Boots is persistent and Charlie's grief slowly ebbs away. They meet up with a pretty hitch-hiker with boyfriend trouble, Boots has a wild ride in a rodeo, Charlie attracts the attention of a few older women and they have a dicey plane ride.

Hogan plays it low key however it might just be the botox that has robbed him of his expressions. The film has a leisurely stroll to some picturesque settings, there is some gentle humour but all this Americana influences in the Australian rural setting with rodeos and country music rings hollow.

What to say here? It's a road movie about a father and son played by Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobson respectively. After the untimely death of their wife and mother, the two end up on a long cross country journey to go fishing at the northern tip of Australia. They have previously never gotten on together, their differences seemingly impossible to put aside, but this trip will bring about many revelations, truths, pains and maybe even laughter?

The Australian landscape photography (Roger Lanser) is as stunning as the simplicity of screenplay, with the humour and emotional wallops delivered with great skill by Hogan and Jacobson. The message of it all is not heavily handled by director Dean Murphy, he and his team take us on a journey that rings true, one that brings hope to the many who need a prompt, a push in the right direction. Because it's true you know, life really is too short.

A lovely and heart warming movie that's also very funny as well. It deserves to be better known. 8/10