Crocodile Dundee (1986)

As the classic 1980s representation of Australophilia , I expected this to be much more light-hearted and fun. Instead it pushes a hyper-masculine agenda where Mick Dundee is never really a fish out of water, but always knows what to do whether in the Australian bush or in New York City, the one who shows even New Yorkers how to be a ‘real’ man and rescue all those damsels in distress that for some reason have no ability to take care of things on their own. Liz Kozlowski can’t help herself but to dump her fiancé who as a newspaper editor is obviously too soft. All that is before getting to the disgusting and repeated transphobic joke. I do wonder how much is a sign of the times, but I’m curious what I would have even found funny about this film 35 years ago.

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen