Sam Connolly Essay

Connolly has drawn some heavy-hitters to this project, from Hollywood traveler Sam Worthington in an uncharacteristically recessive lead role to local favorites Deborah Mailman and David Wenham in the supporting ranks and Eric Bana among the executive producers. But it’s the child actors, led by Ed Oxenbould as 12-year-old Dylan, who carry most of the weight. And while their handling of the over-written dialogue in Connolly and Steve Worland’s screenplay is short on naturalistic restraint, their tween peers in the audience will be unlikely to mind.

In addition to the rugged beauty of the rural Western Australian landscapes, handsomely captured in glossy widescreen images by cinematographer Tristan Milani, one of the early stars of the action is the house where Dylan lives with his depressed dad Jack (Worthington). Production designer
But there are genuinely moving moments between Oxenbould’s resilient Dylan and Worthington’s emotionally broken Jack.

Connolly indulges in some shameless audience pandering, notably via the stock character of Dylan’s Grandpa (Terry Norris), a rascally oldster dispensing unorthodox mentorship; Kevin (Julian Dennison), a young bully-turned-ally; and Maureen (Mailman), a chronically perky former paper-plane champ.

Chris Noonan, the wizard behind the sui generis standout Australian family film Babe, is credited as consulting director. We’re a long way from the sheer enchantment of that modern classic here, and the kind of crossover appeal in the adult market that even Red Dog enjoyed seems unlikely. But the humor, charm, tender family scenes and joyous life lessons en route to the inevitable climactic notes of triumph and reconciliation keep Paper Planes aloft.

Cast: Sam Worthington, Ed Oxenbould, Deborah Mailman, Nicholas Bakopoulos-Cooke, Ena Imai, Terry Norris, Peter Rowsthorn, Julian Dennison, David