Adding to the List

I have something new to add to my list of iconic Aussie things I have trouble loving.

Well, I can't say that exactly.

I love all these things in theory but only for the fact they're Australian. Classic Australian.

No, it's not like I feel obligated to love everything Australian.  I don't love a pile of vomit just because it comes from the guts of an Aussie.

But there are some classic Aussie things I love less than I should (as a person obsessed with Australia).

Such as....

Vegemite (thought I love the little jar)
The Magic Pudding.
Blinky Bill
Peter Carey books
Ned Kelly (I don't dislike the guy, just not very interested)

And now there's The Adventures of Barry McKenzie.

I finally watched the whole movie.

I didn't hate it.

But I wasn't very entertained.

It's a comedy, but I don't think I ever really laughed.

I laugh much more while watching Q and A. THAT show has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments for me.    

I did like some bits of The Adventures of Barry McKenzie.

I like the chunder song and being reminded of the mythology behind the word.

Supposedly, the word comes from people throwing up on ships. They'd called out to people on lower decks, Watch Under!   Eventually it morphed into Chunder!

I also love the Barry Mackenzie song that's played at the end of the movie.




Oh...and I liked the motel bit.   It reminded me of the Happiness Hotel scene in The Muppet Caper.   It made me wonder if the Jim Henson people were inspired by Barry Mackenzie.  



Actually in general....the movie reminded me of a Muppet movie.  It had that kind of style. The main character gets involved in various situations and meets colorful characters on the way.

I'm guessing that style of movie has a name...besides Muppet style.

I like Muppet movies, though, better than Barry Mackenzie. It might be because I had a hard time understanding a lot of the dialogue.

It could be that I'm not good at understanding Aussie English. But I watch other stuff with it and have no problem.

Maybe I don't understand 1970's Aussie English.

I would hear mumbles and then understand key typical Aussie phrases.   It would be like blah, blah, blah blah, bloody poms, blah, blah, blah in like Flynn blah blah, blah, blah, technicolor yawn, blah, blah, blah.  

5 comments:

  1. I think I had trouble with the accent in that awful movie. I had no idea of the origin of chunder, which meant something else when I was at school.

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  2. Never had a childhood, or read the magic pudding or Blinky Bill.

    Never been able to read a Peter Carey book despite several attempts.

    Ned Kelly was an idiot [though he did not get a fair trial]. In fact was thinking of posting some comments about him but thought someone might track me down and lynch me for suggesting he was an idiot. But he was an idiot and you are anything but an idiot for not being interested.

    The Adventures of Barry McKenzie began as a cartoon strip, back in the days when Australians would make a mandatory pilgrimage "home" [i.e.] to England before settling down as mature adults back here.
    They inevitably congregated together and behave like Bazza [i.e. idiots].
    Don't know that it was representative of 70s English so much as a typical Barry Humphries satirical exaggeration.
    Never attempted to watch the movie.
    Barry Crocker had a hit with the theme from EXODUS - one of the most loathsome pieces of claptrap ever recorded and after that I couldn't abide him. [nothing personal].

    Grog vomit? No, you don't have to impressed. On the other hand, Vegemite vomit would be very un-Australian.

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  3. Andrew: What did chunder mean in your school days?

    I'm glad to know you had trouble with the accent too. That makes me feel better.

    Did you have trouble with the Australian accents or just the British ones?

    Fruitcake: Exodus. Was that like a Moses thing?

    I see a movie on IMDb with Paul Newman. It's about Israel. Is that what you're talking about? Or is it something else?

    I feel better knowing I'm not alone when it comes to my unloved Aussie classics.

    It made me start thinking about American things. What are classic things Americans are supposed to love?

    Baseball?

    Apple pie?

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  4. American Vegemite

    God [i.e. Jesus]
    The Flag
    The President
    Hollywood [The reason we tolerate feygeles - see “God” above]
    Comedy [The reason we tolerate Jews – see “God” above]
    Israel [There are more Jewish voters than Arab Voters]
    The Marines
    Mom
    Apple Pie
    Coffee
    Superbowl
    Measuring success in dollar terms

    Australian Peanut Butter and Jelly

    Gallipoli
    Politicians – not!
    Anzac biscuits
    Alcohol
    Cricket
    Rugby League
    Rugby Union
    Aussie Rules
    Tennis
    Swimming
    Olympics/Commonwealth Games
    Latte and fine food
    Stand-Up comedy [thank heaven for immigrants]

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  5. Fruitcake,

    I had to Google Feygele. You knew a Yiddish word that I didn't. Maybe you can be an honorary Jew for the day.

    Do some comedy and people will tolerate you.

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