Set in the 80s, Brisbane, Australia, the crime rate is at an all-time high. Gangs are roaming the streets, and the body count is rising. One cop is willing to take all the villains on. His name is Lieutenant Jangles. Lieutenant Jangles (Matt Dickie) and Dickens (Andrew Dickens) are partners. While having a urine contest (yes, a urine contest), they are interrupted and called to a shootout. During this shootout, they are surrounded by gangs who are armed with machine guns, and unfortunately, Dickins gets shot in the groin and dies. Lieutenant Jangles is now seeking revenge. Soon after this incident, he discovers a mysterious crime boss in town pulling all the strings. Can Lieutenant Jangles stop this new villain and get revenge for the death of his best mate and partner?
In case you are not aware by now, Lieutenant Jangles is, in fact, a comedy movie. I would go so far as to say that this is more of a spoof movie than a straight-out comedy. This film is loaded with one-liners and crude jokes, but there is more to it. The film adds elements that pay respect to other well-known films, not just those from the 80s. The type of humour we see here is comparable to Danger 5 (TV Show), Kung Fury, or even better, Team America. The humour at most times will shock audiences and may even offend, going a little too far for some, and involving nudity and extreme language. But in the end, this film does not hold back when it comes to its humour, and it is evident the cast had a blast. I found myself laughing at the smallest jokes as they always surprised me.
It should also be noted this film is a directional debut by Nicolas Champeaux. Considering this is a directional debut, the overall results are positive. The film is generally well-shot, and its story moves at a solid pace. I am also rather impressed with the results based on the film’s budget. After doing some research, I even discovered that some of the cast had multiple jobs/roles while working on this film. One example is the actor Daniel Cordery. Here Daniel serves as an actor, co-writer & visual effects artist. Large workloads like this equal a huge task, but once again, the cast and crew has indeed pulled off a miracle.
The film’s musical score is also worth praising. After watching the movie for the 1st time, I instantly found myself looking up the soundtrack. It feels retro, and it was a great compliment to the film. Other elements such as the dust on the lens give the movie a real grindhouse vibe, which is a welcome touch given the film’s tone. Generally, there is not much to frown upon when it comes to this film. I did find Jangles slightly silly when he first appeared, but I was surprised to see how quickly I warmed up to him and found myself laughing at some of the most random dialogue.
Overall, Lieutenant Jangles is an Australian spoof film that is loaded with one-liners and crude humour. Considering this film is a directional debut, the results here are quite an achievement. With a stunning soundtrack and impressive visual effects, there is not much to dislike here. It is obvious the cast and crew enjoyed making this film which is always great to see. In the end, it is a refreshing comedy, and I hope more movie lovers support this film, because if you don’t, Lieutenant Jangles may punch you where it hurts the most.
8.1/10
29th May 2020
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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