In the Australian town of Cobweb, an older man uses a sound detection device in the bush. With this tool, he discovers a group of people secretly living underground. The man is taken captive, and the scene then shifts to San Francisco in the United States. Brendan Brandon (Arj Barker) is a cryptocurrency mogul who has made a name for himself with his unprecedented success, and he continues to make waves in the tech world. Brendan has been invited to speak at an upcoming crypto trade show, where he will discuss his vision for the future of cryptocurrency and his groundbreaking new plan. Meanwhile, Brendan receives a call from a solicitor named Harry Jones (Tiriel Mora) from Cobweb, Australia. Harry has surprising news for Brendan: it turns out that Brendan has an uncle named Mitch, whom he has never known about until now. Since Uncle Mitch has been missing for a long time and is now officially declared dead, Brendan is being given ownership of a macadamia nut farm. Harry attempts to tell Brendan that the farm comes with a warning, but Brendan hangs up abruptly and continues his day.
Brendan’s new idea fails to impress at the show, causing him to lose everything, including his finances. He then turns to Harry, asking for help to learn more about the Nut Farm left to him by his uncle. Brendan thinks of taking the nut farm and selling it to gain new investments, earning his way back into the crypto world. As he arrives in Australia and meets with Harry, Brendan learns that there are terms and conditions attached to the ownership of the nut farm. To keep the farm, he must successfully harvest at least twenty tons of macadamia nuts by the end of the season. Meanwhile, Zoron (Jonno Roberts), a New Zealander who lives underground, isn’t happy about the farm’s ownership, as he has secretive plans.
The Nut Farm is a comedy film that marks Scott Corfield’s directorial debut. As a comedy, the movie has many random one-liners, catchphrases, and jokes that relate to the cultures of Australia and New Zealand. It also sheds light on the dangers in Australia, such as flooding and killer spiders that roam freely. As the film’s title suggests, there are many references to nuts, including a scene where Brendan learns to empty his “nut sack” while farming. However, despite having stand-up comedy legend Arj Barker in the leading role, the film’s level of comedy is disappointing. While some light-hearted gags will make you giggle, such as the pet giant spider named Phillip or the use of Aussie slang, most jokes miss the mark and feel childish. Meanwhile, other gags are more suited to adults, which is confusing given the Australian PG rating. The villain Zoron and his underground crew also don’t work well on-screen. Although Jonno Robert’s energy and commitment are commendable, Zoron, as a character, waffles on for too long. The wackiness again makes it feel more suited for a kids’ cartoon or film.
In terms of plot and pace, the movie contains several familiar storylines and subplots. For instance, the protagonist discovers some clauses related to the nut farm that compel him to stay there and learn about farming. He also develops a romantic relationship with a fellow farmer named Kim (Madeleine West). While the film’s use of humour as a gap filler is somewhat acceptable, the plot leaves much to be desired. Certain aspects of the story are either unclear or vague, such as the protagonist’s sudden transition from a life of cryptocurrency and wealth to farming without any apparent longing for his old past. He adapts to the dramatic changes quite quickly, without looking back.
Overall, it saddens me that I didn’t enjoy the film as much as I had hoped. Although the jokes about Australian and New Zealand culture were entertaining, and the gags about nuts were going to amuse some, the comedy was a big letdown despite the presence of the comedic stand-up legend Arj Barker. Some parts of the film seemed more appropriate for families and young audiences, while other crude gags were more suited for adults, which was confusing given the film’s PG rating. The villain was cartoonish and given too much screen time, and the subplot about the lead character discovering how to farm nuts and drain his nut sacks while starting a new romance all feel familiar, cliché and forced. The pacing, for the most part, is slow, and the storyline is basic. The film had so much potential but fell short, leaving me disappointed.
3.4/10
12th March 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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