Ryan-Gleeson Review of Reckless Kelly

Reckless Kelly (1993)

Like finding a diamond encrusted needle in a flaming haystack!

[10/10 · 10 February 2005]

Picture the scene. Four drunk, bored students are trawling late night television, desperately looking for something that isn't teaching us how to take GSCE maths or speak rudimentary french. Then, all of a sudden, we turn on to a particular channel, and see the title "Reckless Kelly" glittering before us, beckoning. We were instantly transfixed, and our hazy curiosity was rewarded with a movie that was at once funny and insightful, brilliant yet understated, paradoxically shockingly awful and the greatest thing ever. Now, we all know this is not a good film in terms of plot, effects, characterisation, score, make up or anything else that one usually judges a film by. It is, instead, so unashamedly ridiculous, without even trying to cover up its sheer stupidity, that i can honestly say it is a pleasure to watch. There is no real plot to speak of, but basically an almost invincible Australian outlaw, Kelly, needs to save his island from Japanese businessmen before they tow it by tanker to the waters off japan where it will become a kind of theme park. Kelly goes to America to earn money as a robber, accidentally becomes film star, mandatory love interest, happy ending, good hearted rogue, blah, blah, blah... honestly, a terrible film, but worthy of a 10 rating as it really will make you laugh, although you should be heavily intoxicated as a precaution. RG x