3 out of 5 stars. Time Out says. 3 out of 5 stars. A remake of the Australian classic pelican tale lacks subtlety, but you may cry anyway. Like a pelican that has scooped.

Storm Boy is an Australian drama family film based on the novella by Colin Thiele of the same name.^[1] The adaptation was directed by Shawn Seet and stars Geoffrey Rush and Jai Courtney.^[3] Thiele's novel was previously adapted in 1976.

Plot[edit]

Based on the book, Storm Boy follows a young boy growing up on a largely uninhabited coastline of Southern Australia. He rescues three orphan pelicans and forms a close bond with them.

Cast[edit]

• Geoffrey Rush as Michael Kingley
• Jai Courtney as Hideaway Tom
• Finn Little as Storm Boy
• Trevor Jamieson as Fingerbone Bill
• Morgana Davies as Madeline
• Erik Thomson as Malcom Downer
• David Gulpilil as the Father of Fingerbone Bill
• Simone Annan as Murujuga Lawyer
• Thibul Nettle as Police Officer (as Stinga-T)
• Luca Asta Sardelis as Smirking Schoolgirl #1
• Georgina Giessauf as Smirking Schoolgirl #2
• David John Clark as Police Senior Constable
• Chantal Contouri as Julie Sims
• Martha Lott as Pearl
• Nick Launchbury as Reporter #1
• Emma Bargery as Reporter #2
• Miraede Bhatia-Williams as Mildew
• Brendan Cooney as Police Officer
• Edward Boehm as Young Storm Boy
• Caroline Mignone as Angela
• Anna Bampton as Jenny
• Rory Walker as Murray
• Lucy Cowan as Belle
• Niraj Pandya as Office Receptionist
• Brendan Rock as Hunter #1
• James Smith as Hunter #2
• Bradley Trent Williams as Jasper Davies
• Tim Whibley as Office Worker
• Paul Blackwell as Cal Evans
• Michelle Nightingale as Mrs. Marks
• Natasha Wanganeen as Susan Franklin

Production[edit]

Storm Boy, an Ambience Entertainment production, was shot along the Coorong and in Adelaide, South Australia in July-August 2017.^[5] The Hudson Hornet used in the filming was supplied by a local South Australian car collector.^{[citation needed]}

Release[edit]

The film opened in theatres in Australia and New Zealand on 17 January 2019, in Poland on 19 January 2019 and in the United States on 5 April 2019.

Box office[edit]

The film was released in 320 theatres in Australia on 17 January 2019 but it grossed only $874,000(USD) on its opening weekend. By the end of its theatrical run in Australia, it had earned a total of $3.5 million(USD). The film also grossed just over $600,000(USD) in Poland and New Zealand when it was released over 17-19 January 2019. The film was released in the United States & Territories on 5 April 2019 but only earned $71,000(USD).^[6] The total box-office for Storm Boy was $4.2 million against a production budget of $15 million.^[7]

Critical response[edit]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 67% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 33 reviews, with an average rating of 6.09/10. The site's critics consensus reads, 'Storm Boy can't quite live up to the original, but this retelling of a beloved story retains enough of its classic source material's heart to remain worth a watch.'^[8] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 67 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'.^[9]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcDayman, Isabelle. (26 July 2016). 'Storm Boy remake with actor Geoffrey Rush about to start filming in SA Coorong', ABC News, Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
2. ^Debelle, Penny. (22 November 2016). 'Exclusive: Producers of the remake of iconic Australian movie Storm Boy look set to return to the Coorong', Adelaide Now, Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
3. ^ ^ab'Australian actors Geoffrey Rush, Jai Courtney to star in Storm Boy', (12 May 2017), News.com.au, Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
4. ^'Storm Boy (2019)'. The Numbers. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
5. ^'Storm Boy stars in Adelaide to begin shooting new version of beloved Coorong-set film'. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
6. ^https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Storm-Boy-(Australia)-(2019)#tab=international
7. ^https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Storm-Boy-(Australia)-(2019)#tab=international
8. ^'Storm Boy (2019)'. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
9. ^'Storm Boy Reviews'. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 20 November 2019.

External links[edit]

• Storm Boy on IMDb

Storm Boy Plot: What's the story?Storm Boy' has grown up to be Michael Kingley, a successful retired businessman and grandfather. When Kingley starts to see images from his past that he can't explain, he is forced to remember his long-forgotten childhood, growing up on an isolated coastline with his father. He recounts to his grand-daughter the story of how, as a boy, he rescued and raised an extraordinary orphaned pelican, Mr Percival. Their remarkable adventures and very special bond has a profound effect on all their lives.