Will you want to spend time with the animals of Back to the Outback? We’re going to break it down in our Back to the Outback review.
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Back to the Outback is a new animated film that follows a group of Australian creatures that the world views as dangerous, but actually turn out to be just misunderstood. When one of their own – their beloved, grandmotherly, Jackie, a crocodile – is taken away over a misunderstanding, the rest of the crew decide they need to escape. Accidentally taking the beloved koala Pretty Boy with them, the crew heads out to find their original home in the Outback.
The film very much travels well worn story beats as we learn lessons about choosing your own family and what the meaning of “home” is. What saves it is some cute character designs, but they are let down by very generic backgrounds and an inescapable glossiness that seems to permeate everything. But, much to my surprise, Back to the Outback got some genuine chuckles out of me, but they were sporadic at best.
If you’re over the age of 10, you’re probably going to struggle a bit with the film. Under the age of 10, it may be on an endless loop this holiday season. And don’t be surprised if you get asked for plush versions of your child’s favorite animal from the film.
The film is hitting theaters first before it moves to Netflix in a week. It’s a difficult recommendation for a theater viewing, but an easy recommendation if you’re at home and looking for something to check out on Netflix. But don’t be surprised if you forget it immediately after turning it off.
Back to the Outback will hit theaters on Dec. 3, and Netflix on Dec. 10.
