Back to the Outback

Back to the Outback is a 2021 Australian computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, in both their directorial debuts, from a screenplay written by Cripps, and a story by Gregory Lessans and Cripps.[1] An international co-production between Australia and the United States, the voice cast includes Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana, Guy Pearce, Miranda Tapsell, Angus Imrie, Keith Urban, and Jacki Weaver. Produced by Reel FX Animation Studios, Weed Road Pictures and Netflix Animation, Akiva Goldsman also served as executive producer.

Back to the Outback
Official release poster
Directed by
  • Clare Knight
  • Harry Cripps
Screenplay byHarry Cripps
Story by
  • Gregory Lessans
  • Harry Cripps
Produced by
  • Daniela Mazzucato
Starring
Edited byMarcus Taylor
Music byRupert Gregson-Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10) (Australia)
Running time
95 minutes
Countries
  • Australia
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

The film had a limited theatrical release on December 3, 2021, prior to streaming on Netflix on December 10, 2021 to a mostly positive reception from critics and audiences.

Plot

Zookeeper Chaz demonstrates several venomous animals at the zoo in Sydney, Australia. Maddie, a venomous Inland Tapian, is used for show but is greatly feared by the public, much to her dismay. After an accident involving motherly crocodile, Jackie and the zookeeper’s son.

Cast

The cast includes:[2][3]

Production

Writer and director Harry Cripps had previously created the concept for the cancelled "Larrikins" film with DreamWorks Animation, which was also supposed to feature a score and music by Tim Minchin[4]; the project was revived as a short film titled Bilby in 2018.[5] In an interview with TheWrap, Cripps said that Larrikins had "focused on the cute animals, and so I didn’t want to go back down that same road, I went to the dark side.”[6] Clare Knight said "A lot of executives would say to us, ‘A snake? Snakes aren’t huggable. Does your lead have to be a snake?’ And it was a challenge for us that we really wanted to make these animals appealing."

Initially, while Netflix was concerned about the "huggability of the animal cast", both Knight and Cripps said that working for the streaming giant’s animation unit was positively heavenly. “It’s been great. Again, we’re first-time directors, so Netflix is willing to give us a shot and give us a voice, so we really feel great. We would’ve felt if this was DreamWorks, we possibly would’ve been pigeonholed as writer and editor and not necessarily been given this chance. And the fact that we reached such a big, global audience with this great depiction of Australia I think, is a wonderful thing for us.”[7]

Soundtrack
Back to the Outback
Soundtrack album by
Rupert Gregson-Williams
Released10 December 2021
GenrePop
LabelMaisie Music, Sony Music Australia
Singles from Back to the Outback
  1. "Hello World"
    Released: 3 December 2021[8]
  2. "Beautiful Ugly"
    Released: 10 December 2021[9]

The film's score was composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams. Executive producer Akiva Goldsman, as director, had previously worked with Rupert on Winter's Tale. The soundtrack features four original songs, including "Hello World" by Evie Irie and "Beautifully Ugly" by Tim Minchin and Irie. [10]

Track listing
  1. "Hello World" by Evie Irie (2:36)
  2. "ROAR" by G Flip (3:55)
  3. "Beautiful Ugly" by Tim Minchin featuring Evie Irie (2:44)
  4. "Maddie's Lullaby" by Thelma Plum (1:37)
  5. "Jackie's Mountains" (2:14)
  6. "Chaz's Show" (3:47)
  7. "Jackie" (2:22)
  8. "Arrival in Sydney" (2:06)
  9. "Pretty Boy Trouble" (2:48)
  10. "Redbacks" (2:29)
  11. "Near Miss" (1:19)
  12. "Toad Love" (1:43)
  13. "School Bus Mayhem" (2:36)
  14. "Tasmanian Devils" (1:09)
  15. "Chaz's Secret" (2:11)
  16. "Bonding" (2:01)
  17. "Arrival at Jackie's Mountains" (1:37)
  18. "Chaz Captures the Gang" (1:21)
  19. "Maddie Caught" (2:22)
  20. "Let’s Get Our Friends Back" (1:24)
  21. "Fire Truck Pursuit" (2:50)
  22. "Dung Balls" (1:32)
  23. "Saving Chazzie" (1:56)
  24. "Maddie Beautiful" (1:41)
  25. "Outback Parade" (1:57)
  26. "Let's Get Away" by Alex the Astronaut (2:04)

Notes

Several other songs were featured in the film but not included in the soundtrack album: [11]

Release

On November 30, 2020, Netflix announced that its animated film Back to the Outback would make its world debut in late 2021.[12][13] In October 2021, it was revealed that the film is set for a December 10, 2021 release.[14] It also had a limited theatrical release on December 3, prior to its streaming release on Netflix.[15]

In the week following it's worldwide release, the film reached Top 10 Lists on Netflix in 64 countries, including Australia and the United States.[16]

Critical reception

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Back to the Outback currently holds an approval rating of 87% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 6.30/10.[17] The film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[18]

Brad Newsome of The Sydney Morning Herald said the "Gorgeous character design and some delightful voice performances elevate this uneven CGI romp in which a bunch of “ugly” Australian animals break out of a zoo and head for the outback."[19] Natalia Winkelman of The New York Times was also positive, writing: "However generic this movie is in premise, there is wit to be found in its details, and warmth in its message."[20]

However, Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian was more critical on the film, saying "ho-hum animation won’t thrill viewers whose age exceeds their shoe size." He gave the film a 2/5 rating.[21]

Accolades
Year Association Category Recipient Result
2021 The ReFrame Stamp Narrative and Animated Feature Back to the Outback Won

References
  1. Anderton, Ethan (December 1, 2020). "Netflix's Animated Animal Adventure 'Back to the Outback' Will Star Isla Fisher, Eric Bana, Guy Pearce & More". SlashFilm. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. Wiseman, Andreas (November 30, 2020). "Netflix Lines Up Animated Movie 'Back To The Outback' With Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana, Guy Pearce & Keith Urban". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Back to the Outback". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  4. "DreamWorks Ani Picks 'Matilda' Musical's Tim Minchin to Score 'Larrikins'". The Hollywood Reporter. June 7, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  5. "EXCLUSIVE: Dreamworks Directors On How They Made 'Bilby,' And On The Studio's New Shorts Program". Cartoon Brew. August 13, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  6. "'Back to the Outback' Filmmakers on Making Snakes 'Huggable' in Their Netflix Animated Film". TheWrap. November 8, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  7. "'Back to the Outback' Filmmakers on Making Snakes 'Huggable' in Their Netflix Animated Film". TheWrap. November 8, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  8. "Evie Irie's Original Song "Hello World" from Back to the Outback Released". filmmusicreporter.com. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  9. "News: ICYMI - New single! "Beautiful Ugly" from the #BackToTheOutback soundtrack". Twitter. December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  10. "Back to the Outback soundtrack". HITC. December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  11. "Back to the Outback soundtrack". HITC. December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  12. McNary, Dave (November 30, 2020). "Eric Bana, Isla Fisher, Guy Pearce Voicing Netflix's Animated 'Back to the Outback'". Variety. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  13. Milligan, Mercedes (November 30, 2020). "Netflix Heads Down Under with 'Back to the Outback' Movie in 2021". Animation Magazine. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  14. Grobar, Matt (October 14, 2021). "'Back To The Outback' Teaser, Premiere Date: Netflix's Starry Animated Pic Sees Deadly Creatures Break Out Of Australian Zoo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  15. Rivera, Britt (November 30, 2021). "Back To The Outback Clip Shows Hilarious Animal Escape [EXCLUSIVE]". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  16. "Netflix Top 10 - Global". Netflix Top 10. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  17. "Back to the Outback (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  18. "Back to the Outback (2021)". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  19. "In Mayor of Kingstown incarceration is the biggest business in town". The Age. December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  20. Winkelman, Natalia (December 9, 2021). "'Back to the Outback' Review". The New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  21. "Back to the Outback review". The Guardian. December 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
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