''The Honourable Wally Norman'' is a 2003

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

n comedy film directed by

Ted Emery Ted Emery is an Australian film and television director and producer. Ted Emery served in the Royal Australian Navy during the Vietnam War. After returning to Australia, he joined the ABC in Melbourne, Australia, and in time became a director ...

. It stars Kevin Harrington,

Shaun Micallef Shaun Patrick Micallef (; born 18 July 1962) is an Australian comedian, actor, writer and television presenter. He is currently the host of the satirical news comedy series ''Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell'' on the ABC. He also hosted the game sh ...

, and

Greig Pickhaver Greig Pickhaver Order of Australia, AM (born 1948) is an actor, comedian and writer, who forms one half of the Australian satirical sports comedy duo ''Roy and HG'' as the excitable sports announcer H.G Nelson. The Roy and HG#Awards and nominati ...

. It was filmed primarily in South Australia and was nominated for two AFI awards.

Plot

The story begins with a corrupt Member of Parliament (

Micallef Micallef is a Maltese surname. It has been recorded in Malta since ancient times, and its origins probably lie in the name Micali, a variant of Michael (in Hebrew, Michael means "Who is like God"). However, another possible derivation for the surn ...

) shutting down a country town's main source of employment in the local meatworks. This leaves Wally Norman (

Harrington Harrington (or Harington) may refer to: People as a surname * Harrington (surname) People as a forename * Arthur Raikes (Arthur Edward Harington Raikes, 1867–1915), British army officer *Charles Harrington Elster, American writer *Edward Josep ...

) out of a job, until drunk politician Willy Norman accidentally writes the wrong name on the parliamentary nomination form. Wally is at first apprehensive about running, until he realises it is the only way to save the meatworks. Throughout the film Wally is coached by Willy Norman and assistant Myles Greenstreet (Nathaniel Davison) in how to best appeal to the voters, as well as overcome his fear of public speaking. Meanwhile, Myles is attracted to Wally's daughter, and a wombat's career skyrockets. Much of the film's humour comes from wordplay, such as naming the town Givens Head, and the foreman of the meatworks being named George. Shaun Micallef said he had to insist that his own moniker was modified from F. Ken Oath to F. Ken Oats to soften one of the film's less subtle attempts at punning.

Cast

* Kevin Harrington as ''Wally Norman'' * Alan Cassell as ''Willy Norman'' *

as ''Ken Oats'' *

Rosalind Hammond Rosalind Hammond, often credited as Ros or Roz, is an Australian actress and writer with an extensive career in theatre, film and television. Career Hammond's television appearances include the role of Claudia in the award-winning drama ''The ...

as ''Dolly Norman'' * Nathaniel Davison as ''Myles Greenstreet'' *

as ''The Chairman'' * Octavia Barron-Martin as ''Laurie Norman'' * Tom Budge as ''Normie Norman'' *

Bryan Dawe Bryan John Dawe (born 21 March 1948) is an Australian writer, comedian, political satirist, songwriter, photographer and social activist. He is known predominantly for his long-running collaboration with fellow satirist, John Clarke, which las ...

as ''Richard Nicholls'' * Melissa Madden-Gray as ''Rebecca-Jane Thompson'' * Paul Kelman as ''Gary'' * Reg Evans as ''Barry'' * Paul Makin as ''Alan Unwin'' Bookmaker

Filming

''The Honorable Wally Norman'' was filmed in various areas of South Australia. It used the towns of Lobethal, Mount Barker and Nairne for the town in the movie. The town of Lobethal provided the hotel, Mount Barker provided the meatworks and the

St Francis de Sales College St Francis de Sales College is a Reception to Year 12 Catholic co-educational school located in Mount Barker, South Australia. History The college was established in 1902 by the Sisters of Mercy, under the name St. Scholastica binding the Young ...

, and Nairne hosted the main street for the billy-cart race shown near the beginning of the movie. Mike Rann, at that time Premier of South Australia, had a cameo appearance at 1:12:10 in the film. He played the man who was thrown out of his seat by The chairman.

Critical reception

The ''

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

'' described the film as: "dreary, like being offered a dried-out chop, fake mash and over-cooked broccoli, when you were invited over for a juicy lamb roast." SBS said "''The Honourable Wally Norman'' seriously lacks bite; it's a determinably retro affair, amiable and mildly amusing, but pretty bland." ''Urban Cinefile'' dismissed the film as "a shallow and contrived affair with the occasional shadow of humour passing over it."

Box office

''The Honourable Wally Norman'' grossed $181,395 at the box office in Australia.''Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office''
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References

External links

*
moviehole.net reviewThe Honourable Wally Norman at the National Film and Sound Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Honourable Wally Norman, The 2003 films Australian comedy films 2003 comedy films Films about elections Films about politicians Films about democracy 2000s English-language films