The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)

First off, I promise not to say "crikey" (drat!). Steve Irwin's only Crocodile Hunter movie is a hoot for fans, families, and esp. kids. Steve's infectious spirit and accent comes through from start to finish esp. when he's chasing animals or punishing bad guys with "a good old Steve-o education" about animal conservation. Our story begins with some semblance of a plot as a spy satellite's degrading orbit causes a sensitive piece of technology to fall potentially into the hands of some bad guys -- but first down the gullet of an Australian crocodile. As the U.S. government's good guys race the bad guys to capture the high-tech prize, Steve preserves his bumpkin persona by mistaking each posse for croc poachers out to complicate his conservation work with wife and partner Terri. The film's most comical moments come when a park ranger (David Wenham, aka Faramir in The Lord of the Rings) visits a cranky local (Magda Szubanski, aka Esme Hoggett in Babe) who keeps gumming up matters with her dogs and shotgun. (Her favorite phrase is "Neek off!") The making-of featurette shows how the animal wranglers got the dogs to lick her face (hint: peanut butter) and the croc to nearly chomp Steve (hint: too close for comfort). Families and esp. kids who love Steve Irwin will simply eat up this popcorn muncher, laugh at Steve's hijinks and ready-for-anything spirit, and (of course) sing the infectious "Crocodile Rock" sendup tune at the end. 3.5 stars.