Red Dog: Australia’s biggest crowd-pleasing dog groomer is coming to Netflix

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Red Dog (M, 92min) Directed by Kriv Stenders ***

“Out of where the rain doesn’t fall, got a job at the oil drilling company, just to make some change, live and work on the land”.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, The Dingoes’ 1973 song, like other 1970s Australian classics Eagle Rock and Stumblin’ In, should feature prominently in this “dusty” tale of the little Aussie fighter about dedication and retarded doggy-do.

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This crowd pleaser, inspired by a true story, is set in one of the westernmost points of ‘Land of Happiness’: Dampier, Western Australia. Home to the Mermaid Motor Hotel, Hamersley Iron and immigrant workers from all over the world, in 1971 it was rougher, hotter, brighter and redder than today, and a lonely town where men were men (even if they felt like a night of knitting ), you couldn’t work without a hat and dogs of a certain type could do well.

This is where Red Dog walked in, a cross between kelpie and cattle. It is said that he taught the townspeople about independence, a generous heart and friendship, which earned him membership in the Dampier Salts Sport and Social Club and the Transport Union and a bank account. But while some claim he saved their lives or helped them find true love, there were those who would have loved to see him, or worse.

A huge hit in its native Australia on first release in 2011, Red Dog is a small town, big country movie that longs to be the next Muriel or Priscilla but instead feels more like a return to Crocodile Dundee or (shudder) Kangaroo Jack. That’s mainly due to the Hollywood star presence of Josh Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama).

It just seems wrong that the main character has to be transformed into an American (he’s part Māori in Louis de Bernieres’s book this is an adaptation of and is said to be a much more troubled figure in real life) just to get some tickets in the United States to sell.

Other stereotypes and archetypes abound, from the chatty Italian immigrant to the humorless, cat-loving caravan park owners and the cheerful, brighter-than-white Aussie girl in the outback.

Despite this, an abundance of walk socks, Stubbies and Jockey Y-fronts, and some seriously ropey special effects, Red Dog still has plenty of Ocker charm, thanks to an eclectic cast of character actors, including a mustachioed Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and the late great Bill Hunter (Muriel’s Wedding) in his final performance. Also look out for our very own Keisha Castle-Hughes as vet in a scene-stealing cameo.

Then there’s Koko the dog, who is likely to steal many a heart with his “pedigree” rendition in this Forrest Gump meets The Littlest Hobo tale that’s tinged with tragedy (think Greyfriars Bobby, rather than Lassie when it comes to his heroics)

Red Dog is now available to stream on Netflix.