BBQ, The

Story

In The BBQ, Darren ‘Dazza’ Cook (Shane Jacobson) is a husband, father and barbeque salesman. He’s passionate about his regular Saturday barbeque even though it annoys his wife, Diane (Julia Zemiro), and is putting some strain on his marriage. Dazza believes that he’s a direct descendant of Captain James Cook and, in homage to his ancestor, still uses an antique barbeque. He claims his barbeque belonged to Cook.

After an unfortunate food poisoning incident, things start to go wrong for Dazza. Luckily he’s given the opportunity to redeem himself by competing in an annual steak cooking competition, aided by an exiled Scottish chef, ‘The Butcher’ (Magda Szubanski).

Themes

Family breakdown; competition; alcoholism; racial stereotypes; gender stereotypes; colonialism

Violence

The BBQ has some violence. For example:

In several scenes, The Butcher attacks other characters. She uses abusive language and threatens them with knives, cleavers and so on.
Dazza’s father-in-law punches him in the face and stomach.

Sexual references

The BBQ has some sexual references. For example:

Dazza is talking about his old V8 panel van and says, ‘I got Diane pregnant in it, twice. Had to sell it though – two kids was enough’.
Mr Yoshimura passionately massages a steak. Dazza says, ‘Shall we leave these two alone?’
The Butcher insists that the kitchen is ‘clean as a nun’s … night dreams’.
A character says, ‘Master, or is she your mistress?’

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

The BBQ shows some use of substances. For example, The Butcher drinks whisky and vodka in two scenes, including one joke scene in which she pours two glasses of whisky and drinks both. It later emerges that she’s ‘battling the demon drink’.

Nudity and sexual activity

Nothing of concern

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in The BBQ:

IGA Supermarkets
Barbecues Galore
Masterfoods sauce
Yalandra Fine Foods (an actual shop in Albury, NSW)
Manhorne Smokers plus other barbeque equipment
Ford and Holden cars.

Coarse language

The BBQ has some coarse and abusive language and racial slurs.

Ideas to discuss with your children

The BBQ is a mildly entertaining Australian comedy about a seemingly ‘ordinary’ white, middle-class man and his family. They’re quintessential ‘Aussie battlers’.

The movie glosses over white colonial history in Australia and glorifies Captain James Cook. There’s a clumsy attempt to acknowledge the controversial nature of this theme, which might offend some viewers. Dazza has an Aboriginal friend at his barbeque, to whom he says, ‘I know Captain Cook isn’t the most popular with some people’, and ‘My backyard is your backyard’. There are also many clichéd racial and gender stereotypes, which you might want to talk about with your children.

The BBQ isn’t recommended for children under 8 years, and we recommend parental guidance for children aged 8-10 years.