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Story

Charlie and Boots begins with the tragic and sudden death of Gracie, the beloved wife of Charlie McFarland (Paul Hogan) and mother of ‘Boots’ (Shane Jacobson) and Tristian. Charlie is heartbroken at the loss of his wife of 45 years and shuts himself away from the world. When Boots comes to visit Charlie a month after his mother’s death, he is concerned about his father. So Boots comes up with a plan to help Charlie deal with his grief.

Boots plans for them to take a road trip to Cape York and fish off the northern-most part of Australia. The idea is based on a promise Charlie made to Boots when Boots was just a boy. Charlie is a reluctant participant, because the relationship between him and Boots has been strained over recent years. Charlie doesn’t support Boots, and doesn’t believe Boots can follow through on his plan to take an ill-prepared impromptu trip north. The road trip, however, allows the two to deal with their issues and begin to heal their relationship.

Themes

Death of a wife and mother; death of a child

Violence

None of concern

Sexual references

This movie contains some sexual references. For example:

  • Charlie and Boots pick up a young hitchhiker, Jess. She says she had a fight with her boyfriend because he asked her to do things that she didn’t want to do.
  • Charlie talks on the radio about catching Boots as a young boy masturbating. He uses some crude expressions to describe masturbation and also Boots’ genitals.
  • A car has a sticker with a crude sexual expression.
  • Charlie and Boots make lots of jokes with sexual innuendoes.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

This movie contains some use of substances. For example, adult characters drink alcohol in a restaurant.

Nudity and sexual activity

None of concern

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in this movie: Holden, Masterfoods, Bundaberg Ginger Beer, Smiths, Ford and Liberty Petrol.

Coarse language

This movie contains frequent mild to medium-level coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Charlie and Boots is a comedy about the relationship between a father and son. It focuses on the way they manage to mend a fractured bond through their shared grief.

The main messages from this movie are the importance of family and forgiveness. Values in this movie that you could reinforce with older children include loyalty and reaching out to the people you love (particularly in times of despair).

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about issues such as:

  • hitchhiking
  • being pressured by a sexual partner to do things you don’t want to do
  • coping with grief
  • finding better ways to communicate.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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