Story
Maggie Diggins (voice of Deborah Mailman), also known as Combat Wombat, and her sidekick Sweetie (Ed Oxenbold), a sugar glider also known as Gallant Glider, have become the heroes of Sanctuary City. But with no crime in the city, they offer their services to anyone who needs help. This involves babysitting, shopping and cleaning, which Maggie didn’t expect and which causes her to rethink her role as a superhero.
A crime wave of robberies starts, apparently committed by senior members of the community. Behind the nefarious activities is Lenny Glick (David Wenham), an IT genius who has invented a virtual reality world called Sanctuary+. Lenny is controlling citizens by implanting them with an earpiece, which transposes them into his virtual world.
Maggie and Sweetie have their work cut out trying to prevent Lenny from trapping the whole city in his virtual alternative world.
Themes
Alternative reality; virtual reality; IT dystopia; loss of a partner
Violence
Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back has quite a lot of violence. For example:
- Maggie gets hit by a car but is unhurt.
- A house is on fire.
- Maggie flies through the air trying to save a baby echidna. They both fall to the ground.
- Sweetie gets very angry and sets everything on fire.
- Maggie throws an object at someone.
- The baby echidna hits Sweetie on the nose.
- Skylar kicks Sweetie.
- A koala hits Maggie with a stick.
- A rocket crashes near Maggie and Sweetie and then smashes through a glass window.
- Maggie attacks a character and pulls out his white eye.
- Maggie and friends fight multiple Lennies, who disintegrate.
Sexual references
There are no sexual references in Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
There’s no use of substances in Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back.
Nudity and sexual activity
There’s no nudity and sexual activity in Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back.
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back:
- Jay-Bird Hi-Fi (similar to JB Hi-Fi)
- Adidas symbols.
Coarse language
Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back has some coarse language including ‘geez’ and ‘bummer’, There’s also name-calling, including ‘dirtbag’.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back is an Australian animation full of cute and not-so-cute Australian animals. The movie is fast paced and, unfortunately, the plot is too complex for young children. It’s therefore not suitable for children under 5, and we recommend parental guidance for children aged 5-7 years.
These are the main messages from Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back:
- The small things make the biggest difference.
- You don’t have to be a superhero to be a hero.
Values in Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back that you could reinforce with your children include teamwork, friendship, family and generosity of spirit.
Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back could also give you the chance to talk with your children about the real-life consequences of using violence to solve problems, which Maggie and Sweetie sometimes do. You could talk with your children about other ways of sorting out problems and conflict.