I had forgotten about this film and I live in Sydney. NOT the public success it should have been and I suspect a major commercial disappointment for the ambitious producer, this film suffers so badly by stridently trying to be butch to avoid the poofy dancing thingy image. So trowled onto our heads is the "I'm tough - but I er, dance y'know" yobbo dialogue it severely pulls the patience of the audience away from enjoying the dynamic dance routines. In fact, it is also so SERIOUS and full of retarded bumpkin behaviour, someone forgot the jokes. BILLY ELLIOTT and FULL MONTY cover the same industrial tough family territory but they have hilarious moments and are properly fleshed out characters. BOOTMEN is just crude and embarrassing...until the dancing starts. Director andChoreographer extraordinaire Dein Perry upon whom this is based and whose live shows were a massive hit in the 90s mis-serves this Barry McKenzie take on his craft. One can see the stardom on the horizon for Adam Garcia but it is Sam Worthington who is the major talent here. He is only NOW just getting the recognition he deserves from SOMERSAULT just released. Viewers should check out the excellent crime caper DIRTY DEEDS for another level of his talent. BOOTMEN got the boot on first release and on TV as it is tonight, is is still a cringing experience...until the dance numbers (and they all shutup and concentrate). The awful Ric Carter, a failed 80s comedian is the absolute worst of this bad drama (but good dance pic).
