Russell Coight’s All Aussie Adventures

Series 1 and 2: The Full Coight

STARS: Glenn Robbins.

STORY

The tragedy of this man’s past dissolves into…the tragedy of his present. I think that’s a fitting way to describe our beloved outback adventurer, Russell Coight. An apt name for an inept guy. If you don’t get the joke on the surname, then don’t bother with this. Appreciating this DVD is a state of mind. Russell himself tells us that the origin of his name is in fact the Dutch word for ‘wide, circular opening’. Apparently also well known in Japan as Russell Sphincter (as the closest translation for Coight).

What more can I say - anyone who has already watched this series on network television will know where this is coming from. Anyone who has not seen it before will now hopefully realise that it is a spoof. In the (recent) tradition of Kath & Kim, we see another tongue-in-cheek Aussie approach to an otherwise boring but increasingly prevalent TV genre: in this case the travel/adventure series. They truly suck in my view, yet Russell Coight effortlessly breathes new life into the concept.

Let’s set the scene here. Outback legend. Author of “The Philosopher’s Coight” which, interestingly, doubles as a survival tool. It’s edible, and chapter 13 is printed on loo paper. Sheer genius. Russell’s not without his personal demons, however. Citing his father, Russell Coight senior, as his hero, he remembers his father’s last words to him as he fights back the tears: “Russell, are you sure the handbrake’s on?” The reason behind his mother’s stint in prison is never fully explored by Russell, but we can sense a man in pain. An ex-drinker who has survived many a binge with Mike and Mal Leyland, and Bush Tucker Man (lest we forget the Aussie pioneers of the genre), his notoriety throughout this wide brown land is phenomenal, despite his hardships. His estranged wife, Rhonda, who he met through Alby Mangles when she was a mere ‘Sale Of The Century’ model would surely be kicking herself now for passing up the opportunity to share life’s journey with such a force of nature. So he has endured. Powerful stuff!

Is there no end to this shy, selfless man’s talent? Inventor of the coight-string, his hand-stitched crocodile skin number makes frequent appearances (on Russell) throughout the series, and just screams ‘taste’. Entrepreneur, who had his own theme park and Crocodile farm - until they were recently closed down under a cloud of malfeasance by the local authorities. After all, as Russell states in his interview (featured in extras), the kid totally overreacted to HAVING his finger allegedly bitten off, and allegedly feeding live chickens to a crocodile does not necessarily traumatise children. ‘Tall Poppy’ syndrome, I say. People just can’t stand to see the man succeed.

Despite these potential setbacks, we see in this series a man at peace with who he is, and proud of Australia’s pioneering history. He loves every rock, every creature, and every grain of sand that makes up this rich tapestry of the land we call home. And it shows. Covering thousands of kilometres in his trek across the infamous ‘top end’, we are shown sights that few see. from cattle musters, to outback weddings, to car batteries as flat as a pommie beer, the true spirit of helping others is always foremost in his mind. This is what legends are made of.

A TIP: Look for the disclaimers at the end of each episode - they’re always amusing. Also look for other members of the D-Generation/The Panel who help out with the writing and directing in this series. Usually a sign of a decent quality program.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the sights as Russell showcases the best “off road” travel you’re likely to see from your couch. To steal a Russell phrase ” It doesn’t get any better than this”.

EXTRAS

The extras on this two disc set are inventive and revealing. I gained an insight into Russell Coight that I never knew I wanted to know. It certainly is worth the journey. At 45 minutes split across the two discs (not my favourite way of presenting extras), we are afforded a glimpse of Russell Coight, the man. And what a man he is!

Disc One extras run for about 25 minutes. Russell’s Bonus Bits is 13 minutes of “outtakes” from the series, and effortlessly highlights how Russell’s bad luck is as much of a curse as his incompetence. Russell on GMA is a clever 7 minute spin on the publicity required to ensure the success of a TV show. For those not acquainted with the pain of Australian weekday morning TV (surely everyone in Australia has been on the dole, or taken a sickie at least once) we see Russell in his guest spot on the incomparable Good Morning Australia hosted by Bert Newton. Quality meets quality at long last. Not. Yet in this brief appearance we learn SO MUCH about our famed Aussie adventurer. This is why I have tried to explore the man behind the myth in this review. He’s just so ‘complex’ it’s frightening.

Add to this a brief compendium of Russell’s favourite phrases, all complete with audio byte, and we have the making of a legend. Call me crazy, but this is top stuff.

It just keeps getting better. Disc two extras follows the same general format and timespan as disc one. We see more of Russell’s Bonus bits. At about 14 minutes, this heady cocktail of Murphy’s Law and ineptitude again shows his true inner strength. Anyone else would simply give up! “Time To Hit The Publicity Road” revisits GMA again, and also features a grab from his brief but memorable appearance on “The Panel”. How strange that Glenn Robbins happened to be absent from his regular spot that week! Glenn’s apparently a HUGE fan of Russell’s. A Channel 10 promo for the SHOW and a shameless plug for his sister Meredith also cram themselves into this 5 minute segment. The sadly predictable part of all this is the Photo Gallery which features shots of Russell in various outback poses. Photo galleries are always so boring.

The standout is without doubt the exclusive Behind-The-Scenes interview with Russell, much of which I have incorporated into the story section of the review. Trivia to some, but to me it sheds light on the breadth of Russell’s achievement as a national figure of lasting significance in the armchair travel genre. At only 5 or so minutes however, it’s way too short.

Make no mistake, he’s still a dickhead of epic proportions, but he’s OUR dickhead.

OVERALL

For fans of a good Aussie send-up, Russell Coight’s got the travel/adventure series sewn up. A man of many moods, Russell’s passion for four wheel driving is second only to his desire to help a fellow traveller in trouble. Or a damsel in distress. Or some city slicker kids looking for the trip of a lifetime. If you liked what “Kath and Kim” did for the reality series, then you will enjoy this blokey take on life in the outback.

Better than I thought it would be, this package reinforces the versatility of Glenn Robbins as an understated comic talent. Extras are interestingly conceived.

Sound is in Dolby Digital 2.0, adequate for this purpose. The episodes are presented in 1:33:1 format for the first two episodes, and 2:35:1 for the remaining eleven.