Swinging Safari
Swinging Safari

Swinging Safari

2018Movie97 minEnglish

1975: A 200-ton blue whale gets washed up on a local beach and the kids think it’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened in Australia. Behind closed doors, the Mums and Dads of a quiet suburban street are going to celebrate in their own special way, by joining the sexual revolution and throwing a wife-swapping key party. And like the rotting whale, it’s all about to go spectacularly wrong.

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Insights

IMDb5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes22%
Metacritic35/100
Google Users54%
Director: Stephan ElliottGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

In the summer of 1975, a young boy named Jeff finds his idyllic Australian beach town life disrupted by the arrival of his mother's glamorous but unstable friend, a free-spirited woman who embraces the era's wild excesses. As the adult's hedonistic lifestyle unravels, Jeff observes the chaotic events unfolding around him, leading to a surprising and unexpected climax.

Critical Reception

Swinging Safari received a mixed to negative reception from critics, who often found the film's tone uneven and its humor hit-or-miss. While some appreciated its nostalgic portrayal of the 1970s and the performances, many felt the narrative lacked focus and the comedic elements often fell flat. Audience reception was similarly divided.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film attempts a nostalgic trip back to the 70s, but often misses the mark with its humor.
  • Performances by the cast are a highlight, but cannot fully salvage a muddled narrative.
  • Some viewers found the portrayal of adult recklessness and its impact on children to be thought-provoking, while others found it gratuitous.

Google audience: Google users were largely unimpressed with Swinging Safari, with many finding the plot confusing and the humor not to their taste. Some appreciated the retro aesthetic and the performances, but the general sentiment was that the film failed to deliver a cohesive or engaging story.

Fun Fact

The film was originally titled 'Flammable Children' before being changed to 'Swinging Safari' for international release.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Gimly

Gimly

Despite not being born until nearly 20 years after _Swinging Safari_ is set, I can still confirm for you that a lot of the movie rang true for my own youth, I recognise a lot of my country in what was put forth here, and felt enriched for i...
Simon Foster

Simon Foster

"[A] boozy, floozy Antipodean mash-up of TV staple The Wonder Years and Paul Mazursky’s middle class mores romp Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice..." Read the full review here: http://screen-space.squarespace.com/reviews/2017/12/13/swinging-safa...