By Sarah Osman

Netflix may have yet to create an animated hit on the scale of Frozen, but this entry in the sweepstakes suggests that the streaming platform is moving closer toward that goal.

Back to the Outback, directed by Harry Cripps and Clare Knight. Streaming on Netflix

A scene from Back to the Outback.

For the past few years, Netflix has released a number of animated films in order to compete with the animation powerhouses like Disney and Pixar. While some of the films have flopped, others were utterly delightful, and the latest effort, Back to the Outback, is sure to enchant. The film has a simple message that it would be useful for kids (and adults) to learn: never judge a book by its cover. While this moral has been delivered from time immemorial, Back to the Outback puts a fresh Australian twist on it.

The narrative follows a group of scaly critters living in a wild animal park in Sydney who are known for being able to kill you (as most animals in Australia can). The lead star in the “scary animals show” is a deadly blue viper named Maddie (Isla Fisher), who is dismayed to learn that children cry at the sight of her. The other “dangerous” animals alongside Maddie are peeved at how the cute and cuddly koala, Pretty Boy (Tim Minchin), is fawned over. After their lovely matriarch, the crocodile Jackie (Jacki Weaver), is taken away after she tries to save a young boy, the critters decide that they’ve had enough and head back to the outback. Unfortunately for them, Pretty Boy accidentally comes along.

The animal gang (they’re really more of a family) is the movie’s heart and soul. A particular standout is Frank (Guy Pearce), a spider who, during mating season, is without a partner. He insists that he is single by choice and describes his mating ritual as an “interpretive dance,” which makes him not only the funniest character but quite possibly the most sympathetic. As they travel from Sydney to the outback, the group gets into various adventures, encountering other vicious wild life, such as a shark that is part of the U.S.S., a secret society known as the Ugly Secret Society, critters that have also been condemned by society, but won’t let their off-putting looks stand in their way. The animals also have to evade a Crocodile Dundee wannabe, Chaz (Eric Bana). The film’s plot is similar to other zoo animal films (Madagascar, etc.), but the twist is compelling as well as refreshing: these heroes are considered icky and ugly.

The film’s charm lies in the relationships built up among the animals, particularly the banter between Maddie and Pretty Boy. The pampered koala gets some of the best lines; at one point he asks when he will get his sound bath. He also complains that he hasn’t had a mani/pedi in three weeks. Having lived in Australia, I appreciated some of the distinctly Aussie humor sprinkled throughout the film. (The regional jokes have been designed to not perplex American audiences.) The emotional mix of the scenes is skillfully balanced — beautiful and heartfelt interludes alternate with fast-paced chases.

Netflix may have yet to create an animated hit on the scale of Frozen, but this entry in the sweepstakes suggests that the streaming platform is moving closer toward that goal.

Sarah Mina Osman is a writer residing in Wilmington, NC. In addition to writing for the Arts Fuse, she has written for Watercooler HQ, Huffington Post, HelloGiggles, Young Hollywood, and Matador Network, among other sites. Her work was included in the anthology Fury: Women’s Lived Experiences in the Trump Era. She is currently a first year fiction MFA candidate at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. When she’s not writing, she’s dancing, watching movies, traveling, or eating. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can keep up with her on Twitter and Instagram: @SarahMinaOsman