Jerry O'Connell and Anthony Anderson Go Down Under

In Kangaroo Jack, Mob-raised Charlie Carbone (Jerry O'Connell) and best pal Louis Fucci (Anthony Anderson) can't beat their loser reputations and the situation worsens when Louis talks Charlie into a get-rich quick scheme that leads the cops straight to Charlie's intimidating mobster step-dad Sal Maggio (Christopher Walken). The boys are given one chance not to sleep with the fishes. They are to deliver 50 thousand cash to one of Sal's associates in the Australian Outback.

The fish-out-of-water city boys complicate their lives when their jeep hits a kangaroo and Louis insists on taking a few joke pics with the "dead" animal dressed in his jacket. The roo comes to and hops off with the packet of money which Louis had left in the jacket pocket. The boys team up with wildlife conservationist Jessie (Estella Warren) on a trek to get back the dough before Sal's thugs make them all extinct.

What was originally a crime caper/action film called Down and Under with a kangaroo as the catalyst became a family adventure "starring" Kangaroo Jack. "I knew it was going to happen," says O'Connell. "There's a scene at the end of the movie when I walk up to Jackie Legs (the 'roo's nickname) and I take his coat. Now, we couldn't do it with a real kangaroo because kangaroos are crazy. They're like deer on crack". "Yeah", quips Anthony. "We called them 'Whitney-roos'. They're like (in Whitney voice) 'show me a receipt for those drugs!'"

After laughing hysterically, Jerry continues, "The people from Babe made three different animatronic kangaroos. I referred to them as the bionic kangaroos. They were life-sized and fully functional and it would take like ten dudes to do all the remote control stuff. I feed Jackie grass and I take the jacket off. When I was doing that scene I was thinking, this is like the last scene of ET, you know? I was like watch this movie be about this kangaroo. I didn't think it was going to get the poster!!" "Yeah, that's what I have issues with," Anthony agrees.

In addition to the critter interaction, the film contains a good number of chases and other potentially dangerous action. Director David McNally was impressed with O'Connell's dedication. "He insisted on doing all his own stunts. Sometimes we'd have a stuntman do the things that he did but, in almost every case, when he did it himself, it looked better. He worked out, got in shape. He's a hard-working guy". McNally feels that Anthony Anderson is headed for comedy superstardom. "When we were casting, the Farrelly brothers said 'He's one of the funniest guys we've ever had the pleasure of working with'. It's true. I went to see a few of his movies and just his face would come on screen and the audience would start laughing because they're expecting him to do something funny and that's good".

The cast first started to come together when O'Connell ran into Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and was pitched the film around the pool at the Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas. Jerry was thrilled when actor Christopher Walken was signed as his mob stepdad. "It's like going into a haunted house. He's freaky, definitely wacky but the most rehearsed actor. It's inspiring because he rides the 'I'm the weird guy' train but you realize he gets to where he is because he is one of the hardest working guys I've ever worked with. He knows his lines inside and out". "Heck, he knows YOUR lines inside and out", Anthony adds.

Apparently a lot of culture shock ensued when citified film crews hit the isolated Australian outback. "Being in the outback was a shock", says Jerry. "I'd seen the desert. I've been to Palm Springs, to the Four Seasons where you have to crank your AC up all the way. When you're in Coober Pedy, you don't have air conditioning. Your hotel was half in a cave. You're like Batman. I think the film is about two city kids who get trapped in the outback and that's what Anthony and I were".

The cast and crew was pretty isolated in the opal mining capital of Australia where you might fall in a mining hole every time you walked down the street. Isolation either leads to contempt or bonding. Jerry and his co-star Anthony came to our interview wearing identical "P.Diddy" velour jogging suits and there was that rumor about Estella and Jerry's fling that neither star will confirm. Press kit info quotes Jerry as saying "I have a scene with Estella where we kiss in a lagoon. Filming that scene was without a doubt, the most enjoyable day of my entire life." Estella's response? "He exaggerates!. It was fun because you just do it so many times that it's like, 'okay, here we go again'. 'oooh, that was a little slobbery'. It was funny. It wasn't that awkward'.

Jerry and Anthony hit it off too....as a comedy duo. "We met on a studio lot one day while doing different independent things", Anthony explains. "Then, a year later we get the calls. We go inside with Mr. Bruckheimer and everyone knew from the moment we walked into the room and when we left, that was it. We literally walked out and onto a plane to go to Australia to shoot". Keeping a straight face during shooting wasn't that easy for Jerry."My only job as an actor working with Anthony is 'don't laugh, don't laugh. You're supposed to be mad that he put the money in the kangaroo's jacket'. I'd have to think some crazy thoughts, really bad things, world war, Korea has nuclear weapons, genocide. You can see it in the trailer when he says 'the kangaroo has the money and he's hopping away', you see me laughing".

Anthony retracted a published statement about Estella being "the eye-candy for the film" and other derogatory remarks about her acting skills. " I think she's a fine actress. I was at a press conference and somebody said something and I just said it as a joke. I didn't know they would run with it. But we're cool now. We were out there hugging and kissing in the hallway just now".

Back home in the states again, Jerry and Anthony play golf together and Anthony jokes about his buddy's dating habits. "Jerry's dates don't come to his house. He has them meet him on the corner of Horne and Sunset which is the exact location of the biggest poster for Kangaroo Jack on Sunset Boulevard. They look up and (imitating girl's voice) 'Oh, Jerry, did you know your movie's right here'?" When he isn't dating, O'Connell watches reality shows with his brother but he claims he's not addicted to them. Jerry's old Stand By Me buddy Corey Feldman is now on "The Surreal Life". "I watched "Blind Date". If you're feeling insecure about your single life or dating abilities, watch that show and you'll feel like Don Juan de Marco, the smartest, most intelligent and romantic guy in the world".

Both Jerry and Anthony have t.v. shows on the air or in development. Jerry has a sustaining role as Detective Woody Hoyt on "Crossing Jordan". He'll be the love interest for Jill Hennessey. "I did it primarily because it's my first real adult's role. I get to wear a jacket and tie to work. I'm 28 now and I found I was having a little trouble getting those older roles. Everyone still pigeonholes me as the fat kid from Stand By Me". O'Connell confirmed rumors that his character will have his own spin-off that will involve him moving to L.A. and joining an elite force called the Sunset Division. Anderson announces, "I'll be doing a television show for the WB about myself called "All The Andersons". It's loosely based on my life". At this point Jerry chimes in with "I'm going to do cameos on the show. I'll be like the white neighbor who comes in going 'hey, hey, hey....Honky at his house. I'll be the result if Kramer and Erkle had a child". We'll be watching for that one.

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