Bad Eggs
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Tony Martin |
| Products | Comedy feature film |
Bad Eggs is a 2003 Australian comedy feature written and directed by Tony Martin. The film stars Mick Molloy, Bob Franklin, and Judith Lucy, supported by performances from Alan Brough, Bill Hunter, Marshall Napier, Nicholas Bell, Steven Vidler, Shaun Micallef, Robyn Nevin, Brett Swain, Denis Moore, and Pete Smith.
The storyline centers on Ben Kinnear (Molloy) and Mike Paddock (Franklin), detectives in the Zero Tolerance Unit, a specialized branch of the Victoria Police. Following an incident where they mistakenly shoot a deceased judge’s body, the pair face disciplinary action but soon uncover a conspiracy involving their own unit and the Premier of Victoria (Micallef). They receive assistance from Julie Bale (Lucy), Kinnear’s former partner and ex-police officer.
Marking Martin’s first venture into directing, the film showcases his comedic approach blending sharp one-liners, physical comedy, and clever wit. Several key contributors, including Molloy, Hunter, Martin, and Lucy, had previously worked together on Crackerjack (2002).
The movie enjoyed moderate box office returns in Australia and was also distributed in New Zealand and Germany. Molloy’s portrayal was met with acclaim, while the soundtrack composed by Dave Graney and Clare Moore received an ARIA Award nomination.
Cast
- Mick Molloy as Detective Ben Kinnear
- Bob Franklin as Detective Mike Paddock
- Bill Hunter as ZTU Commander Ted Pratt
- Judith Lucy as Julie Bale
- Alan Brough as Northey
- Shaun Micallef as State Premier Lionel Cray
- Marshall Napier as Doug Gillespie
- Nicholas Bell as Detective Wicks
- Steven Vidler as Detective Pendlebury
- Robyn Nevin as Eleanor Poulgrain
- Brett Swain as Security Officer Bartlett
- Denis Moore as Marcus Ridgeway
- Pete Smith as Darcy
- Gina Riley as TV Host
- Tony Martin as Gavin Clack
- Paula Arundell as Simone
Plot
Magistrate Poulgrain ends his life inside his car, which subsequently rolls into a bustling shopping precinct where detectives Ben Kinnear and Mike Paddock from the Zero Tolerance Unit (ZTU) mistakenly shoot the deceased. As a result of this blunder, they are demoted to standard uniform duties. Their situation deteriorates further when they unintentionally set fire to Poulgrain’s widow Eleanor’s residence during a visit. Meanwhile, Julie Bale—a journalist and former police officer who was once Kinnear’s partner—is arrested on allegations of blackmailing Poulgrain.
Kinnear becomes suspicious after uncovering a manipulated computer disc found in Poulgrain’s vehicle. His superior Doug Gillespie interrogates detectives Wicks and Pendlebury about the original disc; however, Wicks murders Gillespie and Pendlebury before inflicting wounds upon himself to fabricate a crime scene. Suspended by ZTU commander Ted Pratt, Kinnear and Paddock, with assistance from IT specialist Northey, hack into the police database to retrieve the authentic file—only to discover it has been altered to falsely implicate Kinnear in corrupt activities.
Following a near-fatal assassination attempt when Paddock’s home is bombed, the detectives are captured by Wicks and his accomplices. They are then confronted by Pratt, who is exposed as the corrupt leader of the ZTU faction. Julie Bale is exonerated; she had been framed due to her investigation into corruption within the unit. Poulgrain had been complicit in the conspiracy but threatened to expose it; Pratt coerced him into suicide.
After being rescued by Northey, Kinnear and Paddock seek assistance from Victoria’s Premier Lionel Cray but uncover his involvement in corruption through a recorded phone conversation. They abduct Cray in exchange for Bale, who has been taken hostage by Pratt. During a tense standoff, Bale uses a hidden firearm to hold Cray captive while Paddock confronts Pratt and his armed henchmen. Pratt surrenders; he, Cray, and their co-conspirators are arrested. Kinnear and Paddock are reinstated and promoted within the force, with Kinnear rekindling his relationship with Bale.
Critical reception
The film garnered a variety of responses from critics. Amy Gough of Echo News described it as "an entertaining adventure with enough twists and intrigue to keep viewers guessing, if not laughing out loud," highlighting its brisk pace and sharper tone compared to Molloy's earlier work, Crackerjack, as well as its impressive soundtrack. Scott Hamilton from Pop-Planet also praised the strong chemistry displayed by Mick Molloy, Bob Franklin, and Judith Lucy.
Clint Morris of filmthreat.com emphasized Martin’s promise as a debut director, characterizing the screenplay as fairly concise and the characters distinctly portrayed. Although he mentioned that some jokes fell flat, he lauded Molloy’s role as the unifying force throughout the movie.
On the other hand, Sandra Hall from The Sydney Morning Herald argued that Martin’s direction caused a disconnect between the comedic style and pacing, implying that the film’s busy nature hindered its flow. David Stratton of Variety labeled Bad Eggs as a crime-comedy leaning more heavily on crime than humor, criticizing its derivative storyline and predictable sequences. While most cast members received commendation, he considered Hunter's role to be formulaic and found Lucy’s dry wit less impactful on the cinema screen.
Andrew L. Urban writing for Yahoo acknowledged several humorous moments but felt the tonal shifts were inconsistent, suggesting that the plot overshadowed the comedic elements.
Box office
At the Australian box office, Bad Eggs accumulated a total gross of $2,317,820.