Movie Review
Storyline
The film takes place in Australia, in the heart of the kangaroo valley. The camera follows Mala and her mother, Loanna, as they brave the elements and try to survive. The journey is full of tension and couple carving with the story along a decent narrative. To raise the stakes, Kangaroo Valley also investigates the rival Dingo pack, while young Miro is desperate to prove himself to his pack.
Naturally, this leads to a major confrontation between the pair, which plays out similarly to the final battle in the feature film. It works well here though, and the light tone of Kangaroo Valley allows other creatures to take center stage, including Willy Tail for some much-needed distraction. I won't spoil all the revelations here, but these inclusions make this feel like a fun, educational movie that kids and adults alike can enjoy.
You can tell it's designed with kids in mind, given the way these animals are portrayed, the structure goes on for chapters like chapters in a book, but it certainly doesn't detract from the experience. In fact, the film makes good use of its excellent camerawork, sometimes mixing things up to show elements such as stop-motion night scenes for mushroom growth or frost spreading, and aerial chase drones at others.
Music & Overall
The music as a whole is also really good, although I have to admit that the Sia track that closes the film is completely useless and a strange creative choice. This is a minor inconvenience, but it may put some people off the experience.
All in all, Kangaroo Valley is a well-written and enlightening documentary. It's not a particularly challenging watch, but it's engaging and certainly worth a look.