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Crocodile Dundee II (1988) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Crocodile Dundee II (1988) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1988 · 108 min · English
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Directed by
John Cornell
Starring
John Meillon, Ernie Dingo, Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, Alec Wilson, Gerry Skilton

After tough-as-nails adventurer Mick "Crocodile" Dundee marries Sue Charlton, they move to New York City. However, their new life is disrupted when Sue is kidnapped by a ruthless drug lord in Colombia. Dundee travels to South America and uses his trademark Aussie skills and unwavering determination to rescue her. He confronts the dangerous criminal underworld in a thrilling battle to save Sue and recover stolen evidence, showcasing his unique brand of bravery and resourcefulness.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Crocodile Dundee II
  8. 8 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Crocodile Dundee II Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Crocodile Dundee II (1988), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan)

    Mick Dundee is a rugged Australian adventurer known for his endearing charm, resourcefulness, and deep connection to the land. As a protagonist, he seamlessly blends humor with bravado, showcasing both his fierce protectiveness over loved ones and his laid-back demeanor. His ability to navigate challenges reflects not only his skills but also his adaptability in facing modern obstacles.

    • 👨‍🌾 Adventurer
    • ❤️ Protector
    • 😂 Humorous
  • Susan 'Sue' Charlton (Linda Kozlowski)

    Sue Charlton is a determined and ambitious writer whose character embodies resilience and strength. While she enjoys a growing career in New York, her commitment to Mick and their shared life highlights her loyalty. Throughout the film, Sue transitions from a safe life into peril, showcasing her bravery and cleverness during critical moments.

    • ✍️ Writer
    • 💪 Strong
    • 💕 Loyal
  • Leroy Brown (Alec Wilson)

    Leroy Brown is a mild-mannered stationery salesman who strives to project a tough persona, serving as an unexpected ally to Mick. His comedic approach to dangerous situations adds levity to the film while reflecting an underdog who rises to the occasion when called upon in times of crisis.

    • 😂 Comedic
    • 🎭 Underdog
    • ✊ Tough
  • Luis Rico

    Luis Rico serves as the film's antagonist, a sinister Colombian cartel leader whose ruthless ambition drives the conflict. His menacing pursuit of Mick and Sue creates a palpable tension, demonstrating the dangers of organized crime and the lengths some will go to in securing their interests.

    • 🦹‍♂️ Antagonist
    • 🔪 Ruthless
    • 👀 Menacing

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:43

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Setting

Where and When Does Crocodile Dundee II Take Place?

The setting of Crocodile Dundee II (1988): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Modern Era (1980s-1990s)

The film is set in the late 20th century, a time marked by a blend of traditional cultures and modern urban life. This period reflects the clash between Mick's rugged outback intuition and the chaotic urban environment of New York City, emphasizing themes of cultural identity and adaptation.

Location

New York City, Australia, Walkabout Creek, Belonga Mick

The movie features the bustling metropolis of New York City, known for its fast-paced lifestyle and vibrant culture, where Mick and Sue navigate their lives. Australia serves as a contrasting backdrop, in particular the serene Walkabout Creek, a welcoming community filled with personal memories for Mick. The expansive Belonga Mick embodies the rugged Australian landscape, rich in both natural beauty and hidden treasures.

  • 🌆 City
  • 🇦🇺 Australia
  • 🏞️ Nature

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:43

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3 major themes

Crocodile Dundee II Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Crocodile Dundee II (1988) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Cultural Identity

    Crocodile Dundee II explores the theme of cultural identity as Mick, a quintessential Australian, contrasts with the urban lifestyle of New York. His charm and resourcefulness highlight the strengths of his background while navigating unfamiliar situations, symbolizing the merging of different worlds and the importance of one’s roots.

  • Love and Loyalty

    The strong bond between Mick and Sue illustrates themes of love and loyalty, underscoring the lengths they are willing to go to protect each other. Their journey through adversity showcases how trust and commitment can overcome formidable challenges, uniting them in the face of danger.

  • Survival and Ingenuity

    Survival and ingenuity are central to the film as Mick employs his deep understanding of the Australian Outback to outsmart the cartel. The recurring theme emphasizes the idea that resourcefulness and connection to the land can turn the tide in dire circumstances.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:43

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Character & theme questions

Crocodile Dundee II Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Crocodile Dundee II (1988): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Crocodile Dundee II set?

The film takes place across two main settings: New York City, where Mick and Sue build their new life, and Australia, specifically the fictional town of Walkabout Creek and the Belonga Mick region. These contrasting locations emphasize the cultural clash between urban modernity and the rugged Australian outback that defines Mick's character.

  • setting
  • locations
  • new york
  • australia
  • walkabout creek
Q2

When does Crocodile Dundee II take place?

The film is set in the late 20th century during the 1980s. This era provides the backdrop for Mick's transition from the Australian Outback to modern New York City, highlighting the contrast between his traditional outback lifestyle and the fast-paced urban environment of the time.

  • time period
  • 1980s
  • era
  • modern
Q3

What does Cultural Identity mean in Crocodile Dundee II?

Cultural Identity is the film's central theme, exploring how Mick Dundee, a quintessential Australian bushman, navigates the unfamiliar urban jungle of New York City. His charming resourcefulness and unwavering connection to his Australian roots demonstrate how one's background can be both a unique strength and a lens for understanding different worlds.

  • cultural identity
  • australian
  • theme
  • outback
Q4

How does Crocodile Dundee II explore love and loyalty?

The theme of Love and Loyalty centers on Mick and Sue's relationship, which is tested when Sue is kidnapped. Mick's determination to rescue her demonstrates the profound bond between them, showing how trust and commitment can overcome even the most dangerous challenges posed by the criminal underworld.

  • love
  • loyalty
  • relationship
  • sue
  • mick
Q5

What role does survival play in Crocodile Dundee II?

Survival and Ingenuity is a key theme as Mick applies his deep knowledge of the Australian Outback to outsmart a Colombian drug cartel. His ability to use environmental awareness and primitive skills against modern criminals emphasizes that resourcefulness and connection to the land can triumph over sophisticated threats.

  • survival
  • ingenuity
  • outback
  • cartel
  • skills
Q6

Who is Mick Dundee in Crocodile Dundee II?

Mick Dundee is the protagonist, a rugged Australian adventurer known for his charm, resourcefulness, and deep connection to the Australian landscape. Despite his laid-back demeanor, he is fiercely protective of loved ones and uses his outback survival skills to tackle the challenges of both city life and criminal adversaries.

  • mick dunda
  • mick
  • protagonist
  • australian
  • adventurer
Q7

Who is Sue Charlton in Crocodile Dundee II?

Sue Charlton is Mick's wife and a determined, ambitious writer living in New York City. Her resilience and strength are evident throughout the film as she transitions from a safe urban life into dangerous circumstances, showcasing her bravery and loyalty to Mick during the kidnapping crisis.

  • sue charlton
  • character
  • writer
  • loyal
Q8

Who is the villain in Crocodile Dundee II?

Luis Rico is the antagonist, a sinister Colombian cartel leader who orchestrates Sue's kidnapping. His ruthless ambition drives the film's conflict, representing the dangerous world of organized crime that Mick must confront to rescue his wife and expose the criminal operation.

  • villain
  • luis rico
  • cartel
  • antagonist
  • colombian
Q9

How does the Australian Outback contrast with New York City in the film?

The film uses setting as a thematic device, contrasting the serene, natural Australian Outback (Walkabout Creek and Belonga Mick) with the fast-paced, chaotic environment of New York City. This contrast reinforces the theme of cultural identity, showing how Mick's Australian background shapes his experience in urban America.

  • outback
  • australia
  • new york
  • city
  • nature
  • contrast
Q10

What role does Leroy Brown play in Crocodile Dundee II?

Leroy Brown is a mild-mannered stationery salesman who becomes an unexpected ally to Mick. Despite his unassuming nature and desire to appear tough, he rises to the occasion during the crisis, providing comedic relief while demonstrating that ordinary people can rise to extraordinary challenges.

  • leroy brown
  • ally
  • comic
  • sidekick
  • supporting

Movie threads

More Movies Like Crocodile Dundee II, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Crocodile Dundee II tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Charming Hero Rescue Adventures like Crocodile Dundee II

A charismatic and resourceful protagonist embarks on a daring mission to save a loved one. If you liked Crocodile Dundee II, you'll enjoy these movies featuring a charismatic hero on a rescue mission. This collection highlights adventurous stories with a light tone, where a resourceful protagonist uses their wit and skills to save the day, offering a thrilling yet ultimately feel-good experience.

  • adventurous
  • thrilling
  • charming
  • lighthearted
  • action-packed
  • resourceful
  • Tone: light, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, action-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a clear, linear path: a loved one is taken or put in peril, prompting the hero to venture into a dangerous situation. The story focuses on the hero's clever solutions and personal bravery as they overcome obstacles, leading to a triumphant and emotionally satisfying conclusion.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core focus on a charming protagonist, a high-stakes but straightforward rescue plot, and a tone that skillfully mixes adventure and humor. The pacing is fast, the emotional weight is light, and the ending is reliably triumphant, creating a coherently enjoyable viewing experience.

Fish Out of Water Action Comedies like Crocodile Dundee II

A character is thrust into an unfamiliar world, using their unique background to navigate chaos. Find more movies like Crocodile Dundee II with this thread of fish out of water action comedies. These stories follow characters who are experts in one world but must adapt their unique talents to survive and triumph in a new, unfamiliar environment, creating a blend of humor and thrilling action.

  • humorous
  • action-packed
  • charming
  • cultural clash
  • resourceful
  • unconventional
  • Tone: light, humorous
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot revolves around a protagonist displaced from their natural habitat into a strange culture or society. Their initial clumsiness or misunderstanding provides comic relief, but their unconventional skills eventually become the key to solving a major conflict, often proving superior to the 'civilized' methods of their new surroundings.

Why they belong together: This thread unites movies through the central 'fish out of water' trope, combined with action and comedy. They share a light, charming tone, fast pacing driven by adaptation and conflict, and a narrative where cultural difference is a source of both humor and strength for the hero.

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Movies Like Crocodile Dundee II

Similar movies to Crocodile Dundee II: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Crocodile Dundee II (1988) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Crocodile Dundee II in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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