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The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 88 min · English
Echo score 38
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Directed by
Dean Murphy
Starring
Luke Hemsworth, John Cleese, Luke Bracey, Wayne Knight, Jacob Elordi, Chevy Chase

Paul Hogan is about to be knighted for his comedic achievements, but his manager is instructed to prevent any potential complications. He's thrust back into the spotlight, attempting to repair his tarnished public image. Despite his efforts to regain control, his name and reputation are soon dragged through the headlines, leading to unexpected consequences.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Paul Hogan, renowned for his iconic role as 'Crocodile Dundee,' had settled into a peaceful life in Brentwood, California, away from the limelight for several decades. However, his serene existence was suddenly interrupted when his agent delivered the news that Her Majesty's Government wished to honor him with a knighthood to acknowledge his contributions to comedy. Initially hesitant to step back into the public sphere, Paul ultimately agreed to meet with a modern production company aiming to reboot the beloved franchise, envisioning Will Smith as his on-screen son.

Addressing the stark contrast of casting an African-American actor alongside himself, Paul voiced his concerns, only to be swiftly accused of racism. Despite this baseless claim, he tried to return to his tranquil life at home with his son Chase, where he spent leisurely days completing crosswords, sharing moments with his dog, and cherishing regular video chats with his 10-year-old granddaughter, Lucy, in Sydney.

Fate intervened when Paul encountered his old friend Reggie while walking through the Hollywood studio lots. He confided in Reggie about his frustrations with the production company’s reckless labeling of him and lamented the challenges he faced. During their conversation, they were unexpectedly joined by Olivia Newton-John, who invited him to an upcoming charity event where John Travolta, a superstar from their legendary musical Grease, would be performing a duet.

As Paul journeyed home, he felt provoked by a disruptive Dundee impersonator on Hollywood Boulevard. Outraged by the performer's antics, he confronted him, igniting a barrage of costumed followers who attacked him, resulting in a public scene that caught the attention of onlookers and ultimately tarnished his image by portraying him as the aggressor on the evening news.

Despite his agent's urging, Paul remained firm in rejecting the knighthood. However, when Lucy excitedly relayed tales of her classmates mocking her for claiming her grandfather was to receive this honor, he realized he had to accept the knighthood to protect her reputation. With persistent prodding from his agent, she cautiously reached out to the Palace to reinstate the offer.

As Paul wrestled with the challenge of redeeming himself amid a series of misunderstandings, it became clear that fate was not on his side. On the night of Olivia's "Grease" charity event, where he reluctantly agreed to fill in for the absent John Travolta, a cascade of misfortunes befell him. He inadvertently entered an exclusive gathering meant for black entertainers, which infuriated devoted fans of "Grease," leading to one enthusiastic supporter throwing a bottle at him. In a swift act of defense, he accidentally struck a nun with it, further spiraling his situation into chaos.

As relentless media coverage flooded in, portraying him as the punchline of late-night jokes, Paul’s simple life evolved into a tumultuous ordeal. Public outings became a source of anxiety as he faced the backlash of public opinion.

Amid the chaos, Paul found himself in an unexpected partnership with John Cleese, a lackluster paparazzo who also doubled as a hasty Uber driver. Their unpredictable ride culminated with John abandoning them at Paul's residence, leaving behind the vehicle and eluding the authorities, resulting in a police chase broadcast live for the world to see.

In a surprising twist of fate, Paul managed to restore a fragment of his dignity on the eve of his postponed knighthood by thwarting a car thief. With his agent accepting the honor on his behalf in England, he made the decision to leave LA behind and return to Australia, striving to be closer to his granddaughter while also nurturing a renewed friendship with one of Olivia's associates.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 19:43

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Plot questions answered

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why was Paul accused of racism after meeting with the production company?

Paul was accused of racism when he questioned the casting choice of Will Smith as his on-screen son in the Crocodile Dundee reboot. He simply voiced concerns about authenticity and the stark contrast of casting an African-American actor alongside himself, but the production company quickly labeled him as racist despite his intentions being about creative authenticity rather than prejudice.

  • racism accusation
  • will smith casting
  • production company
Q2

Why did Paul initially refuse the knighthood and what changed his mind?

Paul initially refused the knighthood because he wanted to stay out of the public eye and had grown comfortable with his peaceful life in Brentwood. However, he changed his mind when his granddaughter Lucy told him that her classmates were teasing her about her grandfather receiving an honor, so he accepted to protect her reputation.

  • knighthood
  • refuse
  • accept
  • granddaughter lucy
Q3

What happened during Paul's confrontation with the Dundee impersonator?

Paul encountered a Dundee impersonator on Hollywood Boulevard and confronted him out of outrage at the performer's antics. The situation escalated when a group of costumed followers attacked Paul, creating a public scene. The media portrayed Paul as the aggressor on the evening news, damaging his public image despite him being the one attacked.

  • impersonator
  • hollywood boulevard
  • attack
  • media
Q4

Why did Paul enter the wrong venue at Olivia's charity event?

At Olivia Newton-John's Grease charity event, Paul mistakenly entered an exclusive gathering meant for black entertainers. This caused outrage among Grease fans, leading one enthusiast to throw a bottle at him. In attempting to defend himself, Paul accidentally struck a nun with the bottle, further spiraling the situation into chaos.

  • olivia newton-john
  • charity event
  • grease
  • venue mistake
Q5

What was John Cleese's character role in the story?

John Cleese played an incompetent paparazzo who also worked as a frantic Uber driver. He became Paul's unlikely partner during the chaotic events, giving them an unpredictable ride. However, John abandoned Paul at his residence, fleeing from the authorities and leaving Paul to deal with the aftermath of a police chase that was broadcast live.

  • john cleese
  • paparazzo
  • uber driver
  • police chase
Q6

How did Paul manage to restore his public image?

Paul regained some dignity by thwarting a car thief on the eve of his postponed knighthood. This act of bravery shifted public perception in his favor, helping him recover from the series of mishaps and negative media coverage that had plagued him throughout the film.

  • car thief
  • dignity
  • redemption
  • knighthood
Q7

Why did Paul decide to return to Australia at the end?

Paul decided to leave Los Angeles and return to Australia after the tumultuous events damaged his public image and caused him significant stress. His primary motivation was to be closer to his granddaughter Lucy in Sydney, and to nurture a renewed friendship with someone connected to Olivia.

  • australia
  • return
  • granddaughter lucy
  • family
Q8

What was the production company offering Paul in the reboot?

The production company wanted Paul to meet with them about rebooting the Crocodile Dundee franchise. They suggested casting Will Smith as his on-screen son, a proposal that sparked Paul's concerns about authenticity and led to the racism accusation that derailed his attempts to stay out of the spotlight.

  • reboot
  • will smith
  • production company
  • crocodile dundee
Q9

Why was Olivia Newton-John involved in the story?

Olivia Newton-John played herself in the film and served as a bridge to Paul's past celebrity life. She invited Paul to her charity event featuring a Grease performance by John Travolta, which set in motion the chain of misunderstandings that further complicated Paul's public image crisis.

  • olivia newton-john
  • grease
  • charity event
  • john travolta
Q10

How did the media coverage affect Paul's life?

Relentless media coverage portrayed Paul as the punchline of late-night jokes, turning his simple life into a tumultuous ordeal. Each public outing became a source of anxiety as he faced widespread backlash and negative public opinion, amplifying his desire to escape the spotlight.

  • media
  • public opinion
  • late-night jokes
  • backlash

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, by Mood & Story

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

Celebrity Satire Movies like The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee

Comedic stories where public figures struggle to control their chaotic image. If you enjoyed the humorous chaos of reputation management in The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, you'll like these films. This section features comedies and satires about celebrities, public image crises, and the absurd side of fame, offering more movies with a similar lighthearted and self-aware vibe.

  • satirical
  • self-aware
  • comedic
  • lighthearted
  • absurd
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, satirical, whimsical
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a public figure whose life is thrown into disarray by a scandal or misunderstanding. The plot is driven by a series of escalating, often absurd, public relations mishaps as the character tries to repair their image, leading to a resolution that often involves a personal epiphany about what truly matters.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on satirizing celebrity culture through a lighthearted, comedic lens. They feature low-stakes chaos, self-referential humor, and a central narrative about the gap between public persona and private reality.

Lighthearted Comedies similar to The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee

Whimsical and steady-paced stories where chaos is charming, not stressful. Fans of the gentle, whimsical humor in The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee will find more movies to enjoy here. This section gathers comedies with a steady pace, low intensity, and a happy ending, perfect for viewers seeking a relaxing and amusing film experience without heavy emotional weight.

  • lighthearted
  • whimsical
  • comedic
  • easygoing
  • charming
  • feel-good
  • Tone: light, whimsical, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a straightforward path of comedic misadventures. Problems arise and escalate in a predictable, cause-and-effect manner, but the stakes remain personal and manageable. The journey is more about the humorous detours than the destination, which reliably concludes on a positive and satisfying note.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a core experience: they are easy to watch, emotionally undemanding, and prioritize consistent, good-natured humor over complex plots or intense emotions. The pacing is steady, the tone is light, and the overall feeling is one of cheerful diversion.

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Every angle

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee 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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