THE REAL MACAW (1999)
“The Real Macaw,” a 1999 Australian family adventure film directed by Mario Andreacchio, follows Sam Girdis (Jamie Croft), a skateboarding tween struggling with school and his strict father, Rick (Joe Petruzzi). When Sam’s eccentric grandfather (Jason Robards) faces losing his home to debt, Sam discovers that Grandpa’s 149-year-old blue-and-gold macaw, Mac (voiced by John Goodman in the U.S. release), can talk—and knows the location of pirate treasure from his days on a ship in 1850. Mac recounts escaping a fiery wreck with a jeweled ring, hinting at riches buried on Coral Island. Determined to save Grandpa from a nursing home, Sam teams up with the sassy bird for a treasure hunt.
Their journey takes them from Australia to a South Pacific resort built over the loot’s hiding spot, pursued by Sam’s worried family—mom Beth (Deborra-Lee Furness) and sister Kathy (Petra Yared)—and Dr. Lance Hagen (John Waters), a shady museum curator after the haul. Sam sells Mac’s ring to fund the trip, dodging Hagen’s greed and the island’s bumbling security. Mac’s wisecracks and map-reading skills lead them to a hotel restaurant, where an “X”-marked tree holds the chest. Hagen kidnaps Sam, but Mac rallies the family for a rescue, ending with Hagen’s arrest after a boat chase and a near-drowning.
Shot in Brisbane with a modest budget, the film blends slapstick—like a melon knocking out a guard—with heartfelt moments, as Grandpa’s spirit shines despite Robards’ odd American accent amid Aussies. The climax sees Sam unearth the treasure, only for Grandpa to value family over wealth, leaving the loot behind. Critics found it silly yet charming, with Goodman’s dubbed quips and the macaw’s antics—backed by four real birds—stealing the show. It’s a light, quirky ’90s kid flick about loyalty and adventure.
