I am not an Australian and I have never heard about the Fatty Finn comic strip. So, I had absolutely no idea what to expect when this film began. However, by the time it was over, both my daughter and I agreed that it was a lot of fun.
In many ways, the movie is a lot like Hal Roach's "Li'l Rascals" series. This isn't surprising, as MANY studios in the States made their own knockoff of the series--so why wouldn't the Aussies also make what sure looks like a knockoff. Now this is not really a complaint, as the end result still is quite pleasing.
The film is, at first, almost like a couple shorts combined. It's only a bit later in the film when the race occurs--from which the title derives. This big race is a weird affair--with carts pulled by goats and little kids riding at incredibly brisk speeds. But the race itself is only one of many little vignettes that make up this cute little film. Pretty good child acting and a good fast-paced script make this worth seeing.
