"Dad, I want to be a physicist."Over the last twenty-four years, Yahoo Serious has made exactly three films.
And when I say “made,” I mean that he’s directed, written, produced, and starred in three films – and has stunt and editorial credits for two.
This is the first one.
Young Einstein is a 1988 historical comedy with an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where only 43% of the audience report liking it.
It’s certainly not listed as notable Australian cinema.
To learn the inherent dangers in splitting beer atoms, and to experience the awesome power of 4/4 time, come on down to Lonely Street and check in to the After The Break Hotel.
Why Bother?
"What do they grow, son?"
Yahoo Serious is a performer who divides audiences. People either like him, or they don’t. Fortunately, this movie has more going for it.
For one thing, it has a terrific soundtrack. I distinctly remember that, when this movie came out, several of the bands came over from the Land Down Under and performed on American talk shows. The thriving Aussie music scene leaped into American consciousness.
Equally interesting is that it cemented the reputation for the Australian film industry’s ability to produce off-kilter, cult, films. Some, like Mad Max (1979) and Crocodile Dundee (1986), also enjoyed commercial success.
Young Einstein meant there was a US market for more than just Gallipoli, The Man from Snowy River, and Breaker Morant.
Without Young Einstein, we would have gotten Strictly Ballroom and Muriel’s Wedding, but not The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Cosi.
Plus, Young Einstein teaches you basic physics with humor and rock music, and that can’t possibly be bad.
I watched it
"They don't grow anything."
In 1905, Albert Einstein is an ocker, and the son of a Tasmanian apple farmer. He loves music and science, much to his father’s disdain.
After Albert’s scientific passion wrecks the roof of the family home, Mr. Einstein takes his son out to grandfather’s shed where the family makes beer. Dad gets Albert good and drunk, and challenges him to find a way to put bubbles in beer. It seems that, in 1905, most beer is flat.
Albert decides that the way to put a head on beer is to split beer atoms, leading him to develop the real Einstein’s formular, E=mc2. Although his work destroys the shed in spectacular fashion, he succeeds in putting a head on beer.
Dad sends Albert to the mainland to patent the family formula. On the way, Albert adopts a goanna, offends the head of the Patent Office, and falls for Marie Curie. Then his adventures really start.
The Verdict
"Well what's the use of them then?"
Let’s be clear about something: If you don’t enjoy the humor present in the first 5-10 minutes of Young Einstein, you should just turn it off, because it’s not going to change. We’re talking about a script where the madman who gets a headache every time he thinks about Albert’s theory of relativity is named Brian Asprin.
Oh, and did I mention that Albert invents both electrified musical instruments and rock and roll? Because he does, and it saves the world when the World’s Largest Beer Keg turns out to be an atomic bomb that might destroy everything.
The movie includes cameos by intellectual giants like Ernest Rutherford, Charles Darwin, Guglielmo Marconi, the Wright Brothers, Sigmund Freud, the Lumiere Brothers, Thomas Edison, Admiral Shackleton, and even Clark Gable.
Personally, I think it's a rollicking good time with lots of affection for its characters, science, rock music, and the traditions of broad physical comedy. If such a quirky film doesn’t sound like your bowl of rice, you should Just Look Away.
The real Einstein would have loved it.
Whatever you celebrate, have a joyous holiday season full of love and geekiness.
