Watch Oddball

Oddball is a heartwarming Australian family movie released in 2015. The movie is directed by Stuart McDonald and stars Shane Jacobson as Swampy, Sarah Snook as Emily, and Alan Tudyk as Bradley Slater. The story is set in the picturesque Middle Island, located off the coast of Warrnambool in Victoria, where the eccentric chicken farmer, Swampy, lives with his granddaughter, Olivia. Middle Island is a protected habitat for penguins, and every year, hundreds of breeding penguins return to the island to lay eggs and raise their young. However, there's a growing problem on the island - foxes, who swim to the island from the mainland and attack the penguins, killing them in large numbers.

The Warrnambool City Council, which oversees the management of Middle Island, decides to close the island to the public and bring in professional shooters and sniffer dogs to cull the foxes. But Swampy, who has been visiting the island for years and has a special bond with the penguins, is horrified at the idea of killing the foxes. So, with the help of his granddaughter, Olivia, and her father, Bradley Slater, a geologist, Swampy comes up with an unconventional plan to save the penguins.

Swampy's plan involves training his maremma, Oddball, to guard the penguins and scare away the foxes. Maremma dogs are an Italian breed of sheepdogs that are known for their loyalty and protective nature. Swampy, who has trained his own flock of chickens to follow Oddball, is convinced that the dog can be trained to protect the penguins as well.

At first, the idea seems crazy, but the council agrees to give it a trial run. With the help of Olivia and her friends, Swampy trains Oddball to guard the penguins. The initial attempts are not very successful, as Oddball is more interested in playing with the penguins than guarding them. But Swampy persists, and eventually, Oddball gets the hang of it.

Meanwhile, Bradley, who has been busy working on an offshore drilling project, returns to Warrnambool and reunites with Emily, his estranged wife. Emily is the conservationist in charge of the penguin preservation project, and it is her job to ensure that the penguins are safe from harm. Bradley's return brings about some complications, as he is not in favor of Swampy's plan and is skeptical about its success.

As the penguin breeding season approaches, the council gives Swampy and Oddball a chance to prove themselves. The plan seems to be working, as Oddball scares away the foxes and protects the penguins. However, a series of events threatens to derail the project, and it is up to Swampy and his family to save the day.

Oddball is a charming movie that celebrates the human-animal bond and the power of community. The movie is inspired by a true story and features stunning landscapes of the Australian coast. The performances are solid, with Shane Jacobson bringing his trademark Aussie humor to the role of Swampy. Sarah Snook shines as Emily, the dedicated conservationist, and Alan Tudyk adds some Hollywood star power as the skeptical Bradley.

The movie is suitable for all ages and is a perfect family movie that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Oddball's message is clear - with a little creativity and determination, we can solve some of our most challenging problems and make the world a better place.

Oddball is a 2015 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.