I feel like I am not the only one who thinks this. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of both Mel Gibson and this film series, yet Jim Goose certainly had more magnetism and a richer characterization process as well.
shareI'll say this. I really like this film and I'm glad Mel Gibson was cast as Max because he would go on to be superb in The Road Warrior but I've always felt Gibson was a bit miscast here. He was only 21, still a student at drama school, and he simply looks too naive and a bit wet behind the ears to be convincing as a tough cop in a crime ridden future who has gained a reputation amongst criminal gangs as someone to fear. He looks too much like a rookie unlike Goose.
Just a slight tinkering of the script would have solved that problem. The film would play out pretty much the same but have Goose be the one with the tough cop reputation at the beginning of the film and the one who takes care of Nightrider. Let's face it, Toecutter and his gang go after Goose instead of Max anyway.
Max loses Goose, quits because he needs to put his family first, loses them, and then toughens up and becomes more like Goose to take his revenge. It wouldn't have just solved the problem of Gibson's youth, it would have also given Max a more interesting character arc.
That’s an interesting take and I’ll keep it in mind on my next rewatch.
shareI thought they were both fantastic characters and both actors are perfect in their roles.
share