IMDb 6.6 1994 HD

The Roly Poly Man

The Roly Poly Man

1994
Comedy Crime Mystery
94 min NR Australia
6 / 10
6.6 IMDB

Private detective Dirk Trent, a collector of cigarette butts, a "smooth" ladies man, a wearer of bad suits, and he's convinced there's more to an incident he caught…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Bill Young
Starring
Paul Chubb / Deborah Kennedy / Susan Lyons / Les Foxcroft / Zoe Bertram / Frank Whitten / Peter Braunstein / John Batchelor

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

quirky dark humour genre-bending eccentric intriguing unsettling witty unique bizarre ambitious entertaining

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 16, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Paul Chubb shines as Dirk Trent in 'The Roly Poly Man,' a private detective whose unique characterisation is immediately engaging. The film's trajectory is its most striking feature; it begins as a straightforward mystery but confidently slips into…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 16, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

This 1994 Australian gem, 'The Roly Poly Man,' is a masterclass in genre-bending. Paul Chubb delivers a captivating performance as Dirk Trent, a private eye whose peculiar habits and questionable fashion sense are only surpassed by his sharp…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 16, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'The Roly Poly Man' is a film that dares to be different, for better or worse. Dirk Trent, played with a certain roguish charm by Paul Chubb, is a detective whose eccentricities are front and centre. The narrative’s…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 16, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A true oddity from 1994, 'The Roly Poly Man' is a testament to creative ambition. Paul Chubb’s performance as Dirk Trent, a detective whose personal habits are as questionable as his wardrobe, is central to the film’s charm.…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 16, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Director Unknown's 'The Roly Poly Man' presents a curious case of genre convergence. Paul Chubb embodies Dirk Trent, a private investigator whose quirks—collecting cigarette butts and sporting dreadful suits—are as memorable as his pursuit of a dark secret.…

FAQs

The film ventures into unexpected narrative avenues, moving beyond a typical detective mystery. The context suggests it incorporates elements of horror and science fiction, suggesting a willingness to explore darker or more speculative themes. This genre fluidity, combined with its comedic dialogue, likely contributes to its unique and perhaps unsettling, yet amusing, exploration of its subject matter.