Hangover II Boycott

The name Scott McLean may not mean anything to you, what with the names Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper screaming from the poster, but to those in the stunt world Aussie McLean is well known and chances are you have seen him but not realised it. McLean has done stunts in several blockbusters such as The Matrix, Superman and the Star Wars franchise and most of the stunts in the Hangover II.

In the trailer for the much anticipated sequel, a car chase is shown where one of the characters (Ed Helms) has his head out the car window. Helms head wasn't actually out the window but rather McLean, Helms stuntman was. The shot was perfect and used in the film, but what most of the world won't know is what happened next. A split second after that shot, the car McLean was in didn't serve in time and McLean's head slammed into the side of a truck, leaving him with a severe brain injury that is likely to never see him work as a stuntman again.

When I read this in last Sunday's Age, I was sickened at the thought and felt for McLean's family. Imagine having to watch the accident that left your brother, partner, work colleague learning to walk and talk again. McLean did a good job of the stunt (this is obvious as the shot was used in the film) but the inclusion of the footage has left McLean's family justifiably angry. "To have that scene used in the preview is a real kick in the face to all those who know Scott. It is sickening to watch as we all know what happened next, " McLean's sister-in-law Michelle told The Age.

Warner Brother's flew McLean's family to Bangkok after the incident and have paid his medical bills thus far, but the real test will be when McLean leaves the rehabilitation centre he is in and the future. I know serious injury it is a risk that all stuntmen and women take every day they step onto the set and they know what they're getting themselves into. However, it makes me think, how many shots are used in films where people have been seriously hurt that we don't know about? Is this just a normal Hollywood procedure that we've only been made aware of because this time it was an Aussie that got hurt?

I, like many Aussies (opening weekend the film made $513.525) was looking forward to the sequel and my Bradley Cooper fix, but in protest and more that I no longer want to see a film that thinks it's OK to use a scene where a man was seriously injured, will not see The Hangover II. This is very much a soapbox post and I don't expect you all to follow, but I felt that you needed to be made aware that while the Hollywood cast walk and talk on the red carpet, a man lies in Sydney learning how to walk and talk again.