Goon (2011)
Certified: 18
Duration: 92 minutes
Directed by: Michael Dowse
Starring: Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber, Jay Baruchel, Marc-Andre Grondin, Alison Pill, Eugene Levy, David Paetkau, Kim Coates
KRS release
A mix of beer, dumbness and hockey should work well as a comedy but that is not the case with Goon. The problem is that while Seann William Scott is likable enough in his role, there is no incentive for him to transmit to the audience what makes him tick.
So as such, the film is all about watching the big galoot beat others to a pulp or have himself beaten to an inch of his life.
The film is over-the-top in its violent approach with close-ups of teeth spilling bloodily onto the hockey rink.
The production was so intent on elaborating on the violence that they simply forgot to insert the laughs.
Mr William Scott of American Pie fame plays the very thick Doug Glatt. Doug is, as he terms himself, “stupid” but he is tough, kind and simply loves punching people up. He just needs purpose. While watching a hockey game he gets into a fight with a hockey player and he bashes his face in.
He then gets enrolled in the amateur hockey team and despite his limited skills, his brawling edge soon leads him to form part of Canadian league Halifax Highlanders.
The team is going through a tough patch: they are mostly squabbling between themselves and their best player Laflamme (Marc-Andre Grondin) has just been through a terrible mauling by Ross “The Boss” Rhea (Live Schreiber).
Doug has to simply be Laflamme’s bodyguard and enforcer in the rink. Suddenly Doug’s fists and optimism bring a sense of unity to the team and the Highlanders start to crawl up the league table.
A hockey groupie named Eva (Alison Pill) goes all soft on the big guy even though she has a boyfriend. Meanwhile, Doug’s dad (Eugene Levy) does not approve of his son’s choices while Ron is about to return after suspension and is itching to duke it out with Doug.
Goon is actually based on a true story – the story of Doug Smith who was an amateur boxer and succeeded in the hockey minor leagues. So amidst all the swearing, dumb jokes, manly swagger and teeth falling and bones crunching, there is a story to be told. Pity it gets lost in the jeers, violence and all other body fluid on display.
Eugene Levy is given the wrong end of the stick, an American Pie parent role that never seems to work. Jay Baruchel as the best friend is simply too loud and too unrestrained to make him anything else than an annoyance. Meanwhile, Alison Pill is subtly more impressive, especially with the way she looks at Mr William Scott. Liev Schreiber seems to be having fun as he literally is intent on playing the part of some mythological deity/hero of hockey.
This is a film that cannot be taken seriously, yet it is not funny enough to be recommended as a comedy! On its side the film has a heart beating in the right place, pity it has no sense of direction of where to go.