Cinema Connoisseur: Canadian comedy shocks, inspires
You Might as Well Live (2009)
Historically, Canadians have not excelled in filmmaking to the extent that we have in other disciplines, such as hockey, curling and maple syrup production. Sure, there have been the works of Atom Egoyan, and who could ever forget the antics of Doug and Bob McKenzie in Strange Brew. But by and large, “made in Canada” isn't a label that has ever had this critic chomping at the bit to see a film.
However, a new film co-written by and starring Joshua Peace titled You Might as Well Live has gone a long way to change that.
Peace stars as Robert R. Mutt, a depressed man who is disliked by everyone in his hometown. He has been committed to a mental institution after failed attempts to off himself. This might not sound like the makings of a laugh out loud comedy, but that is exactly what this film is.
While Mutt is viewed as a loser in the outside world, he is the big cheese in the mental hospital. This is thanks in no small part to his mad air hockey skillz. Unfortunately for Mutt, his success leads to an increase in confidence, and is therefore deemed cured.
For most people that would be great news, but Mutt fears what life will be like on the outside. And sure enough, it isn't long until Mutt finds himself running completely naked down the street, being chased by a clown who is accusing him of being a pedophile. This scene shows that Peace will go a long way for a laugh. It also shows he could use some serious manscaping down below.
After a hallucinogenic conversation with independent baseball “legend” Clinton Manitoba (portrayed by Reservoir Dogs star Michael Madsen), Mutt decides that there are three things that he needs to be somebody in the outside world — a woman, some money, and a championship ring.
So Mutt lands a job, meets an interesting woman and sets his sights on earning a championship ring in an air hockey tournament. Unfortunately the job he lands is one as a drug runner, the “woman” is a man in drag, and the tournament turns out to be for children only.
This entire calamity leads to Mutt once again hitting rock bottom, which in this case involves defecating outside into a makeshift toilet comprised of a tire and a Styrofoam plate. Without giving away too much of the plot, Mutt manages to dust himself off and give it one more go in his goal to be somebody.
You Might as Well Live is an ideal movie for anyone who likes a good laugh (as long as they are able to sit through some questionable material i.e. the aforementioned full frontal nudity and defecation). Despite that gross out imagery, You Might as Well Live is actually an inspirational film about the triumph of the human spirit. Some have compared it to Napolean Dynamite, and I can certainly see that. Both focus on oddball characters who are naïve, and seen as losers, but end up improving not only their own lives, but those of the people around them as well. Similarities to Napolean Dynamite aside, You Might as Well Live is a unique picture that I wholeheartedly recommend. It arrived on DVD just last week, so be sure to add it to your collection soon.
Historically, Canadians have not excelled in filmmaking to the extent that we have in other disciplines, such as hockey, curling and maple syrup production. Sure, there have been the works of Atom Egoyan, and who could ever forget the antics of Doug and Bob McKenzie in Strange Brew. But by and large, “made in Canada” isn't a label that has ever had this critic chomping at the bit to see a film.
However, a new film co-written by and starring Joshua Peace titled You Might as Well Live has gone a long way to change that.
Peace stars as Robert R. Mutt, a depressed man who is disliked by everyone in his hometown. He has been committed to a mental institution after failed attempts to off himself. This might not sound like the makings of a laugh out loud comedy, but that is exactly what this film is.
While Mutt is viewed as a loser in the outside world, he is the big cheese in the mental hospital. This is thanks in no small part to his mad air hockey skillz. Unfortunately for Mutt, his success leads to an increase in confidence, and is therefore deemed cured.
For most people that would be great news, but Mutt fears what life will be like on the outside. And sure enough, it isn't long until Mutt finds himself running completely naked down the street, being chased by a clown who is accusing him of being a pedophile. This scene shows that Peace will go a long way for a laugh. It also shows he could use some serious manscaping down below.
After a hallucinogenic conversation with independent baseball “legend” Clinton Manitoba (portrayed by Reservoir Dogs star Michael Madsen), Mutt decides that there are three things that he needs to be somebody in the outside world — a woman, some money, and a championship ring.
So Mutt lands a job, meets an interesting woman and sets his sights on earning a championship ring in an air hockey tournament. Unfortunately the job he lands is one as a drug runner, the “woman” is a man in drag, and the tournament turns out to be for children only.
This entire calamity leads to Mutt once again hitting rock bottom, which in this case involves defecating outside into a makeshift toilet comprised of a tire and a Styrofoam plate. Without giving away too much of the plot, Mutt manages to dust himself off and give it one more go in his goal to be somebody.
You Might as Well Live is an ideal movie for anyone who likes a good laugh (as long as they are able to sit through some questionable material i.e. the aforementioned full frontal nudity and defecation). Despite that gross out imagery, You Might as Well Live is actually an inspirational film about the triumph of the human spirit. Some have compared it to Napolean Dynamite, and I can certainly see that. Both focus on oddball characters who are naïve, and seen as losers, but end up improving not only their own lives, but those of the people around them as well. Similarities to Napolean Dynamite aside, You Might as Well Live is a unique picture that I wholeheartedly recommend. It arrived on DVD just last week, so be sure to add it to your collection soon.
