Goonie Goo Goo

Although Goon is marketed as an Ice Hockey movie, the real sort at the heart of the story is fighting. Yep, ignore the big sticks, shoulder pads and angry Canadian sportsmen and you’ve got what is essentially Rocky On Ice. Take one dumb but good natured bloke with a gift for beating the crap out of people, give him a break in a major sporting tournament, watch him fight for the (quirky) girl of his dreams and allow him the opportunity to fight the current champion and his idol. All these familiar plot points are present and correct, but all delivered with a twist.

There’s a raw, offbeat quality to Goon that makes each scene come alive and feel unpredictable and edgy, despite the sound structure of an underdog sports movie. And it’s funny too, thanks to a crude, profanity strewn script written by Jay ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ Baruchel and a host of weird oddballs that populate the hockey world.

As the opponent Live Schrieber does asshole very well indeed, Jay Baruchel is practically tourettes inflicted as his hilarious best friend and Scott Pilgrim’s Alison Pill could make the leap to the big leagues as the female lead. Best of all is Sean William Scott in the lead walking the delicate line between knowingly unintelligent, emotionally open and caring while being a strong physical presence….all while being funny. It’s no exaggeration that there’s very few leading men with the physical presence, charisma, acting ability and comic timing to pull this particular role off.

A great but weird indie comedy drama that compliments the recent Whip It in the recent underdog sports movie department.