Goon
The film is based on the book "Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey" by Adam Frattasio and Douglas Smith. Footage from Smith's career as a hockey enforcer is shown during the films credits.,Many of the fans in the stands are clearly cardboard cutouts.,Marco: Two rules, man: Stay away from my fuckin' percocets and do you have any fucking percocets, man?,Footage of Douglas Smith as an ice hockey enforcer, on whose autobiography this is based, is shown towards the end of the closing credits.,Featured in Great Movie Mistakes IV (2012),Turandot / Act 3: Diecimila Anni Al Nostre Imperatore
Written by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by Malga Philharmonic Orchestra
Courtesy of Naxos,One of my all-time favorite comedies is Slap Shot, so I had at least a marginal interest in seeing Goon. After reading a recent interview with Baruchel in the Vancouver Sun, the movie sounded like it just might have the heart to carry the flame that Slap Shot lit. Sure, no question, Goon comes off as somewhat of an homage, but it's done right, not overtly, balancing the necessary brutality and tastelessness with just enough sweetness. Which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for that pitiful attempt at a Slap Shot sequel.

I'm also not usually a fan of Seann William Scott's typecast everybrah, but his portrayal of Dougie Glatt as a soft-spoken and polite bruiser really is charming. The movie's not without its flaws: Sure, Baruchel's character is irritating and barely necessary, and Eugene Levy is tragically underused, and the subplot with the love interest is kinda out-of-place, but I overlooked those things because the meat of the movie is gold. The comedy is solid, the teammate/coach characters are amazing, and the film's sheer love of the game really, really shines through.

So my recommendation is ya pick up a twelve of Moosehead, throw on your old Chiefs jersey, and hunker down for a lot of laughs.,