Goon

If you want to see a really funny film, love hockey, or love the classic Paul Newman hockey film Slap Shot then you need to go see Goon. Arriving just in time for the hockey playoffs in the theaters or on itunes, Goon is much more than the title suggests. It's a film filled with surprising heart, courage, and loyalty. Make no mistakes though, there is a ton of violence in this movie and it more than lives up to its leading title. Hey, any hockey movie that begins with blood on the ice and ends with blood on the ice is a pretty damn good hockey movie in my opinion.

Now a movie I recently saw made me scratch my head as far as casting was concerned. The issues I had with that previous film I certainly didn't have with this one, casting was PERFECT!. Goon stars Sean William Scott as Doug "The Thug" Glatt, a simpleton with a heart of gold, think Forrest Gump on skates and you know where I'm headed. His best friend is Ryan played hilariously by Jay Baruchel (who is also credited as a co-writer, yes the guy from the insipid She's out of My League and The Sorcerer's Apprentice movies). Playing Doug's disappointed dad is the rejuvenated Eugene Levy, the love interest is the adorable Alison Pill (who was hilarious in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), and the main rival of Doug is handled brilliantly by Liev Schreiber. The rest of the cast falls lock step in behind these terrific actors and they too are all very good.

This movie is based on a true story which knowing hockey makes all the sense in the world. Simple minded Doug is a bouncer at a bar and his best friend who runs his own cable access hockey TV show takes Doug to a minor league hockey game. Doug, enjoying his corn dogs suddenly has to come to his friends defense when a hockey player from the visiting team climbs out of the penalty box and marches up the stands looking for Ryan's blood. Doug smashes the player so hard the coach of the home team wants Doug to tryout, after laying waste to many of his own teammates at said tryout he earns a spot on the team. The movie just gets better and better from that point on.

The violence is SO plentiful and shot so well that it becomes almost epic, almost operatic even. Wrapped up in all that violence though is a losing hockey team that-with the help of Doug-rediscovers their passion for the game and that they are a team, not just a collection of some really warped individuals. Doug wins everybody over with his politeness and his extreme dedication and loyalty to his team. Deftly directed by relative newcomer Michael Dowse, Goon will keep you laughing and cringing at the same time but it's official, it's one hell of a ride and I highly recommend it. I'll see you at the theater.