Inspired By: Strange Brew



There are few films that manage to successfully inject copious amounts of Canadiana without a sense of desperate, self-conscious over compensation. Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas' Strange Brew is one of those films. I don't know what it is, but I can totally give this film a pass on its hockey, beer and donut references while at the same time roll my eyes at other films guilty of the same cultural pandering (Bon Cop, Bad Cop and Men With Brooms). Canadian films shouldn't feel obligated to force hockey, donuts and beer into the mix. Unfortunately, it seems as though you're more likely to get financial support from the government if you clumsily inject whatever Canadian cultural references you can. BUT...there are many films that successfully thrive on Canadiana. Bruce MacDonald's Hardcore Logo comes to mind, along with a few other films that I'll be mentioning in future 'Inspired By' posts. I've realized that the blame shouldn't be placed on the hockey, donuts and beer but rather the films themselves. A bad movie is a bad movie, curling or no curling. Strange Brew works not because of the donuts, but rather what surrounds the donuts; the beer and the hockey. Oh, and Mel Blanc (among many other things of course).

Beauty Day is first and foremost a comedy. A non-fiction Canadian comedy that features lots of beer, a sweet van and hopefully a shit ton of donuts. Maybe I'll even work in an intermission at some point. Needless to say, Strange Brew has been on all of our minds at one time or another throughout this shoot.

1 comment:

  1. I've been meaning to see Strange Brew. I saw part on TV years ago and enjoyed it a great deal.

    ReplyDelete