MOVIE REVIEW: GOON

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GOON



The sports comedy Goon stars Seann William Scott as Doug Glatt, a slacker from a rich family who discovers he has a knack for hockey brawls. Dragged to a game by his best friend, Doug punches out the visiting team's toughest player when the angered thug rushes into the stands. The home team quickly recruits Doug (even though he can't skate) and encourages him to beat up their opponents. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Director: Michael Dowse

Cast: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Marc-André Grondin, Kim Coates, Liev Schreiber

Release Date: Mar 30, 2012

Rated R for brutal violence, non-stop language, some strong sexual content and drug
use

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

Sports films in general have always been a tough sell for me, mainly because they all have to follow very similar trajectories ending in the big game. As a result, I’ve ignored more sports movies than I should have over the past few years. Luckily, I gave Goon a chance and was pleasantly surprised with it. The usual sports plot points are there (underdog team, change in fortunes and the big game) but Goon makes it all so much fun and even infuses some heart in the process. Feeling like a cross between Major League and Forrest Gump, Goon really hooks you in with its comedic side. As a comedy it works just as well as a hockey film. Seann William Scott makes it nearly impossible not to like the Doug’s dim but sincere self. Scott really shows us restraint in how he plays Doug; it would have been very easy to play him as a buffoon, so there’s some texture there. The only real downside is more script related as Doug seems to waver between not very bright to mentally challenged. The supporting cast is made up of fine actors, all doing well in small quirky roles which really give the film life. Marc-André Grondin in particular is interesting as the wonder kid burnout. Liev Schreiber however is incredibly impressive in a small but pivotal role. Schreiber really give his character an authentic look and feel. As a causal hockey fan, his character just felt real in so many ways. As a whole the film’s sports side feels real, credit for that really goes to the director Michael Dowse. One of my other pet peeves about sports movies is that the sports never feel real; in Goon the majority of the hockey is wonderfully staged and done. A fan of the sport will never be taken out of the experience which is so important in my opinion. Goon is very loosely adapted, (he ended up consulting for the NHL’s Bruins for 8 years after his playing days) from Doug Smith Book Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey Into Minor League Hockey.

B+