NEWS: Harsh Light of Day: Hamlet for Hosers

CULTURE: Harsh Light of Day: Hamlet for Hosers

This week in Harsh Light of Day, we turn to our frosty neighbors to the north. No, children, I'm not talking about Santa and his elves. I, of course, mean the snowy, backwards-yet-somehow-charming nation of Canada. More specifically, a film that reminds us all of Canada's two main exports: beer and comedy.

Yes, I'm talking about Strange Brew.

For those of you who've never seen it (I'm looking at YOU, women and people under 30), Strange Brew is an adaptation of a skit created by Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis on Canada's funnier, slightly more surreal version of SNL, SCTV.

The plot should be familiar to anyone who was forced to read Hamlet in high school - a brewery heiress tries to stop her uncle from forcing her out of the business with the help of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (or in this case, Bob & Doug). Now (and I'm noticing a trend in the movies I'm reviewing), the plot takes a bit of a backseat to the portrayal of Bob and Doug McKenzie - two hicks from somewhere in the Great White North (okay, just outside Toronto) who spend most of the movie drinking beer, searching for beer, and talking about beer. Well, beer and backbacon/toques/hockey/beauty, eh?

Now, it's no real shock that I love this film. Yes, it's kind of dumb. Yes, the plot's pretty weak (stupid Shakespeare! Write more better!) in places. Yes, it's pretty low-budget. But! It's a movie about beer and man-child retardation, two main staples of the male comedic diet. Not to mention it's as quoteworthy as Pulp Fiction (and not nearly as worn out):



If you've never seen Strange Brew, I can't recommend it enough. If it's been a while, then I suggest cracking open a few cold ones, getting some backbacon, and tossing it into one of those new record players that has the turntable on its side, eh?

Beauty, Clark.

PS- make sure you ask lil_tuffy about his Strange Brew story.



MisterSatan did extensive research for this article, including watching Strange Brew in 3-B: three beers, and it looks pretty good, eh?

I need to see this- god knows I need some laughs-eh?
And I'll admit it- I am addicted to Red Green....so this should be good, yah, right?

No one? Not even Canadians bitching about someone disparaging their fine country?


Interesting.

Hey, I'm a woman under thirty.

fahgedabootit.

hoser.

Make'em fight, eh.

Canadian beer sucks.

I watched Strange Brew and then Slapshot back to back the other night.

Strange Brew was as great as I remembered it.

Another great movie. Don't forget about the Bob & Doug album The Great White North, with Geddy Lee singing the "hit single" Take off. Why? Because "you know, 10 bucks is 10 bucks."

The Bob & Doug McKenzie unofficial home page has the entire album plus the soundtrack to Strange Brew. Beauty, eh?

Take off, eh!

1) Rick Moranis is a surprisingly entertaining country singer.

2) Someone needs to swede Strange Brew. Like, yesterday.

And Max Von Sydow as Brewmeister Smith....how can you go wrong?

I was hoping someone other than my girlfriend was going to get that reference. Well played sir.

Another GREAT movie - especially since it's all Canadians making fun of Americans making fun of Canadians.

Hey, this article reminds me... I need to take jars of moths to the movies more often these days.

It is this that makes the movie beyond brilliant.

I have not seen this in years. I'm going to watch it now. Good call.