On this edition of Direct to DVD Dissection, a new version of the underdog story with a dose of real life with the movie GOON
Directed By: Michael Dowse
Written By: Jay Baruchel & Evan Goldberg
Released By: Alliance Films
Run time: 92 minutes
Released: May 29th, 2012
The Story
Based on the life of Doug Smith, it tells the tale of a bouncer called Doug Glatt, who ends up getting a chance to play in the minor leagues of hockey as an enforcer. Known for his aggressive tactics and fights, he gets the nickname “The Thug”, he achieves some fame with his brutal tactics. This eventually leads to a path with prima donna stars, strange women, and the big bad of the hockey circuit on his way to the playoffs.
The Cast
SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT as Doug “The Thug” Glatt, a former bouncer who gets a chance to skate in the minor league hockey team after knocking out a player who rushed him on the stands. Having been based known first as Stifler in the AMERICAN PIE franchise, he’s carved out his own path in Hollywood, with movies like BULLETPROOF MONK, ROLE MODELS, THE RUN DOWN, and EVOLUTION.
LIEV SCHREIBER as Ross “The Boss” Rhea, one of the most notorious enforcers in pro hockey who gets knocked down to the minors after a brutal attack that hit him with a 20 game suspension, and watches Doug Glatt’s rise for a potential face off. He’s appeared in the first 3 SCREAM movies, along with movies like THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, SALT, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.
JAY BARUCHEL as Pat, Doug’s friend who also runs a local show of the hockey team that Doug finds himself on. He’s appeared in movies like MILLION DOLLAR BABY, TROPIC THUNDER, FANBOYS, and THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE.
ALISON PILL as Eva, a hockey fan/groupie that Doug falls in love with. Working in both the theater and in movies, she’s appeared in MILK, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD, DAN IN REAL LIFE, and MIDNIGHT IN PARIS.
The Dissection
Stories about underdogs in sports movies have gotten quite common. It might change the sports and might have a difference in how many people are included, but most sports movies have some concept of focusing on an underdog in a sport. From ROCKY and THE BAD NEWS BEARS, to films like DODGEBALL and REAL STEEL, it’s been a common part of pretty much any sports movie.
With GOON, the movie starts the build like one of those movies. You have the main character, Doug, who doesn’t like his job and is kind of the black sheep of his family, who gets a chance to be a star in the world of minor league hockey. Along with this, you have Rhea being set up as the usual antagonist, who has caused some of the worst injuries in the sport and has damage a rising star’s psyche due to one brutal attack. All in all, standard.
Seann William Scott as Doug Glatt
However, the movie actually doesn’t follow the standard underdog story when it really gets more into the film. The sport of the movie is less about the actual hockey aspect but more about how Doug kicks many a players ass in this game. Plus, Rhea has some set up, but he’s not actually about winning at all cost or being the jock. Both men have a warrior mentality, where they have some respect for each other, but it’s not gonna stop them from going after each other. It’s not a deconstruction of the genre, but it’s a nice change of pace.
The acting in the movie is a bit of a mixed bag. Scott has some good moments in the movie, though there are some confusing elements in scenes. Schreiber, though, delivers an excellent performance throughout. The rest of the cast, including Kim Coates & Eugene Levy, work well. However, the downside of the movie is Baruchel’s Pat. Considering the movie starts with both in Boston, the character of Pat has the thick accent and the obnoxious attitude. He may be going for intentional annoyance, but that is still annoyance. Also, since he’s a big part of the beginning and the ending, his presence does a bit to hurt the film. While Baruchel has good points in writing, and his usual acting work is very good, this one didn’t deliver. Also, there are a few story elements that end up with no real set up for them. One in particular looks to give Doug this semblance of a interest in
Liev Schreiber as Ross Rhea
Overall, though, the movie works. The visuals are great, professionally done and not a distraction for someone who might be hesitant from watching DVD films. It has an interesting story and good characters, and it really works well by the end. It’s a bit slow in the beginning, but for those who can stand to go past that moment, the movie starts hitting all cylinders after the 15 minute mark and the whole aspect of Doug as a enforcer hits.
Onto the DVD features, it has a lot of them. It has a behind the scenes “movie experience” called POWER PLAY MODE, plus the HDNet feature on the movie, hockey cards, and a featurette about fighting in hockey. Along with those, there are the prerequisite deleted scenes, trailers, outtakes & bloopers, a commentary with the director, Michael Dowse, and Jay Baruchel. Also, for those who go with the Blu ray, that movie has the same features with an addition of some cast interviews with Baruchel and Seann William Scott.
The Verdict
A rocky start to the movie, but it picks it up after the movie gets going and the real story of the movie gets underway. It’s worth a viewing, especially if you’re a fan of any of the cast or crew involved. Give it a watch.
Rent GOON at Redbox
http://www.redbox.com/movies/goon
Watch GOON on Amazon Video
http://www.amazon.com/Goon/dp/B007IWSXH0/ref=tmm_aiv_title_0
Buy GOON on Amazon (DVD)
http://www.amazon.com/Goon-Seann-William-Scott/dp/B0079ZWTOO/ref=tmm_dvd_title_0
Buy GOON at Amazon (Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital)
http://www.amazon.com/Goon-Blu-ray-DVD-Digital-Copy/dp/B0079ZWUNY/ref=tmm_blu_title_0