Goon (2012) Dir. Michael Dowse
R 92 mins.

It's not often that I get out to the theatres, my last outing was the third Transformers film, which elicited mixed feelings, let's just say I'm not at all thrilled that Bay is directing the fourth, and likely the fifth, sixth,...eighteenth, anyways, I found Goon  hilarious! IMO without the R rating, this would have not been nearly as funny. Some of the crude locker room "ribbing" scenes being the best example.
  The exaggerated sound effects, slow motion fists, foreheads, and pucks making bloody contact with helmets and flesh also contribute to the hilarity.
 Those who are of the opinion that there is too much violence in hockey might not find too much to laugh at here. As the on ice brawling is at the front and centre of this piece. I don't think anyone behind the camera is making any social comment on it either, just having fun. Very violent, explicit, bloody fun.
This may be the first time since "Stifler's" introduction that I have found Seann William Scott offer up a fresh take on a character. I usually find him one-dimensional, playing a variation on Stifler to one degree or another (See; Road Trip, Dude Where's My Car? or Role Models), but this was different. He was actually likable this time. Honest. Sincere. My sister picked up on this as well. After leaving the theatre, she states; "that was awesome! And he wasn't an asshole this time!" So there you have it. "stifler" has some range after all.
 Scott was helped along by Canadian alum Jay Baruchel. Who was as crudely funny and obnoxiously insensitive as he is thin. Alison Pill (cdn.) plays the hockey slut who "Doug the Thug" falls for. Kim Coates (cdn.), who I always remember as the henchman from The Last Boyscout, that had his nose drove into his brain by Bruce Willis, plays the head coach of the Halifax Highlanders, and the one that sees thru the "thug" as the true heart of the team. Eugene Levy (cdn.) plays Doug's father (in only two scenes though). And Liev Schreiber, who was my original choice to play Harvey Dent way back when, during The Dark Knight casting days, plays Ross "the Boss" Rhea.
 Filmed in Canada, by a cdn. director and inspired by a true story featuring our favourite pass time, Goon should prove to be a Canadian success story.
Do you need to rush out tonight to view this in the theatre? No it can wait. But definitely pick this on up upon video release.