Men with Brooms (2002)

Summary: After their ex-coach dies, Chris Cutter (Paul Gross), James Lennox (Peter Outerbridge), Eddie Strombeck (Jed Rees), and Neil Bucyk (James Allodi) reunite to compete for the Golden Broom, a competition that they withdrew from after Chris disappeared on his wedding day to the coach’s eldest daughter, Julie (Michelle Nolden).  Also, they have personal lives. 

I’d get into about that other side of the story, but, frankly, a movie about curling is hilarious in and of itself. 

And that’s just what this movie is.  Hilarious.  Hilariously in love with curling.  Hilariously in love with Canada.  Hilariously in love with itself (not in a conceited way) 

Plus, there are lots of jokes about beavers.  Those are also funny in and of themselves to anyone who is proud to be a Canadian. 

Alright, enough hyperbole about the humour of this comical movie.  You get it: it’s funny. 

I attribute most of that to Gross (who also co-wrote and directed).  Gross, in case you’ve never noticed, is a very funny man.  I admit that he also makes one hell of a Hamlet, proving he’s just as adept with drama.  But comedy’s really where it’s at for him.  There’s a sly, knowing, mischievous little boy in those twinkling eyes, and you are so easily engulfed by all of it. 

I didn’t mention it earlier, but his romantic interest is portrayed by Molly Parker, who I think is a highly under appreciated actress.  Any woman who can sport that many freckles and never come across as girly/silly/childish is one talented lady in my books. 

Okay, I’ll admit that the movie suffers from clichés and an obvious plot.  Also, making Parker’s character a recovering alcoholic seems a loose end that’s never fully explored or given the gravity a subplot like that usually requires. 

On the other, it’s nice for once to see an alcoholic character who isn’t reduced to an after-school-special stereotype.  The only person she seems to hurt, in this case, is herself. 

Regardless, the movie is pure geeky Canadiana at its best.  I was initially wary of the film (because it’s about curling), but what I was wary of is exactly what makes it so great. 

Side bar:

“Or maybe fiction is exactly where we expect to find the certainties that elude us in our everyday lives. With fiction, we can mold an imagined world so that it makes sense. We can't do the same with reality.”

Want more?  Click: http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_browndan/20040722.html

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