Goon Review

When there's a great hockey movie, it usually gets momentary interest then fades into living in the hearts of hockey fans (*cough* Slap Shot *cough*), much like hockey itself. However 2011's Goon hasn't really gotten any attention (at least in the US, can't speak for Canada). Starring Seann William Scott (American Pie, Role Models) as Doug Glatt, a bouncer who's alienated by his over achieving family, and Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up, How To Train Your Dragon) as his foul mouthed best friend Ryan.

When Doug gets down on his luck, Ryan takes him to a local hockey game in some low level league in an effort to cheer him up. Through a whacky series of events Doug ends up in a fight with one of the players and a couple days later, lands himself an opportunity to try-out for the team. He becomes the teams enforcer, or goon if you will, challenging anybody who threatens his team to drop their gloves and fight. He becomes an league sensation and eventually gets offered a contract to play in the second best league in the area, as long as he can look out for his soon to be roommate and up and coming NHL star, Xavier Laflamme (Marc-Andre Grondin, C.R.A.Z.Y.). He gets to his team and, through standing up for them multiple times, eventually gains the trust of his team. He also meets Eva (Alison Pill, Scott Pilgrim versus The World), a self proclaimed slut for hockey players with a boyfriend. Doug quickly falls head over heels for Eva, and their relationship blossoms (awkwardly sorta) as the movie goes on. As Doug's popularity rises, tension is built because of infamous bad boy goon Ross Rhea (Levi Schreiber, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Defiance), being in the same league as Doug and the fans and media salivating at the thought of them squaring off. They eventually do in a game to decide who goes to the playoffs or not at the movie's climax.

All in all, the acting was pretty good. I wouldn't say they need awards or anything, but I also don't think a bad thing can be said about the acting. It's the center ice of acting, and by that I mean you don't pay any attention to it until somebody brings it up.

The script is well written. Interestingly being written by Jay Baruchel, the same one who acts in it, and Evan Goldberg, one of the writers on 2007's Superbad and 2011's The Green Hornet.

On the down side, the film does use an excess of profanity. Hockey is a violent sport, and even more so at the lower levels that this film takes place in. The film clearly depicts this aspect, but I fear it also paints the sport as a vulgar sport. We all know athletes and coaches cuss. Do we really need to see it used so much in a movie though?

Goon was a good movie that I enjoyed a lot, but it is not for the faint of heart or a non-hockey fan. It's a true(ish) bloody, vulgar, and at times crude story. If you can't handle the blood, the fighting, the cursing, and handful of dirty jokes, just skate back to your own bench and stick to watching Miracle (a phenomenal film that makes my eyes well up every time).

Final Score: 6/10