I feel that I can say with certainty that everyone reading this
article is harboring some sort of secret, perhaps even a secret shame.
I'll even go so far as to say that billions of people are harboring
some sort of secret shame. I try to be open and honest with and about
my thoughts, feelings, and actions, but even I have them. The movie
featured in the third installment of ANOTHER OF NATE'S ALL-TIME
FAVORITE MOVIES is one of my secret shames. Well, it's not a secret
any more.
STRANGE BREW is based on the Bob and Doug McKenzie skits, shown
regularly on Canada's late, lamented SCTV. Yes, it's a movie based on
a series of skits from a variety show. Go ahead and get those vile
remarks out of your system, roll your eyes, and have traumatic
flashbacks of those horrible SNL-based movies; I can wait...
All done? Good. STRANGE BREW is the tale of two brothers, played by
Rick Moranis (Bob) and Dave Thomas (Doug), who get jobs while
attempting to score some free beer, then get wrapped up in a wacky
beer-related caper! I call it a caper and not a mystery because it
wasn't a mystery to the audience; plus, the main characters don't
even try to solve it (and spend most of the movie unaware that
anything's amiss). Near the end, things get crazy for the sake of the
plot but they all live happily ever after. Until the sequel.
On to the million dollar question: Why do I like this movie so much?
I'm tempted to simply say "I just do" and get on with my life. But
that isn't good enough; remember, I am trying to be open with and
aware of my feelings. STRANGE BREW is a "Dumb Guys" movie, but unlike
current movies, the dumb guys are loveable, and they aren't crazy
and stupid. Furthermore, although the jokes are hit and miss, they
aren't repetitious; some are even unexpected! Finally, while not as
clever as MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000, the writing was such that I
never felt that I was being written down to.
I hesitate to recommend this movie to anybody, because I feel that
maybe I am not being all that unbiased when looking at the quality of
this film. So, just to be safe, I recommend this movie to anyone out
there who wants to check and see if STRANGE BREW is actually good, or
if I have lost my mind completely. Also, if you actually LIKE wacky
dumb guy movies, you should see this one, and let me know how it
stacks up to others. Finally, this movie is a can't miss for all of
you out there who wish you could see a movie about beer.
Links were a bit hard to come by. I finally settled on the Internet
Movie Database
()
and information about the (possible) sequel:
.
There you have it. One less secret shame. Ironically, Bob and Doug
don't seem to have any shame, but they aren't terribly open and honest
about things. Anyhow, next month I look at a sequel that is clearly
superior to its precursor! Gasp!