“Goon” tells the story of Doug Glatt, a sweet and very limited (he refers to himself as stupid and in less politically correct times the term would have been even less flattering) young man who recognizes his lack of intellect and is reasonably content with his job as a bouncer at a local bar. Kind to all he meets, he can, nevertheless, fulfill his job description and beat the crap out of anyone on command. His “skills” only further highlight his intellectual distance from his family of achievers, as his father and brother are both respected physicians.
When one of Doug’s fights is broadcast over the airwaves, he becomes a local sensation. More importantly, however, a third string class C (or whatever it’s called) professional hockey coach takes interest in Doug’s “defensive” possibilities and convinces him that he can learn to skate and become the team’s enforcer. Doug blossoms and soon graduates to the B leagues where he is assigned to protect the star player, Xavier LaFlamme, who in tribute to his name, flamed out in the bigs when assaulted on ice by the reigning thug, Ross Rhea. As Doug continues to climb in prominence, not so much for his skating, a confrontation between Doug, the contender, and Ross, the reigning and soon to retire champ, is inevitable.
Sport stories are hard to carry off; even sports fans are usually disappointed. Don’t go to “Goon” expecting Disney Studio’s “Miracle.” “Goon” is more reminiscent of “Slap Shot,” the cult hockey film from the late 70s starring Paul Newman and directed by the legendary George Roy Hill. Certainly the NHL has tried hard to clean up a sport that was marred by constant fighting and career-ending concussions, but the “thug” still exists and nowhere more prominently than in the minor leagues.
The hockey footage is first rate and the viewer will be caught up in the speed, skill and ultra violence of the sport. The story of Doug Glatt and his cohorts is excellent, but the crowning glory of this film is the acting. And no one is more convincing than Seann William Scott as Doug. Scott brings believability, depth and warmth to a character who sees things literally. It is a delight to see Scott take Doug from sweet loser to a young man who knows who he is and is able to find something he can take pride in. Truly wonderful and heartbreaking is a scene where Doug has proudly invited his parents and brother to watch him in a game only to find his parents disappointed in him yet again. But Doug refuses to be cowed and forces his parents to see him clearly. Pointing to himself and then to his brother, he shouts “I’m stupid and he’s gay. That’s who we are.”
Everyone else plays their roles believably as well, from Alison Pill as Eva, the town slut who succumbs to Doug’s single-minded sweetness; Jay Baruchel, the friend who doesn’t understand the word excessive; and Marc Andre Grondin as La Flamme, the washed up hockey player with so much self-loathing he misses chance after chance.
Not surprising, the fabulous Eugene Levy, as Doug’s father Dr. Glatt, is understated in his disappointment and bewildered by what life has dealt him. If there is a villain to the piece, it isn’t anyone on the hockey team, it is Doug’s parents and you will feel it in your bones. Early in the film there is a scene at the Glatt’s Temple that establishes character brilliantly with unexpected laugh-out-loud humor.
Kim Coates as Coach Hortense leads with a deadpan seriousness that reaches beyond the screen. With a cynicism bred by years of disappointment, Coates imbues in Hortense a sense of family and loyalty that helps the whole team grow. Watch his eyes and you’ll know what I mean. And finally, Liev Shreiber (Ross Rhea) brings a depth and gravity to the role of a man who must acknowledge his limitations on and off the field and look for a reckoning, even if it can’t bring redemption.
Directed with pacing and heart by Michael Dowse and written by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg (“Superbad” “Pineapple Express”) deeply and seriously as the best comedy often is, “Goon” is loosely based on the Doug Smith memoir Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey co-written with Adam Frattasio. Canadians all, it was David Gross, the producer of the film, who made it clear from the outset that he was frustrated that the quintessential hockey movie has always been “Slapshot,” made by non-Canadians. He decided he would change that and change it he did. “Goon” deserves the top place for all films hockey; but it’s so much more than that.
As violent as the sport it reveres and as profane as language can get (some of the word combinations are surprising), this is one terrific and terrifically funny movie. Leave the kids at home and head for the theater to see “Goon.”
Opening Friday March 30 at the Nuart Theater.
Neely writes a blog about writers in television and film at www.nomeanerplace.com.
