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Strange Brew

Strange Brew

List Price: $14.96
Your Price: $11.22
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hilarious anti-stereotype fun...
Review: When the producers of storied SCTV kept badgering Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis to create more "Canadian" characters [to comply with something called a "Canadian Content" law, as tho' there's a Canadian "culture" rather than a frigid suburb of the US], according to an interview given by Thomas years later, they were as stumped as any intelligent person would be.
What the heck does "more Canadian" mean, anyway?
Rebelling against such a stupid idea, as anyone of any character would, the duo decided to comply 1000% with their instructions, i.e. With the letter but not the spirit of the law. (Thus, according to the law which has a logic so labyrinthine even our bureaucrats in DC can't understand it--a remarkable accomplishment by any means-e.g. Bryan Adams' music isn't "Canadian" enough so his radio airplay in the GWN is severely limited because his work is classified as "American" because his long-time songwriting partner is, gasp!, an American. The ultimate sin in Canada these days, it seems).
In any event, tried of being asked to do something so stupid, Thomas and Moranis went absolutely overboard, diving into every stupid Canuck stereotype possible. What is shame is that there's no DVD of their old skits available. For those of us unfortunate enough not to be able to see SCTV (comme moi--it wasn't shown in most of the US until cable's explosion in the latter 90s), it would be a great treat.
The movie's plot hardly matters. This is the formula for every "sketch" hopelessly and painfully stretched to movie length by almost every SNL almuni. It is not to overlooked that the second biggest of the few success, the Wayne and Garth movies, essentially steal the ambience and goofiness of this film.

We are presented with jobless losers, living at home, who spend their father's beer money (played in his swan song by the great, late Mel Blanc), their father orders them to come up with the beer or else. Piling into their ancient van they decide to scam the brewery into kicking down a free case. Instead they get jobs and their van stuffed with cases of beer. However, when they first arrive at the Brewery intent on their "free" case of mouseless suds, they come to the aid of pretty woman whose car is trapped in a seemingly malfunctioning gate, the boys rapidly find themselves the only ones who "can save the world!" from the plans of the evil Max von Sydow's tongue and cheek villain from gaining total control of every beer drinker's mind in Canada and then, THE WORLD!
The loose send up of Hamlet isn't consistently adhered to (which no one would want), while the "Canadianess" is served up in hilariously concentrated doses designed to skewer the political incorrectly nitwits of all ages and all times. The very nature of its silliness is demonstrating absurdity by being absurd. If the PC-crowd wants to shape content according to their latest fads, long live the efforts of the Moranises and Thomases of the world to bust their humps and ridicule such myopic and absurd silliness.
Early on Bob tell us the movie's been filmed in 3D, whoops, typo, 3B, "Three beers and it looks good." He exaggerates. (Beer won't hurt the proceedings, it should be noted.) You know whether you've got the sense of humor. If you're a Python or early SNL fan or Cohen Brothers fan, you can't help but love Bob & Doug's dopey, big-hearted incompetence. It also boasts the most interesting way to put out a fire I've ever seen.
I've spent the weekend looking for an old cassette tape (TEENS: that's those little square things your parents have in boxes in the garage, be good and we'll tell you of the horror of 8-tracks!!!!) of the comedy album edited from the film with a lot of extraneous and very funny "color" commentary on their own movie. Hope I can find it. Perhaps it's still in print...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's a cult classic, eh?
Review: Hearkening back to 1983, "Strange Brew" is the cinematic debut of Bob and Doug Mckenzie( respectively Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas)- two Canadian brothers who were catapulted into the American mainstream when their skits became ever so popular on the show "SCTV". It also didn't hurt that their songs "Take off (to the Great white north)" (with supporting vocals by RUSH lead man Geddie lee) and "The Twelve Days of Christmas" rapidly became cult classics.
This is a stupid film, yes, but it falls into the category of "so stupid that its funny". Years before Wayne and Garth, these two hosers were making us laugh, and the film still has the same comedic resonance today. It may not be high art, but if you're sitting down to watch a film called "Strange Brew", high art probably isn't what you're after to begin with. This film works on all of its sophomoric levels, and it is one of the few comedies of this type that honestly earns it's cult status. With its twisted account of Bob and Doug's efforts to score a case of free Elsinore beer (and all of the havoc that attempt wreaks), "Strange Brew" provides more honest belly laughs than just about any other film before or since. It's simple, it's goofy, and it is 100% undeniably fun!!! One can only hope that the inclusion of these characters' personalities in the recent film 'Brother Bear" will spark a revival that results in a long overdue sequel!!! Beauty, eh!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Let's have a new Strange Brew!
Review: Ok eh, like first off this movie is great, eh. Like now these two have like shown up in the new Disney movie Brother Bear, beauty eh? Like they even make reference to thier love for beer in Brother Bear too eh (take off you hoser - no way eh, it's at the end of the movie you knob).

So like now I am ready for like a return of these guys to new movie eh. So if you think these guys are funny eh go see Brother Bear - beauty casting job eh - Moose are Loose!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Welcome to the Great White North, eh?
Review: In 1983, Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas -- but not the Dave Thomas from Wendy's) introduced the world to the mysterious land of Canada -- a place overflowing with beer and donuts. A place where everyone wears flannel and toques while they're playing hockey. A place where they use words like "hoser" and "eh."

When Bob and Doug try to scam the Elsinore brewery out of a free case of beer, they end up with jobs instead. There, they get stumble upon Brewmeister Smith (Max von Sydow), who's planning to take over the beer-drinking world with his mind-altering chemicals.

At the beginning of Strange Brew, the brothers announce that their movie was filmed in 3-B -- "Three beers and it looks good." I'd say that's pretty accurate. Strange Brew is a fabulously brainless movie -- full of bad jokes, bad acting, and bad effects. It's a must-see for any college student -- preferably after a long night of drinking. But if you're sober, be warned that it takes a special sense of humor to enjoy this one. Those with that special sense of humor, however (you know who you are), will love this one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Proud Canadian Film
Review: Taken from their SCTV skits, Bob & Doug McKenzie set out to make their own film. Only problem is that people hate it and they gave their last $15 to a kid who spent his allowance to see their movie. The $15.00 was meant for beer.. which they have run out of. This takes them to the Elsinore brewery where they are given jobs as "beer inspectors" At the brewery, the help brewery heiress Pam Elsinore take back what is rightfully hers. We Canadians get stereotyped so badly.. and this movie has every stereotype possible. Yes, it a stupid movie.. but it's just so funny that it's one you should have in your collection.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: probably the dumbest yet funny movies ever
Review: these guys are so stupid that this movie is funny it does get boring in long stretches but these guys are funny in a stupid way but you'll like it eh unless your a hosier

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good Movie
Review: Ok folks. This ain't no Oscar winning film. Don't critique it or pick it apart like a Siskle and Ebert. It's a crazy, goofy, and funny movie. Just pop it in and get some good laughs like I do. Enough said.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's a Jelly!
Review: This movie is outstandingly hilarius!!! What ever you do watch it with a group of guys and do not pay attention to the plot. Just watch the actions of The McKenzie Bros and listen to their dialouge. Otherwise this movie is a keeper. Excellent for parties. have fun or I'll crush your head like a nut!!!!!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Zoom In On This, Eh?
Review: I can not tell you how disappointed I was when this movie finally came out on DVD last year. I wanted nothing more than to hear Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis do audio commentary over the film IN CHARACTER as Bob & Doug McKenzie. The cast of "This Is Spinal Tap" did this for the DVD of their movie, and the result was hilarious. Another 90 minute off-the-cuff routine from Bob & Doug commenting on their own movie would've made this the ultimate. But alas, it just wasn't to be. And what's up with the Dolby 2.0 sound? Give us our free 5.1 Surround Sound, eh? Oh well, guess I got my hopes up too much, and I'm just glad to finally have this great 80's classic on DVD.

Five stars for the movie, one for the DVD, average score of three.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: cult classic
Review: Yet another cult classic that keeps getting better with years!


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