Rating of
3/4
Review: Goon
MikePA - wrote on 05/24/12
Goon is a solid sports film. It is well-balanced in terms of characters, script, comedy, and finds some room for heart. It is well-written by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg, providing the audience with clever dialogue and a couple nice laughs, a lot of them coming from Jay Baruchel's character. There is a stylish sense of humor that goes along with its dumb concept, which is why Goon is entertaining. Yes, the movie is pretty dumb. But here is a film that knows exactly what it is, and the writers and director take advantage of that and make it as fun, bloody, profane, and surprisingly heartfelt as it could be.
Sean William Scott delivers a terrific performance as Doug Glatt. Doug is a good character, as well as being the best thing about Goon. He is fully fleshed out and developed. He's a nice, proper-speaking, good hearted young man with an inner core to use his great advantage in fighting for his teammates and friends. It's really Doug's story ark and character study that makes this movie good. Yes, the hockey action is a lot of fun, well-directed, and fast-paced, but Doug's rags-to-wealth story engaged me and made me invested in his character. There is a nice sub-plot involving a relationship between Doug and Eva (Alison Pill) that, while kind of pointless, brings a bit of a romantic and emotional depth to the character Doug, which I liked.
I recommend Goon. It's stylishly directed by Michael Dowse, the characters are well-formed, and the comedy works. By the way, if you're a hockey fan, you will adore this film thoroughly from its great opening shot to the end of that awesome final confrontation. It's a lot of bloody fun.
3/4 (See It)
