Trailer Park Boys: The Movie

If you're a fan of the Trailer Park Boys TV show, you should like this movie just as well. All the characters from the show are here, although the emphasis is on Ricky, Julian & Bubbles, and their plan of pulling off "the Big Dirty," stealing coin change.

The format of the movie follows the TV show pretty closely, as the boys & the others are "interviewed" at various parts of the movie giving their angle of the events taking place, but the movie expands on the TV show by going a little further into the back-story of the characters, particularly Ricky & girlfriend Lucy's relationship. But the movie doesn't follow the show exactly; if you watch the show you'll know certain events in the movie don't quite match up with its TV counterpart (they sort of explain that in the amusing featurette by saying the boys are playing themselves in a movie, but that really just creates more questions than it answers).

There isn't really anything too different in the movie that they haven't already done in the show, although it's a bit racier and a little slower-paced, but the humour is pretty consistent and downright hilarious at times; while the Canadian references (loonies & toonies, Horton's, etc.) & all-Canadian soundtrack make the movie all the more likeable. What's good too is that the movie is self-contained, it isn't necessary to have seen the show to understand what's going on or to understand the characters, and the ending should leave everyone with a smile on their face.

Surprisingly the deleted scenes (over 20 minutes worth) are just as funny if not funnier than what is in the movie; a running gag with Bubbles worrying about a warning Mr. Lahey makes about a certain type of bird is one of the best things on the DVD. There's also a great music video on the DVD featuring "The Big Dirty Band," a Canadian "super-group" featuring members from Rush, Thornley, Three Days Grace, Die Mannequin & the Tea Party. All in all it's an excellent DVD to add to the collection.

Because of the presence of Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters), Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (aka "The Big Dirty") does not fit in with the series. Too many cooks? Perhaps, but this is not as pure a vision as the series itself.

This film is out of continuity with the series. Without spoilers I will just say that several events of this movie are never referred to in the series. Trinity is played by a different actress (Lydia Lawson-Baird) and her character is slightly different in tone as well. Remember those movie previews where the Boys are auditioning actors to play themselves? It's best to think of this movie in that context: It's the Boys playing themselves in a movie based on themselves.

Ricky and Julian are in jail (again) and are about to be released. No fair, cries Ricky, who wants to play in the jail hockey tournament against the prison guards, led by Donny. Ricky goes home to find that things have changed. Lucy's got a new job ("an awesome new job," according to Sarah -- "She's workin at Horton's again?" asks Ricky,) at a "gentlemen's club" owned by Sonny (Hugh Dillon). Julian, in the meantime, has an idea to get rich "without getting caught": Do small crimes, steal change!

Ricky, on the other hand, has met "a lot of really smart people in jail," and they all say "the big dirty" is the way to go: One big crime, and you're retired. Their ideas are combined and the plan is set in motion. Will Ricky still be able to play in the tournament?

New characters include the afformentioned Sonny played by Hugh Dillon (ex-The Headstones), Donny as played by the hilarious Gerry Dee, and look for cameos by Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Gordon Downie (The Tragically Hip). The soundtrack also kicks butt, with lots of Hip.

I really enjoyed this movie even though it's not quite pure Trailer Park Boys. It sort of attempts to recapture what worked in the early seasons (you can tell by casting Trinity as a younger girl) and by and large, it works. Sonny works as a replacement for Cyrus, and all your favourite regulars such as Philadelphia Collins and Officer George Green are here. Lahey is suitably drunk, and Randy as shirtless as ever.

This actually works pretty well as a way for newcomers to get into the show. It distills what worked best in the earlier years into a two-hour package that stays funny and doesn't wear out its welcome. Bonus features include the music video for "I Fought The Law" and lots of alternate takes.

Five stars. Two smokes, let's go.

Anyone who has seen the TV Series will feel the movie does justice to the series, minus Trinity being played by a different actress. There is plenty of boobs, booze, partying and swearing!

If you've never watched or only have seen a few episodes of this TV Series, you can still fully enjoy this film as they have made the film such that you don't need to have followed the series to understand most of the show. If your a fan, the movie will be that much better as you'll get the inside jokes.

I bought this the day it came out and it was worth every penny!

Vive La Canada!