Customer Reviews

Men With Brooms

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I saw Men with Brooms when it first came out, and loved it. However, I don't feel quite right about recommending it to everyone because it's... well, it's pretty vulgar. It's hilariously funny, quintessentially Canadian (even more so than Due South), and has a fabulous soundtrack. But it's accurate to small-town Canadian life, and, unlike the perception of us which Americans seem to have, we Canadians are a foul-mouthed bunch.

There is a good deal of complication and hilarity, based on the assorted foibles of the different characters. Much is made of the fact that the spurned daughter is now an astronaut with the American Space Agency, and the problems Americans have in understanding how Canadians can be so passionate about a game which involves, well, men with brooms. There are plot points which depend upon interpretations of the rules of curling which I'm not sure I believe, but then again, I'm not a curler. The book sidesteps a couple of the sex scenes which are in the movie, and gives some background which renders some of the events slightly less objectionable, but there is still enough vulgarity that I feel compelled to recommend it only with a warning.

A lot of people may disagree with me, but I didn't find this as a movie I would really want to see again. I mean, I rented it to see Paul Gross and thought the concept of the movie was unique, but was a little disappointed. Some may see this as a funny movie, but I thought some of the humour was cheap and too easy. I mean, I did laugh at some parts, but others I didn't like. I'm glad I stuck through this, because I absoloutely loved seeing the middle to the end. I think that was the best part of the movie. The actors portrayed their characters as expected and I was delighted to recognize a few faces. Even though I'm a little split on the issue, I'm glad I got to see it at least this one time!

By the way, if you're interested in a more serious piece of work by Paul Gross, try seeing H2O! It's a political thriller, but trust me, anyone will be interested in the unraveling plot and beautiful cinematography it offers.

And again, if you are interested in Paul Gross's work, but in a form of lighter and cleaner fun, try watching the TV series "Due South" if you have it in syndication, or on the Season DVDs that are out. (Amazon.com has a cheaper version compared to the International version sold on here, but the overall quality is still there).

Some of you might not even know what curling is, but it is big in Canada and some northern European countries. The object is to slide big stones over ice to some kind of bulls eye... Just wait for the next winter Olympics!
This story is about a great team that had to split up after the captain cheated. Ten years later their coach has died and in his will asks them to once more try and win the title.

'Men with brooms' feels like some of the great comedies from Brittain in the last 10 years like 'The Full Monty', 'Billy Elliot' and 'Bend it like Beckham'. The characters are down-to-earth but have a comic twist. Some running gags like trying to get pregnant are also hilarious, especially because the guy is the biggest dork around.

It's fun, maybe not worth the price though. Oh yeah, Leslie Nielsen (Naked Gun) also plays in this movie and is funny.

If you love the sport of curling, do not watch this movie! The acting is just okay. Don't let your kids watch this movie as there is a lot of profanity in it. The movie isn't awful, but it isn't good either. The curling action is not realistic.

My ability to sit through movies I have not seen the beginning of has rewarded me once again with this little known (in the States anyway) and largely hilarious comedy. I caught it about halfway through and still enjoyed it enough to look for it on here. I highly recommend it for medicinal purposes. I'll never look at curling, or those magnificent beavers, the same way again. Enjoy!

Curling is Canada's national sport. The movie comes through as an excellent example of this. It's funny, with crazy Canadian humour that only we would get. Paul Gross does an excellent job and Leslie Neilsen is hilarious. You will not stop laughing when you watch this.

"Lagaan" proved a couple of years ago that you could make a good movie about a truly boring sport: cricket. You can even make a movie that makes it almost comprehensible. Now, "Men With Brooms" shows that you can make a good and funny movie about another boring sport: curling.

While no one will be nominating "Men With Brooms" for any awards, it's a surprisingly watchable, funny movie that follows the good, old-fashioned 'reunite the underdogs' sports movie formula with a bit of "Red Green"esque Canadian men making gentle fun of themselves. Sadly, I think it never saw an American release, but its worth adding to anyone's collection of funny sports movies.

Even the performances in this movie break above the usual sports/romantic comedy level. Paul Gross (who I have sadly never seen in "Due South") plays a convincingly cynical sports star come home to small-town Ontario. Leslie Nielsen breaks typecast for a crotchety, but still-funny former curling star, and Bob Bainborough (Dalton Humphrey on "Red Green") steals his scenes as a curling announcer reminiscent of a less-grating Bob Uecker in "Major League".

I recommend this movie for sports nuts, romantic comedy fans, and people with a soft spot for Canadian humor. I found it to be a pleasant surprise, and I'll bet you will too...

I ordered Season #1 plus men with brooms offer. Beware...Men with brooms is R rated. Gross is GROSS. The movie is made only for shock value. This is a big let down from the esteemed Canadian Mountie, Benton Fraser.

I heard about "Men With Brooms" while I was in Ottawa on business, and saw the film at a movie theatre. Funny stuff, I enjoyed it - and couldn't wait for the DVD to come out so I could share it with my wife here in New York. I wish there were more extras on this DVD, especially nice would be commentary by Paul Gross and/or Leslie Nielsen on the making of this film. Other than that, it's probably the best film about curling ever made... if not the ONLY film about curling ever made...

A bunch of friends and I found this movie in an attempt to have a movie night of "non-sport" sport movies. We thought, "Surely, a Canadian movie about curling made by and starring the star of ASPEN EXTREME and featuring Leslie Nielsen will have to be so bad, it'll amaze us." Well, we were amazed, but not by its badness. It wasn't what I would call a genuinely amazing movie, either. I guess it was amazing in how NOT bad it was. Paul Gross and company do trot out many of the underdog sports movie clichés but always with just the faintest hint of tongue-in-cheek to keep the viewer from feeling like it's just another silly sports movie. Leslie Nielsen is also a nice touch. He gets to exercise his straight comedic talents for a change, and I personally think he's much more interesting when he does. It's still a silly comedy, but it's fun that you won't feel so guilty about liking. I recommend you check it out if you get a chance. (Besides, you have to see it if only so you can check out the rival team in polka dot lamé track suits and the inexplicable abundance of beavers that show up rather randomly throughout the movie.)