Review: GOON

Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) is one of those guys you love to have on your side. He's not especially bright, but he's easy-going, tough as nails, and loyal to his friends. He works as a bouncer in a local bar and likes to hang out with his pal, Ryan (Jay Baruchel), who hosts a public access television show about hockey called "Hot Ice." While attending a semi-pro game one night, Ryan's heckling gets Doug involved in an altercation where he knocks a player out cold. As a result, Doug gets a call for a tryout to be the team's "enforcer" - the guy whose job is to hit hard and sacrifice himself for the good of the team. Although he is a terrible hockey player, Doug excels at fighting, and his reputation quickly earns him a contract with the Halifax Highlanders, a farm team for the NHL.

Life becomes more complicated for Doug after arriving in Halifax. Although he feels that his life finally has purpose, his parents don't approve of his choice of profession or his nickname, "Doug the Thug." His new teammates don't get along with each other, and his coach doesn't take him seriously. Even their star player, an NHL burnout named Xavier Laflamme (Marc-Andre Grondin) resents Doug because Doug's presence puts pressure on Laflamme to rise back to his former glory. The one bright spot is a new girl in his life named Eva (Alison Pill) who loves the hockey players and is drawn in by Doug's softer side, but already has a boyfriend. That's just this guy's luck.

As Doug's reputation grows, so does the anticipation for his eventual meeting with hockey's reigning god-of-war, Ross "The Boss" Rhea (Liev Schreiber), who is back after a long suspension, playing for a rival team. Rhea's career is on the decline just as Doug's is taking off - a movie cliche to be sure, but an effective one. The entire film builds to that moment, when the two men will shake off their gloves and square off at the center of the ice.

Hockey's draw for the casual fan is the physicality and occasional violent eruptions, which the filmmakers take full advantage of for comedic effect. Many fights only last a few seconds, but each one has a little twist that distinguishes it from the others. The film portrays the role of the "enforcer" as a necessary component for success in the sport. Something readily accepted by Doug, who explains, "If they need me to bleed, they I'll bleed for my team." And bleed he does.


The story, from a book by Doug "The Hammer" Smith and Adam Frattasio, is based on the minor league exploits of Smith. The film was directed by Michael Dowse (Take Me Home Tonight) and written by frequent Apatow contributors Evan Goldberg and Jay Baruchel. Ultimately, there's a very real love for hockey on display in the film, but this is not a case where you need a working knowledge of sports jargon like red lines, blue lines, and power plays. Goon may rely too heavily on the conventions of the sports movie, but it's pleasant enough to mildly recommend on the strength of a few good laughs and a surprising amount of heart.