You Might as Well Live (2009)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Simon Ennis

Writers:

Simon Ennis (screenplay)
Joshua Peace (screenplay)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Robert Mutt is *not* a douche bag.

Plot:

On the advice of his childhood hero, Robert R. Mutt embarks on a madcap adventure to attain the three keys to being a "somebody" - a girl, some money and a championship ring. |

Cast

Joshua Peace	...	Robert Mutt
Michael Madsen	...	Clinton Manitoba
Stephen McHattie	...	Fred Steinke
Dov Tiefenbach	...	Hershey
Kristen Hager	...	Cookie
Liane Balaban	...	Edna Kemperton
Clark Johnson	...	George
Greg Bryk	...	Dixie
Martha Burns	...	Dr. Elizabeth
Julian Richings	...	Dr. Pooseby
Kristin Fairlie	...	Veronica
Dan Lett	...	J. Amberson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Scott Anderson	...	Leonard
London Angelis	...	Charlie
Cameron Ansell	...	Jonas
Nicole Arbour	...	Regina Manitoba
Boyd Banks	...	Uncle Casper
Paula Boudreau	...	Winifred Steinke
George Buza	...	Bartender
Alessandro Costantini	...	Ari
Dominic Cuzzocrea	...	Wingo
George Ghali	...	Mr. Kwong
Diane Gordon	...	Mildred
Kathryn Haggis	...	Greta
Stephen R. Hart	...	Homeless Man
Tony Nappo	...	Eugene 'Euge' Dillion
Jessica Nichols	...	Weather Girl
James Preston Rogers	...	Gary - Catatonic inmate
Jamillah Ross	...	Irate Mother
Jane Sowerby	...	Trashy Cougar
Aron Tager	...	Rabbi Kirshenblat
Marcus Yau	...	Robert Jr.

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:14A (British Columbia)

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

APB Pictures

Trivia:

Clinton Manitoba and daughter Regina Manitoba share their family name with Canada's 8th largest province. 'Regina' is the capital of Saskatchewan, which is the country's 7th largest province.

The best money Telefilm ever spent, period

Funny story.... I last week ran into a doglover outside the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, we talked a bit about our canine brothers and sisters, so I got a good feel for his voice and face. Last night I got an invite to a screening of this movie, and lo and behold, it starred that guy. I figured this was an American movie and that he was staying in town to premiere it or etc., and Gentle Readers, let me tell you, I was blown away to discover that Telefilm Canada participated in this movie. It's one of the best times I've ever had in an English Canadian flick, and I had an outstanding time watching it - in reminded me of why I love the Bloor Cinema so much.

I think too many Napoleon Dynamite references may quickly get pretty old in future discussions about this movie, but if you can picture a sequel directed by John Waters in which Napoleon is now 32, suicidally depressed, and falsely accused of paedophilia (but in a funny way) before being chased full-frontal naked through town by angry mobs, that's how awesome-tastic this movie is.

It's not a perfect 10; it achieves high on spectacle and average on truth. But I think it's definitely, definitely worth seeing. Canadian film doesn't represent Canada at all -- I don't know if You Might As Well Live really does either... but it was definitely a shock to the system, and a really welcome one. Finally, a bunch of filmmakers who think life in Canada is cool and awful and funny and sucks just the same as it does everywhere else in the world, and who think Canadians are just as horrible and kind and despicable and silly as everybody else.

It could have used some meaning and a theme, but this movie really rocked the house. I wish I had the time to commit to writing something serious about it, but I'll just say it again: if you would see a Johns Waters re-make of Napoleon Dynamite, then you should see this. It won't disappoint you.

Ciao,

Jason Holborn