What do The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and every other movie coming out later this year have in common? They will all be chasing the cinematic high of what may just be the movie of the year: Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. I've been wanting to go to one of the Monday surprise premiers that Cineplex has been putting on, and I truly wasn't sure what movie we'd end up seeing until none other than Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol came out to introduce the movie (though they claimed we were about to see Wuthering Heights). All this to say, I went in not knowing what I was about to watch and wound up seeing one of the best comedies I've ever seen.
If you aren't familiar with Nirvanna the Band the Show, it's a Canadian mockumentary style comedy from Johnson and McCarrol. It started in the late 2000s with a web series, followed by 2 televised seasons in the mid 2010s. I think the biggest question people will have with this movie is whether or not you need to watch the show first, and the quick answer is no. You may get a bit more out of the movie if you've seen the show, but the premise of the movie is the same as each episode of the show: Matt and Jay are trying to get a show at the Rivoli (a Toronto restaurant/pool hall/ concert venue). The only difference this time is that their hijinks wind up sending them back in time to 2008. So if you've haven't seen the show before, I would absolutely recommend watching it, but you absolutely do not need to before seeing the movie.
There's almost a magical feeling to this one. Whether it be scripted or improvised, the film manages laughs pretty much from start to finish, but more impressive is how out there some of the set pieces are. Whether it be travelling in time or skydiving from the CN Tower, there are countless wild moments in the film that I can't wrap my head around how they were filmed. The budget here is tiny, but at no point does it ever look like it. The show has its moments of outlandishness, but the scale of tomfoolery on display here is just remarkable. I'd also be lying if I said I didn't love that the film is set in Toronto. Seeing the place I live turned into a big playground for nonsense gives an already magnificent movie another slice of fun.
From the costumes and sets to the effects and stunts, everything about the craft here is terrific, but everything here hinges on Matt and Jay as the fictionalized versions of themselves. The two have such seamless chemistry that just makes everything work. The dynamics the two each have play perfectly off on one another and their comedic timing both together and individually is frankly remarkable. While this is a pretty ridiculous movie, it's one rooted in friendship, so having the film led by two people so clearly fond of one another makes that friendship shine. Their dynamic is also undoubtedly part of what makes the film feel so magical.
For a film that at times is blatantly ripping off Back to the Future and is based on a TV show, it's kind of insane how one of a kind this movie is. There are so many different kinds of comedy on display and they mesh together to create something that never stops the laughs from coming. The situational humour, especially during the 2008 segments, makes for some of the most genuinely hilarious movie moments I've ever seen. There's also just no telling where the story is about to go, and even when you know something is about to happen, the way Matt and Jay pull it off will still leave you shocked.
So all in all, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is an absolute home run. Matt Johnson is a comedic genius and he is only made better when teamed up with Jay McCarrol. This is the funniest movie you'll see all year, and one that truly feels special from start to finish. I could not recommend it more. 5/5
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