Director: Jay Baruchel
By Alex Watson
While the characters who made the original so memorable are there physically- Goon: Last of the Enforcers feels disappointingly flat. Jay Baruchel's direction misses the subtle touch needed and the use of satire is strangely absent. Seann William Scott's Doug Glatt is still a wonderfully idiotic hero and this is what saves this sequel from total banality. While the first movie was a tribute to the tough guys of the game, this one seems more concerned with showing bloody battles than strengthening character development.
Halifax Highlander's enforcer, Doug Glatt has recently been forced out of hockey after a brutal fight with fellow player Anders Cain (Wyatt Russell). Now working in an unrewarding insurance job and expecting a baby with wife Eva (Alison Pill), Glatt longs to be back on the ice. When Cain joins the Highlanders, Glatt reaches out to old nemesis Ross 'The Boss' Rhea (Liev Schrieber) to get him in shape again.
The principle issue with Goon: Last of the Enforcers is that Baruchel seems to be going all out for laughs. While it's great to see Xavier LaFlamme (Marc-Andre Grondin) and coach Ronnie Hortense (Kim Coates) back together- what made these characters so strong has been lost. Original director Michael Dowse did a fine job of balancing the laughs, Baruchel seems unconcerned with giving things a lighter touch and the film creaks over his heavy-handed direction. Glatt starts this movie getting savagely beaten by Cain and living up to the realisation he isn't as tough as he used to be. Cain is a nemesis who feels drastically underwritten because he is a threat who can score and fight simultaneously. His relationship with his father- who coincidentally is Highlanders owner Hyrum Cain (Callum Keith Rennie) goes nowhere.
Forbidden by Eva to return to the game, Doug has to face up to the reality of life after hockey. Getting older seems to be the key message of this piece. Old rival Ross Rhea makes his living by participating in rock-em-sock-em tournaments again other old goons. Both men's bodies are crying out for them to stop but both cannot fight their true nature. Playing on the same team as Cain plants a deep rooted hatred on both sides. Cain is loathed by all Highlander players due to his selfishness on the ice and poor leadership. We know this movie is a glorified countdown to the eventual fisticuffs between the two men. However, it lacks the suspense of the original Glatt-Rhea rumble. There are also other unnecessary subplot diversions such as the introduction of Eva's outlandish sister Mary (Elisha Cuthbert). The fine supporting characters are utterly wasted away- particularly wacky goalie Marco Belchoir (Jonathan Cherry) whose perfectionist tendencies are overly exploited.
Sequels are a tricky business and in the case of Goon: Last of the Enforcers it feels like we have lost what made the original so appealing. Doug Glatt is still a character who can hold his own, but this piece will struggle to find appeal outside of hockey fans. If Baruchel had exercised some restraint on the movie's comedic side, this might have been more memorable. Seann William Scott is still appealing and makes for a lovable douchebag as Doug. Liev Schrieber is the movie's strong link again as the ageing Rhea- easily stealing each scene he appears. Like Glatt he struggles with his identity outside the rink and taking a punch is all he knows how to do. Wyatt Russell is also proving to be a great presence and as Anders Cain, he makes a compelling goon. A former hockey pro himself- the son of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn could be a great star in future.
My advice is everyone to have the DVD of Goon on hand for when you get home because you will need a reminder of the things you miss.
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