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Men With Brooms [2002]


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A really enjoyable outing on the ice
Review date: 2008-03-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

Popular spectator sports bore me. Why would I want to sit around, watching a bunch of obscenely overpaid muscular guys (often in shorts or very tight trousers) run around after a ball? Ick. MOVIES about popular spectator sports are even worse: self-indulgent, two-hour gooey moments of the writers and directors and actors professing their love for watching a bunch of obscenely overpaid muscular guys (often in shorts or very tight trousers) run around after a ball. Double Ick.

No, it's the less-well-publicised niche sports that I find more interesting, and MOVIES about these niche sports are even better, because you get all the rules and most of the subtleties explained to you as they happen in the movie, so you know exactly what's going on and what's at stake. Which is great, especially if you've never actually watched the sport before. You simply can't do the same thing with baseball's Designated Hitter Rule or football's Offside Rule in a film. It's impossible. And boring.

I've seen "A League of Their Own," "BASEketball," "Dodgeball," and "Blackball," and I've enjoyed them all. When Amazon recommended "Men with Brooms" after I made several "Due South"-oriented purchases, I went for it. And I love this film. It's got Paul Gross and Leslie Nielsen in it, which is enough for most people. But it's also about a cozy sport passionately enjoyed by real enthusiasts rather than cynical business-sportsmen who would transfer to another team at the drop of an extra million. And the rest of the cast are just as great, many of whom you will have seen in other venues as well. For example, fans of the X-Men (both the Marvel film and the 1990s cartoon) should recognise George "Beast" Buza and his gravelly voice, playing a vicious criminal.

It's not roll-around-breathless-on-the floor, guts-leaking-out-of-the-splits-in-your-sides funny, but it IS very amusing, with engaging characters and many feel-good moments. It's almost-believable, yet slightly surreal and a bit corny in places. And the soundtrack is infinitely better than listening to several hundred drunks tunelessly mangling a team song. So given the choice, I'd watch this instead of anything on TV with "World Series" or "World Cup" in the title. And if you're no big fan of sports, either, I think it safe to say that you'd probably enjoy "Men with Brooms," too.

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Reviews


I love this film...
Review date: 2006-03-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

Ok, so it's a formula that's been used before and you know how it's going to end, but that's beside the point. It allows you to get to know the characters better. This has Humour, Tension, Sad Moments and Happy fuzzy feeling moments. I love watching it, then again, I'm a really big fan of Paul Gross.

If you want some laughs, watch the out-takes. They are absolutely hilarious!

No Brush Off here.
Review date: 2005-01-15 Rating: 6 out of 10

As a big fan of Paul gross and Due South, I picked this video up on the offchance that it would keep me occupied until that excellent series comes out on UK DVD.

The story is of a disbanded Curling team who are brought back together by the death of their mentor for one last run at a highly coveted trophy.

The tale features the usual problems you'd expect of a film like this, problems with the team being out of practice, personal issues getting in the way and old frictions, notably from romantic partners or old acquantances.

The film has numerous deft comic touches, as well as some solid laugh-out-loud moments and stands up well alongside other 'fringe sport comedies' like 'Dodgeball' (MWB is less coarse, and less laugh out loud, but the characters and setting are more engaging).

Well worth a look, Gross directs this well and whilst it can lull a little in places, it's all good stuff.

A BIG letdown
Review date: 2004-10-01 Rating: 4 out of 10

I was hoping for subtle humour, of which this film has none. No surprises at the end, no twists, all too pat. Very disapppinting, as Paul Gross was excellent in Due South, so I was expecting more from his directorial debut.

Despite some minor flaws, it's still a great movie
Review date: 2003-12-24 Rating: 8 out of 10

Being a big curling fan, I had to see this movie the day it came out, and I was not disappointed. I thought the swearing was a bit crude on the first viewing, but when I watched it a second time it didn't bother me. You don't have to be very knowledgable about curling to enjoy the movie, and I don't think you have to be Canadian to understand the humour, but a few of the little in-jokes might be lost... like the "Hinterland Who's Who" segment playing on the TV in the bar. ;)

Best moments:
Peter Outerbridge shines as James Lennox. The humour is great and quirky, and the friendship between the characters is nice. This is one of the best Leslie Nielson roles I've seen in a long time, where he got the chance to be funny, but wasn't slapstick to the point of being utterly stupid. Besides, you have to love a movie with a cameo by The Tragically Hip.

Downfalls:
It's a bit rough around the edges at times, and I still don't see the point of Michelle Nolden's character (Julie Foley, the astronaut) at all.

Overall, it's worth watching, and the soundtrack is great.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Paul Gross
Peter Outerbridge
Molly Parker
Leslie Nielsen
Connor Price

Creators:
Paul Gross (Primary Contributor)
Connor Price (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Momentum Pictures
Manufacturer: Momentum Pictures
EAN: 5060049140933
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-01-26
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 99 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2002
Language: English (Original Language)

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