Goon

An Alliance Films release (in Canada) of the Myriad Pictures presentation of the DCP Prods./Caramel Film/Inferno Pictures/No Trace Camping production. (Worldwide sales: Myriad Pictures, Santa Monica, Calif.) Created by Don Carmody, David Gross, Andre Rouleau, Ian Dimerman, Jay Baruchel. Executive producers, Jesse Shapira, Mark Slone. Directed by Michael Dowse. Script, Jay Baruchel, Evan Goldberg. In line with the book "Goon: The Real Story of the Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey" by Doug Cruz and Adam Frattasio.With: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Marc-Andre Grondin, Eugene Levy, Liev Schreiber, Kim Coates, Dork Wheeler. (British, French dialogue)Doug Glatt is nice-natured but equipped with a good punch, out of the box "Goon," the adorable true story of Doug Cruz, a hockey enforcer who accomplished minor-league fame. Similar to the type of humor in "Slap Shot," and much more violent, director Michael Dowse and screenwriters Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg create a sports comedy that balances the experience about the ice with dramatically attracted figures from the rink. Canadian biz is going to be passionate Yank market is probably in vid. Doug (an ideally cast Seann William Scott) works like a bouncer in Orangetown, Mass., certainly a couple of steps less than the career imagined by his family's Ivy League-scaly anticipation. He projects a dumb but winning innocence and good character, but his fist can deck nearly anybody. He admires minor league star, and hockey goon supreme, Ross Rhea (a Fu Manchu'd Liev Schreiber, never searching more macho). When Doug will get right into a fracas having a player within the stands throughout a game title, he draws the interest from the local club. It's rapidly apparent that Doug -- who needs to learn to skate -- is definitely an enforcer with promise, and it is soon marketed towards the minors using the Halifax Highlanders, whose star, Xavier Laflamme (Marc-Andre Grondin), hasn't been exactly the same since Rhea decked him having a vicious crosscheck three seasons prior. Doug's only job about the ice would be to cover Laflamme's back it's most certainly to not really play hockey. The task of the hockey enforcer, invisible to a lot of non-fans as well as casual fans, is definitively presented here if you take the viewer into Doug's world and letting him do his factor. On the way, Doug wins within the heart of self-referred to "slutty bad girlfriend" Avoi (a lovely Allison Pill), who's attracted to hockey gamers but feels slightly guilty to make by helping cover their Doug while she's a b -.farrenheit. quietly. Tougher for that protag is convincing his roommate Laflamme, who jumps Ecstasy and beds women between games, he can skate good enough to experience in the Highlanders' level. Dowse and editor Reginald Harkema (an excellent filmmaker in the own right) pace the experience off and on the ice with full confidence and efficiency, and game coverage shows a understanding from the sport. Dowse's passion for the effective slo-mo moment is smartly timed throughout, particularly when some bloodstream must be shed about the rink. Although he's yet to complement his best film up to now, "It's All Regulated Gone, Pete Tong," the helmer once more shows he understands how to deliver wise entertainment with motion picture vigor. With Scott, Pill, Grondin and Schreiber -- and Kim Coates searching as an NHL coach within the making -- the pic includes a first-rate team of stars who noticeably enjoy their roles and also the sharp dialogue by Baruchel and Goldberg. Tech package is decent, but shows its budget restrictions.Camera (color, HD), Bobby Shoreline editor, Reginald Harkema music, Ramachandra Borcar production designer, Gord Wilding set decorator, Andrea Spakowski costume designer, Louise Neale seem (stereo system), Dallas Pomedi re-recording mixer, Dino Schiavone effects supervisor, Erectile dysfunction Preston special makeup effects, Doug Morrow visual effects, L'Atelier V stunt coordinator, Steve Lucescu assistant director, Ronaldo Nacionales casting, Lori Stefaniuk. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Special Presentations), Sept. 11, 2011. Running time: 91 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com