Goon: Last of the Enforcers

Stars: Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber, Alison Pill, Wyatt Russell, Jay Baruchel, Callum Keith Rennie, Kim Coates, T.J. Miller, Jason Jones

Director: Jay Baruchel

Astonishing, perhaps, but trendy cineastes have yet to declare that sequels are a stand-alone genre. But, given that sequels are now becoming more and more frequent (presumably it helps filmmakers that they probably have probably already paid for the sequel rights?), it can surely be only a matter of time before this happens.

Perhaps, to be fair, this simple-minded slice of silliness, slapstick and crudity might possibly appeal to ice-hockey prone audiences in its native Canada. Mind you, my guess is that even there any one seeking something more than mostly a witless load of brawls will get their skates on and leave the cinema before the most-welcome end credits.

Here Scott, returning as the dim, dopey and belligerent ice-hockey star Doug The Thug Glatt, is briefly on top slugging his way around the ice until he is replaced as captain by the teams new owners son. Married and soon to be a father, Scott ends up working for an insurance company. Until (no surprise here) his old team loses momentum, leaving Scott to return to save the day

He doesnt save the film, however which becomes increasingly witless by the moment with its one dubious merit being that it is infested with enough four-letter words to make even Britains Channel 4 television pause for a moment to consider before scheduling it.

Performances match content. Co-writer (with Jesse Chabot) Baruchel makes his feature film directorial debut . If he continues behind the camera he can surely only improve.

Alan Frank

Canada 2017. UK Distributor: Vertigo. Colour.
101 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 2, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 1, Swearing 3.

Review date: 09 Sep 2017