GOON

US, 2012, 92 minutes, Colour.
Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Leiv Schreiber, Eugene Levy, Marc- Andre Grandin, Kim Coates, Nicholas Campbell.
Directed by Michael Dowse.

Goon gives the impression of being a very tough title – and, it is.

It is an ice hockey story, in the steps of Slap Shot, the main ice hockey film starring Paul Newman. While there is a lot of sport, there is also a lot of physical combat to prevent opponents making their play.

Seann William Scott, best known for the American Pie film character, Stiffler, plays a benign young man, a bit slow, comparison is made with his doctor father (Eugene Levy) and his gay adoptive brother. But he has strong hands and works as a bouncer. He has a close friend, Jay Baruchel who co-wrote the screenplay with Evan Goldberg, the regular collaborator with Seth Rogen. The friend has his own radio program on hockey.

The coach of the local team sees the young man solve a problem with his fists, offers him a job even though he does not know how to play hockey or to skate. Part of his responsibility is to protect a young player who had been brutally downed by a tough opponent, played surprisingly by Leiv Schreiber, and the confrontation between Scott and Schreiber is inevitable.There is a romantic interest with Alison Pill.

The film mainly of interest for a macho audience, and the fans of ice hockey – and it’s combat.

1. At The audience for this film? Hockey fans, sports fans? Films of tough combat?

2. The setting, the town, family and homes, clubs and bouncers, the streets, ice rinks, hockey clubs, games, dressing rooms? The musical score?

3. The tough tone of the film, explicit language, crunching fights…?

4. The story of a loser finding himself? Doug, his age, experience, somewhat slow, compared with his adoptive father as a doctor, his gay adoptive brother? The strength in his hands? His work as a bouncer, seeing this in action? Yet a kind disposition?

5. And Doug’s family, the father and his medical expectations, the mother, the gay brother?

6. Doug, the problem in the stands, using his fists? The coach, seeing Doug, interested, approaching him, offering him the job?

7. Doug, not skilled in hockey, not skilled in skating? Joining the team? His practice, getting skills? His role in the team? The combat role? The coach deciding whether he would go on or not? The knockout blows?

8. Doug, friends with Pat, Pat and his hockey interests, his radio program, the expletive style, communicating, the fans? His support Doug?

9. The character of Ross Rhea, hockey champion, arrogant, bashing people? The interaction with Xavier, knocking him down, demoralising him? His play for the team, preparation for retirement? Talking with Doug in the diner? The buildup to the fight? The means, dirty tricks, the violence? His having to concede to Doug?

10. Doug, the meeting with Eva, her work, interest in him, the relationship?

11. The fans, his brother coming, supporting him? The fans in the stands and cheering him on?

12. The character of Xavier, his play, Champion, defeated by Ross Rhea? On the outer? His character, Doug protecting him, supporting and encouraging him?

13. Is this the true world of ice hockey?