Duct Tape Forever

I enjoy watching The Red Green Show, and when I found out the cast made a movie, I was curious to see how it held up. Movies adapted from 5-minute sketch comedies have a reputation for spreading their routine too thin. Red Green benefits in having a large ensemble to draw on, and the antics of the other famed Possum Lakers break up the plot at intervals.

The gist of the story is that a land developer is demanding compensation for his limo that fell into a sinkhole outside the lodge. While the gang finds it fishy that a limo would be driving anywhere within 10 miles of the lodge, Harold comes up with a plan to enter a duct tape sculpture contest with a third-place prize large enough to pay their obligation.

It's a goofy movie, and while occasionally the actors still seem to have their TV-hamminess stuck on, the film is broken up to give different members of the cast a spotlight - highlights including scenes with Mike, Edgar, and Ranger Gord. While it does deviate a little from the show for some dramatic tension, it does so with Red's wry commentary and never feels terribly forced or out of place.

If you're a fan of the show, approach this as more of an extended outing with the gang than something that's really theatrical in scope. There's a little more budget (but not much), a little more story (again), but it's an enjoyable break from the norm of the series overall.

Being this never came to my local theater, I figured that I would have to wait for it to come out on video. As luck would have it, out local PBS station played it, and I loved it.

Red, and his buddies are trying to save Possum Lodge by winning third place in a duct tape contest. Of course, the fun was getting to the contest. I was a little disappointed though that some of the characters that I like weren't in it, like Hap, the ferry boat captain who is the biggest liar one could meet, or Douggie, the guy who thought his monster truck is a symbol of his manhood.

That aside, I enjoyed it very much. Like the t.v. show, it is a good poke of fun of the male ego.

I don't normally write these, but I just watched the movie again last night and came here today, only to find a disgustingly negative review of the movie. Everyone is entitled to their opinion - hence my being able to write this - but I honestly don't understand how someone who is a self-proclaimed fan of the show can be that negative of the big screen debut.

I'm happy to say that I actually saw this in the theater. My parents and I, being huge fans of the show, drove from upstate New York into Canada to the nearest theater playing (about a 2 hour drive). I wasn't disappointed at all.

The script was exactly what I expected - all the usual Red Green-isms and Harold-isms, a few good lines from the supporting characters, and a healthy dose of heart mixed in. The physical comedy was... well, physical comedy! You either like it or you don't.

Granted, the plot was a little forced, but I didn't see the movie to see plot. I saw the movie to see my beloved Red Green characters on the big screen making me laugh. Upon repeated watching, I still laugh hard.

On a side note, my wife, who was only superficially familiar with show, loves the movie to no end. So it does extend to those not familiar with the show, even if it's in a small way.

Sure, it has it's problems, but it beats the pants off of most comedies being pumped out by Hollywood these days.

This movie is very easy to review: if you already like "The Red Green Show", then you'll like this film -- if you don't like Red Green, this movie isn't for you.

Writer and star, Steve Smith, stays true to his TV show's premise with this movie, determined to give his fans exactly what they expect from him. Call this movie "Possum Lodge Goes On a Road Trip" and you've pretty much nailed the short description.

So it's slapstick, absurd humour, a dash of dry wit, and general goofiness all around, with Smith ably assisted by all of Possum Lodge's usual suspects. Patrick McKenna (as nerdy cousin Harold) tops the most-wanted list, with Graham Greene as explosion-happy Edgar stealing a few scenes as well. Bob Bainborough is solid as Dalton, Peter Keleghan is hilariously demented as Ranger Gord -- and Melissa DiMarco manages to make what could've been just the "I'm the movie's recurrent sexy girl" role into something more, something with a comedic payoff -- something I won't spoil here.

Honestly, there are a lot of talented people here, supporting what is essentially a very light, goofy entertainment. If you're okay with this style of comedy, you'll appreciate what they do.

Canadian viewers will no doubt have fun spotting various Canadian entertainers in often-clever cameo roles throughout the film.

The movie even dips into a little bit of character development in the last act, shedding some light on the reason behind Red's constant repartee with his manic nephew Harold. This segment is well-played, and it adds a bit of unexpected depth to the movie -- but it doesn't divert from the film's comedic momentum for very long, so Red Green fans needn't worry overmuch.

"Duct Tape Forever" is a good film for what it is -- it plays out exactly the way a fan of "The Red Green Show" would expect. If you like Red Green, then you'll like this film. If you don't "get" Red, then chances are, you won't "get" this movie either. I'm sure there's a Peter Greenaway retrospective playing at a rep house somewhere for you ... :-)

This is a good film, but not great. Like I said, this is exactly what to expect from Red Green. I'm a fan of his show and basically his whole cast shows up for the film. I'm not one to explain everything but if you have a spare two hours rent this film!!! I guarantee if you sit back, all critical things aside, you will enjoy yourselves and the film for what it is worth.