Big News from Grand Rock

A story set in the decline of the newspaper in one of today's most dire outposts- the Canadian small town- it's not Citizen Kane. It's Big News from Grand Rock.

A small Canadian film on the film circuit, Big News from Grand Rock focuses on a small town newspaper that loses its main advertiser and comes to the brink of closure. The desperate editor, Leonard, looking for stories that will sell and coming up empty-handed, takes inspiration in the half-forgotten Bill Murray dud Larger than Life (1996) to fabricate a story. He soon begins ripping off films every week, and when one based on Extreme Measures (1996) draws in a big- city reporter, she quickly unravels the half-witted scheme.

Big News from Grand Rock offers some small, genuine laughs, often capturing what the news can be like in a small town. When one person just bought a lottery ticket and another sells squash, and when a class snake eat worms, you're into dull territory. One thing I noticed is that for a small-town newspaper, they have an unusually large staff of writers. Usually it's just one guy. Peter Keleghan, the most recognizable actor in the film to me, plays the resident dumb one, achieves a funny voice but doesn't offer much of his range. More on the down side, I wasn't impressed with the acting of our lead or the chemistry with the leading lady, whose inevitable sexual rendezvous seems tacked on. Still, this is an enjoyable little film.

I attended a screening of this film at the Magic Lantern Carlton theatre in Toronto this past Friday, and I would like to give a quick review of this film with the hope that others will support it, as it is getting a very limited release at the moment.

As a Canadian who has been a fan of Ennis Esmer from his role as Oz on The Listener, I was happy to discover that Ennis had the lead in this film, and bonus points for this being a Canadian made film that allows Canada to be Canada, rather than overtly pretend we are someplace else, which often happens in films or on TV. This fictional town feels like it could be a small town in a lot of different places, and I think viewers will be reminded of whichever small town is nearest to them. If you watch the trailer, you get a sense of the sort of humour you will get throughout the film. If you watch it and find yourself laughing as I did, you will probably love this film.

This film was made with a relatively low budget, which is evident as you watch, but it does an amazing job at telling an entertaining story with hilarious characters.

I definitely think this film is deserving of a wide release across Canada and beyond, and I would love to purchase it on DVD! I also think this could do really well if it were adapted into a TV series, as I want to know more about these characters.

Definitely has some moments! It kind of grows on you. And has some creative ideas for small town journalists!

Good character portrayals all around – even though the story gets a little over-wrought and little over-wordy – it is still fun. Our main character is so lovable – and that's what keeps us looking and hoping he can save the day as well as himself. We root for him at the very outset of the movie.

It does capture small town flavour. The best gags were around the DVD store. The computers in the newspaper office looked ancient – like from the early 2000's (couldn't figure that out?).