Puck Hogs

I saw this film at the festival and it was just so bad that people walked out. I watch a lot of movies and I have never once walked out of a film but I was so bored and even literally offended by how bad the jokes in this movie were that I almost walked out. I almost walked out of "Threesome" when I was younger at the theatre and then I almost walked out of this movie years later, and the only reason I didn't was I was worried the cast and or crew would be there and I did not want to offend anybody. I found myself looking at my watch thinking the movie must be a half hour in and seeing only eight minutes had passed. The entire audience was pretty quiet through out except for a few forced sounding/polite laughs. The acting was not very good (tho def not terrible) and the big problem was the writing/direction of the film, the jokes were all very bad and predictable and yes the acting could have been better, just seems like a really amateurish production to me.

Ever since Trailer Park Boys, everyone in Canada has been trying to copy it and failing big time. This movie steals all it's ideas and "jokes" from multiple sources, everything from TPB to an Atom and His Package song. To make it even worse, the attempt at a fake documentary is ruined by having 3 to 5 cameras in every scene. I would have respected the movie a little if they had just tried to make it a regular movie. The production makes Cock'd Gunns seem real. Never see this.

This movie was a pleasant surprise. Unlike the poor reviews given by previous IMDb critics, Puck Hogs was silly, sophomoric, and just plain funny. It's not a deep, introspective look at the of world of hockey. For that I recommend Les Chiefs. And, fortunately, Puck Hogs wasn't a Mighty Ducks turd-fest. For that, I recommend...well, The Might Ducks or Youngblood. Puck Hogs was not a Slapshot, nor do I think it every tried to be. It is a low-budget, parody of Canadian recreational hockey. If you have ever played rec hockey you will enjoy the humour (e.g., foul smelling hockey bag, a-hole convenors, stacked opposing teams wanting to win at all costs, terrible refereeing, excessive after-game drinking, etc.). To those who hated the movie I say this - good grief, what did you expect - it's a movie about a rec hockey team. I suppose you hate Don Cherry too. Get over yourselves.

...but I was pleasantly surprised. I mean, it's not going to win any academy awards, but I found it entertaining and funny. It was done in a documentary style. I'd call it the "Spinal Tap" of Hockey movies. It could also be compared to "The Office" in the style of film making that was used. Of course, it's not as good as either of those examples, but I did find myself laughing out loud a few times. I was a little intimidated by the reviews done by Canadians, but I find that it reminded me of when I played in a rec league. Maybe the jokes were old hat to them, and that's why they didn't find them funny, but to me it wasn't the same old thing. The plot was fairly simplistic, but the comradery and tensions between teammates and opponents felt real to me. If you are like me, and HAVE to watch any and all hockey movie made, I'd suggest you give it a chance. I'd like to hear some more reviews to see if anyone agrees with me.

It ain't Slap Shot, but it sure has some humorous moments. I liked it very much.