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Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek
(from the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival)

Directed by: Michael Dowse
Written by: David Lawrence, Paul J. Spence and Michael Dowse
Starring: David Lawrence, Paul J. Spence, Tracey Lawrence, Terra Hazelton and Andrew Sparacino

In this Canadian stoner comedy, director Michael Dowse attempts a combination of “Wayne’s World” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” mixing comedy and mockumentary styles fairly flawlessly. Our heroes, Dean (Paul J. Spence) and Terry (David Lawrence), are two loser, drug-addled metalheads whose lives are going nowhere, slowly.

Still, these failures are lovable in their sheer ineptitude, and they’re acutely aware of their lack of skills, declaring, “Knowledge of no knowledge is power.” This is a place where “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Bon Jovi is the ultimate love ballad and where all there is to lovin’ life is exploiting workers’ compensation, grinding guitars and blowing through cash at strip clubs. While we spend time with these characters and they go through their crises, plot-driven story is not a priority. “Fubar” instead entertains us with a litany of characters each in their own unique brand of trouble.

While both Spence and Lawrence are suspiciously convincing in their commitment to their roles, one of the more horrifyingly accomplished performances in the film is Trisha (portrayed by Terra Hazelton), an overweight tramp who sleeps with everyone and somehow manages to belittle any accuser into feeling bad for even suggesting she’s at fault.

The sheer madness that is “Fubar II” will only cement the cult status the Fubar franchise holds over our Northern neighbors. Whether that success will translate south to the States is anyone’s guess. With multiple TV shows (such as “Reno 911!” and “Eastbound & Down”) bearing similar sincerity of strangeness, there’s a definite audience being bred for Dean and Terry’s antics. I can see it now: “Harold & Kumar & Fubar.” Too much?

Photo courtesy South by Southwest