DVD Review: Goon

STUDIO: Magnolia | DIRECTOR: Michael Dowse | CAST: Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Eugene Levy, Kim Coates
BLU-RAY & DVD RELEASE DATE: 5/29/2012 | PRICE: DVD $26.98, Blu-ray $29.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $34.98
BONUSES: commentary, deleted scenes, bloopers, a gag reel
SPECS: R | 91 min. | Sports comedy | 1.77:1 widescreen | Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 | English and Spanish subtitles

RATINGS (out of 5 dishes): Movie | Audio | Video | Overall

Taking more than a page from the hockey farce film Slap Shot, Goon focuses on the comedy found on the violent side of hockey. And like that 1977 classic, which stars Paul Newman as raucous minor league player-coach Reggie Dunlop, Goon sets its sights on the lower rung of the pro hockey world with a colorful central character.

Seann William Scott hits the ice in Goon.

This time it’s Doug Glatt, a bouncer with an amazing proficiency for knocking people out—quickly. He’s played with a likable and surprisingly reserved style by Seann William Scott (the American Pie series).

Recruited by the local ice squad, Glatt proves his expertise without much skating or shooting talent, and eventually works his way into playing the enforcer for the team’s sleazy superstar (Marc–Andre Grondin). As a showdown between Glatt and rival thug Ross “The Boss” Shea (Liev Shrieber, Every Day) draws closer, Glatt gets romantically involved with a hard-drinking hockey fan (Alison Pill, Midnight in Paris).

Goon is filled with profane language from a sharp script written by co-star Jay Baruchel (She’s Out of Your League) and Evan Goldberg (Superbad) and lots of well-mounted, in-your-face sports mayhem. The movie’s director, Michael Dowse (Take Me Home Tonight), must be a serious hockey fan — he was born in Canada — as he gets it all so right.

Add in a host of genuinely solid performances and a surprisingly nice sense of poignancy, and Goon (which is based on the experiences of real-life player of Doug “The Hammer” Smith) effectively scores in all departments, especially if you are a fan of hockey and/or Slap Shot.

The DVD’s bonus features were unavailable at press time, but they include a gag reel that we’re betting finds a bunch of actors falling on their rumps while on the ice.

Buy or Rent Goon
DVD | Blu-ray | Blu-ray/DVD Combo	DVD | Blu-ray | Blu-ray/DVD Combo	DVD | Blu-ray | Blu-ray/DVD Combo