In the northern Ontario town of Weedsville, slackers Dexter (Speedman) and Royce (Bentley) owe a lot of money to their dealer (Bhaneja). The drugs have seriously blunted their brains, and when Royce's girlfriend (Manning) ODs, they opt to hide her body in an abandoned drive-in. But they interrupt a ritual by first-time Satanists (Bryk and Castle), who chase them into the night. And soon they have a gang of angry dwarves dressed in medieval knight gear after them as well. Yet they continue to seek money to pay their debt, planning a big robbery.

Moyle maintains a high energy level with witty direction that keeps the film smart and crisp, as well as stylish and sexy, allowing the nutty characters to emerge as human beings even as the film gets increasingly ridiculous. The plot plays merrily with all kinds of movie cliches, subverting everything with twists and turns we can't possibly predict. There's even some extremely playful moralising, mainly that drugs make you stupid and that even the dumbest idea could work. Maybe Frewer's invention of "Sprayonaise" isn't such a bad idea, but the cigarette-hot drink combo "Teacotine" (or "Cigatea"?) is just preposterous. Isn't it?

The actors are hilariously charming, delivering scruffy, lively performances as a bunch of knuckleheads trying desperately to get out of a mess that gets more and more tangled. At the centre of the storm, Speedman and Bentley are extremely likeable lowlifes. While Bryk and Castle are very funny as the demoralised wannabe Satanists plagued by junkies and dwarves. And even the smallest characters get amusingly defining moments.

As it progresses, the plot gets a bit strained, and perhaps too farcical. But we stick with it because of the amiable cast, Moyle's spirited direction and a terrific song score featuring Canadian indie bands. We emerge from the cinema laughing and shaking our heads in disbelief at the general silliness. In other words, it has cult hit written all over it.

themes, language, drugs, violence

13.Jun.07