Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day (2009) Review

 

Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day (2009)

Countdown to Liquor Day follows Julian, Ricky, & Bubbles, recently released from jail and looking to make it straight, but hindered at every turn by Jim Lahey, forcing them to attempt the biggest score of their career.

I am honestly amazed at how well this worked as a feature length film. Prior to this, all of the “movies” were essentially just slightly longer episodes that all contained the same writing and quality of the episodic series. This on the other hand is written very well, is fast paced, and is a major step up in production, being an entertaining joy ride from beginning to end. We get little sub plots for each of the characters, with J-Roc finally making it big, Bubbles attempting to rescue his kittens (and getting a girlfriend!), Ricky’s bid for his grade 12, and Julian being Julian and trying out some scheme to stay straight (no pun intended). On paper, all of that, on top of the main through line with Jim and Randy seems overwhelming and disjointed but they surprisingly pull it off almost too well.

It’s a major step up from the grainy, white trash, mockumentary style of the series (which don’t get me wrong, it still is) featuring some genuinely heartfelt scenes, improved cinematography, heart pounding action that feels right out of Heat, and a pretty solid soundtrack as well.

We get a return from all of the series regulars, starring Patrick Roach (with a hilarious hair-do, or lack of, I don’t know), Jonathan Torrens, John Dunsworth, Mike Smith, John Paul Tremblay, and Robb Wells. The core of Smith, Tremblay, and Wells as always worked so well but they are dynamite here, carrying the film with their off-the-cuff style of humor that is as raunchy as it is somewhat intelligent (in a not intelligent way). Dunsworth is the perfect foil for them, with his persistently drunk Lahey really adding to the excitement.

Countdown to Liquor Day, directed by series creator Mike Clattenburg, is a surprisingly well produced and wildly entertaining foray onto the silver screen, certainly being one of the most exciting and funniest entries into the ever expanding filmography of the Trailer Park Boys.

9/10