This was my first time attending the TIFF Midnight Madness opening night screening of any TIFF. For this year it happened to be Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. Prior to this I was acquainted with the Viceland show. Short, yet absolutely hilarious and loaded with lots of iconic Toronto locations and references that only Torontonians who have lived in the city for a while will understand. Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol both came out during the introduction where they mentioned the Mayor of Toronto Olivia Chow being in the audience. Quite funny in retrospect, considering the kind of film this was.
I’m happy to report that the movie is just as insane and bonkers as the show – it’s almost like they picked up where they left off in spite of the long gap in between. Skydiving off the CN Tower into the Rogers Centre alone is one hell of a way to start your movie. Using guerilla filmmaking techniques as well during moments like buying a pair of pliers from the Yonge and Davenport Canadian Tire store as well as involving a “libertarian” Canadian Tire store employee (who funnily enough was there during the Q&A afterwards). Then entering into the CN Tower through security gates while bringing in said pliers as part of the skydiving plan. The insanity only progresses from there with the brilliant approach to take things in a more Back to the Future direction involving time travel.
I also appreciate the appearance of such beloved Toronto locations like the Paradise Theatre, as well as the incorporation of local radio hosts such as Roz and Mocha into the mix (plus an Anthony Fantano cameo that was unexpected). Also roaming around Drake’s property while news reporters were breaking an actual story about a real shooting on location is next-level hijinks. That scene in particular involving Jay handling the Golden gun is among the hardest laughs I’ve ever had in a movie theater.
There’s just something about the way Matt Johnson films Toronto that draws out the uniqueness of the city in a way that I don’t think too many movies do, even ones that are shot at and set in Toronto. The random people you may encounter, plus the city culture that never feels quite as hostile as you might get in places further down south of the border, even if the sticky situations that Matt & Jay walk into can become quite disagreeable at times. A lot of this is credit to the fact that these scenes never feel telegraphed or scripted – involving regular everyday people like that Canadian Tire employee who otherwise may not be professional actors. A testament to Matt & Jay’s process for being so open to the possibilities of what is to come next and to adapt to the circumstances.
This is definitely the kind of film you want to watch together with a crowd. Nothing but pure fun and joy. It’s everything I wanted as a follow-up to the show and so much more.