The movie follows Doug, a sweet but dim-witted guy who makes ends meat as a bouncer at a local bar. But when Doug easily dispatches a beligerent hockey player who enters the stands during the game, Doug is brought in as the team's new enforcer. Now if he can only learn to skate...
Goon is one of those rare cult comedies that would easily have a bigger audience if it featured a different sport. That's not to say they're aren't hockey fans out there, there are tons, but it doesn't have the cultural connection that football, baseball, or even basketball has to the American identity. And if you're making a R-rated comedy with immature male humor, non-stop cursing, and bloody fist-fights, that isn't a The Mighty Ducks sequel or Slap Shot, chances are you're going to bear the indie label. Which is a shame because the original Goon is one of my favorite comedies in recent memory. Here's the big reasons why.
The Lead Character is Dumb...and Knows It
A lot of comedies are centered around dumb people. It's half of Will Ferrell's characters. But there's a key element to these characters. They are woefully unaware of how dumb they are. But Goon's Doug isn't. He's fully aware that he's not too bright and doesn't feel a need to put on airs. He's a nice guy who can hit like a freight train and he's okay with that. And it works wonders within the film.
Not only are people blown away by a guy who's seemingly incapable of sarcasm or being inauthentic (a great source of jokes), but it also justifies why Doug throws all of himself into hockey. He knows, seemingly better than everyone else, that this is his best chance to do something special. Doug's slow wits also means that the secondary goofs like his best friend played by the film's writer Jay Baruschel or a rival enforcer played by Liev Schreiber can go as big as they like for the set pieces and games. Of course it certainly helps that...
Sean William Scott is Perfect
While primarily known as Stifler, Scott's best comedic performances are steeped in easy-going sincerity (see also Role Models and his single episode as Country Mac on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Laid back bros, who get really funny when they freak out or turn the volume up.
Doug, in particular, requires a lot of vascilatting between hard-ass and sweet, and Scott sells it every single time. He's also great at being confused. I know this sounds very silly but most dumb characters are so boastful or loud-mouthed that they attempt to cover up their ignorance with lies. Not Doug. He simply gives a nice smile and behaves like he gets everything even though he really doesn't. It's great stuff.
Great Gag Variety Paired With Hockey Sensibilities
It's hard to dissect why a comedy works but Goon works because it's a great combination of absurd premises centered around its lead character. Aka, what does it look like when a sweet but simple guy tries to woo a jaded girl, or do enforcers shake hands before they try to knock each other unconscious? What does it take to motivate an easy-going guy into beating down a total stranger? Add in some immature stuff from the stands, a collection of weirdos for teammates, and a celebration of the "play through the pain hockey" mentality, and you've got yourself a cult classic in the making.
Simple, fast, and anchored by a great premise and central performance, Goon is an easy adult comedy to recommend. Especially if you're a hockey fan.
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