User reviews

There is one element that distinguishes a "great" sports movie from a "good" sports movie. It's "the feel". It doesn't matter if the movie is about baseball, basketball, football or hockey. If it doesn't smack of authenticity you might as well flip over to a live game. "The Natural" had the feel of baseball and for hockey "Slapshot" has always been the template for the great hockey movie. I happily add "Goon" to that rarefied space.

As far as movie making goes, it has all the right stuff. The acting is convincing and solid, the jokes are funny and there is lots of on-ice action. But the defining feature of this film is that it feels real. It feels like these are real guys playing a real game in front of real fans. True hockey fans will get the in jokes, wince at the ankle injury, relate to the dressing room banter, and feel tempted to yell "head's up" when the bad guy starts to take a run at the little guy.

The key scene is, of course, the final showdown between "good goon" and "bad goon". We know it's coming, but sometimes we know the NHL fights are inevitable, as the tough guys line up before the face-off and start jabbering. The build-up is just as visceral in "Goon", and when they finally drop the gloves it reminded me of that great final shoot-out scene in "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly", as the guys do the pre-fight strip tease and wait for other to draw first.

I will risk the wrath of my fellow hockey fans who have grown up worshipping at the church of "Slapshot". It was a great movie, although a bit long. I found "Goon" to be more entertaining, as authentic and more believable. Nice work guys!

I think that if you go to see this movie, you know what you're getting into. It's essentially a love letter to the violent side of hockey written by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg, both of whom are known for a particular kind of comedy, and it stars Seann William Scott, who is known for playing a particular kind of character. Check out the 'People who liked this also liked...' section on the page for this movie. You'll see flicks like The Hangover, Crazy, Stupid Love, and Role Models. If those are your type of movies, chances are you'll enjoy Goon.

The premise of the movie is that a likable, polite, not-exactly-bright bouncer, Doug Glatt, is invited to join a semi-professional hockey team as an enforcer. I think what I chiefly liked about the film was that yes, there's lewd and crude humour and a somewhat predictable plot line, but you'll like the characters and at no point does the movie start to drag or fail to entertain.

I was also pleased to see that, as a Canadian hockey fan myself, I wasn't spoon-fed easy stereotype jokes. The things that were funny hadn't been recycled a hundred times in every other movie that pointedly features Canada as a setting. The characters do drag out the old 'eh' every now and again, but you feel more like it's a wink to Baruchel's home audience rather than something intended to hit you over the head with a 'SEE, we're in CANADA!'

Bottom line: This flick isn't going to win any Oscars. But if you want to see something thoroughly entertaining, it's a good bet. If you don't laugh at least once, you're - probably my grandmother.

I hadn't read or heard much about Goon before I went to see it; all I'd seen was the trailer. I didn't even realise that it was based on a true story. I wasn't expecting it to be that good, but was pleasantly surprised.

I was expecting that the funny bits in the trailer were all that would be on offer but the whole film was seeped in that simple (albeit sometimes unnerving) comedy that had the audience laughing out loud often.

Furthermore, beneath the usual humour we've come to expect from Goldberg, there is a much deeper underlying story to it. It was even endearing in parts. OK so 'endearing' isn't the best word to describe a comedy sports film that has as much gore as it has humour, but the way that Seann William Scott portrays Doug really did something of touching my heart, and it was refreshing to see Scott play the role.

Granted it may not clean up at the Oscars, but the story of a guy who really has no idea where he belongs is both hilariously and sweetly told in Goon, with a great relationship conveyed between Doug and his friend - excellently played by Baruchel - who seems to be the only one who believes in him.

Teamed (no pun intended) with the banter generated with the game of hockey and Doug's fellow players, this really makes for a must-see for any sports film fan, or comedy film fan, or indie film fan. There's a love story in there too for the romance fans. Which could potentially give Goon a pretty huge audience. If people ignore the trailer, that is.

Yes the whole story is slightly clichéd, but this film does so much more than the trailer gives it credit for, and deserves the word to be spread that this really is worth a watch.

I wasn't expecting the bloodshed in an otherwise heartfelt and appeasing movie which would be remembered for the astonishing, rather absorbing performance by Sean William Scott more than anything else. I should admit, haven't yet got the hang of Ice hockey and the fighting thing. But the sportiness and the spirit of the protagonist did rush my ante up - now that's not uncommon with Sport movies. But something's different about this one, Doug Glatt & his 69 wouldn't be that easy to forget coz he's too simple, stupid and darn crazy when he's a team guy.

With some good laughs, a love affair and a tough antagonist, it might sound quite clichéd. Yet you would never feel tedious, rather you feel for the rawness and emptiness Doug Glatt is going through. His blending with the team, the crush he develops for the girl, the way he pushes out the baddies from cornering Laflamme, and the final wait for fighting the evil legend is all knitted very well. The background score keeps the tempo intact. Some of the scenes and circumstances needed much detail, it never went over board being too dramatic. For instance, the climax was a bit ragged and missed out some emotional values. Sean William Scott deserves special mention, he sheds all his typecast personas and have acted the character of Doug Glatt with all his heart. Thank God, he isn't just "Steve Stifler" anymore.

Goon is a feel good movie which is simple yet compelling and a bit too bloody for a sports movie. Loved it.

'Goon' revolves around a very simple idea that a lovable but stupid nobody gets a chance at becoming an ice hockey champion because of his very powerful fists. Cue some of the most incredibly violent, unnecessary fight scenes seen in cinema for a long time. It makes a Quentin Tarantino film look normal! However, If you buy the idea, despite the familiar and predictable narrative, you will leave the cinema with a big grin on your face; At heart, 'Goon' is just another Indie feel-good comedy.

Written by Jay Baruchel (also starring) and Evan Goldberg (the man to thank for 'Superbad' & 'Pineapple Express'), the words come to life on screen and audiences should delight in some incredibly amusing one-liners (watch out for the foul-mouthed Baruchel) but also be engaged in the kind hearted and naive Sean William-Scott. You will realise after a while that the pacing of the film is unorthodox as it doesn't focus on the story of the ice hockey team, rather than the 'Goon' himself. This shows a focus which is integral to the film's unique quality and it often takes many unexpected turns as far as typical narratives go. The Goon is the heart of this film and has many redeeming features. This softer approach to a predictably comic performance from William-Scott and the introduction of a possible love story between him and Alison Pill's character (also giving her best shot in this picture) are what elevates the film to a level most comedy's fail to reach.

Having said that, this film is no 'Juno' or '(500) Days Of Summer'. It mixes the soft, charming and comedic elements with often harsh truths and big fights. There is blood, lost teeth, broken bones and sliced ankles throughout. Never has there been such realistic sounding punches! However, in the end, 'Goon' proves that you don't need a film crammed full of laughs to make a good comedy. It has charm, honesty, some very big fights, some very funny moments and an undeniably uplifting, feel-good ending which makes it just that cut above your average 'dumb' comedy.

I must say I was a bit nervous as a Hockey fan about how this movie would fare in UK. There is a fairly good following but there are still a lot of people who don't realise that fighting is part of the game and that 'Goons' actually do play the game.

I thought there were some good laughs, entertaining fights and an overall heartwarming story that for me make this into a very entertaining movie. Yes, the dialogue and jokes are simple and the plot is quite thin but what were we expecting? Too many people expect movies to all be Oscar-contenders and don't see a film for what it is, in this case and entertaining comedy-drama that doesn't take itself even slightly seriously.

I plead ignorance: I have never seen Slap Shot, the holy grail of non- Mighty Ducks hockey films. When I ventured into the world premiere of Michael Dowse's Goon over a month ago at the Toronto International Film Festival, I felt like I missed out on required reading. But while it may be deeply indebted to the Paul Newman classic, I think Goon still manages to be unique enough that it works pretty well on its own.

Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) is a loser. His father and brother are doctors, yet he is stuck as a bouncer in a seedy Orangetown bar. A rather heinous act of self-defense at a local hockey game gets him noticed and brought in to play in the minors as a goon, someone who fights with others and protects his smaller teammates. He does so incredibly well that he is quickly drafted to a semi-professional team in Canada, where his main goal is to protect star player Xavier LaFlamme (Marc-Andre Grondin), who has not played the same since a brutal hit from the legendary Ross 'The Boss' Rhea (Live Schreiber).

Goon is the type of movie that begs not to be taken seriously. If the synopsis was not enough, then the key opening shot, a bloody tooth falling in slow motion over classical music, is an obvious suggestion of the borderline ludicrous film that follows. There is nothing subtle that occurs at all, everything is incredibly blatant and wildly over-the-top (and frequently incredibly gritty and disgusting). The film wears its pride for the sport on its sleeve, and sometimes goes to ridiculous lengths to make sure you always know that. While hockey seems to be an oddly frequent theme in Canadian pictures in the past year or so, this was the first one I saw that had the sport front and centre – not simply existing as an underlying theme or plot device.

But what sets it apart from the other Canadian hockey films is its glorification of violence and carnage on ice. Glatt's main objective is to destroy and take out the other players, and everyone around him is constantly stressing that. While we get to witness the struggle he has trying to understand if there will ever be anything more for him, the film still paints him in the corner of always needing to fight, which leads to some horrifically bloody battles. Dowse does not shy away from how violent the sport can be; instead he makes it incredibly gratuitous and takes it dangerously close to the limits of decency. I laughed at how silly the violence became, but I was surprised at just how gory it was in many instances. It will no doubt cause a minor controversy, and I would not be surprised if a lot of people ignore the fact that the film is one of the few to actually deal with the topic head-on.

Goon is also set apart through its rather colourful use of profanity, specifically at the hands of Jay Baruchel's Pat Houlihan. He adapted and co-wrote the script with Seth Rogen's usual writing partner Evan Goldberg , and spices up almost every line with a unique expletive. Some are too overdone for their own good, but others are near perfect. They lead to some rather hysterical one-liners more often than not, and help shape the film around the hockey. I found it particularly amusing that Baruchel gets to be the most vulgar of anyone in the script, allowing him to provide the most laughs and steal scenes from everyone. It also makes the film, at least in my mind, a bit more authentic to the sport itself. It can be family orientated as some films have tried to suggest, but it is much more at ease when it is adult.

If I hold anything against the film (outside of the ending I wanted so much more from), it is that no one is really developed at all. We get to see a few different shades of Scott's Glatt, but no one else in the film changes. They are one-dimensional all around, with some minor throwaway moments that could have been used to better characterize them. It feels like a missed opportunity, even with the short running time, and nearly puts the talented cast to waste. Even Scott himself seems to be having trouble trying to really make something of his character. They all make the most of what they are given, but it seems like the acting must have come a close third to the sensationalizing of hockey and the glorifying of violence.

That said, Scott does a lot better in the role than I want to give him credit for. He is very meek throughout, and is always downplaying the character. He is the complete opposite of Stifler, and shows that he has some range. Schreiber is great as Ross, but he leaves the film for far too many interludes. Same goes for Kim Coates as the head coach of Glatt's team, who never appears on screen for nearly long enough. Sadly, Grondin and Alison Pill, as Glatt's love interest, seem to fare the worst of anyone. They get so very little to do, despite their importance in the film. They just end up looking awkward and out of place more often than not, almost like they do not belong at all.

In the end, there is a lot of fun to be had watching Goon, especially if you really embrace the ridiculousness of it all. It is a really silly film, but manages to be enjoyable even with the massive flaws that plague it. With a little more work, it could have been one of the best sports movies ever. Instead, it will have to contend with being the best among a long string of Canadian hockey movies that will hopefully end sooner rather than later.

7/10.

One of my all-time favorite comedies is Slap Shot, so I had at least a marginal interest in seeing Goon. After reading a recent interview with Baruchel in the Vancouver Sun, the movie sounded like it just might have the heart to carry the flame that Slap Shot lit. Sure, no question, Goon comes off as somewhat of an homage, but it's done right, not overtly, balancing the necessary brutality and tastelessness with just enough sweetness. Which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for that pitiful attempt at a Slap Shot sequel.

I'm also not usually a fan of Seann William Scott's typecast everybrah, but his portrayal of Dougie Glatt as a soft-spoken and polite bruiser really is charming. The movie's not without its flaws: Sure, Baruchel's character is irritating and barely necessary, and Eugene Levy is tragically underused, and the subplot with the love interest is kinda out-of-place, but I overlooked those things because the meat of the movie is gold. The comedy is solid, the teammate/coach characters are amazing, and the film's sheer love of the game really, really shines through.

So my recommendation is ya pick up a twelve of Moosehead, throw on your old Chiefs jersey, and hunker down for a lot of laughs.

Seann William Scott often fits into a certain type, to put it bluntly, silly films. After following his favourite hockey player, Doug (Scott) goes from bouncer at a pub to pro hockey player, seems to fit the bill.

I didn't think much of the film or the story in the first say, twenty minutes. It just seemed to be in competition with the likes of Superbad and dare I say, American Pie. With Doug's best friend Ryan (Jay Baruchel) making obscene jokes every 5 seconds, I couldn't help but role my eyes. When the story moves away from him, is when the film really starts to pick up. We get to see what Scott's character is really like, which is a polite, cute, neanderthal with really hard fists.

Liev Schreiber's character is rather terrifying, creating a great juxtaposition between him and the dimwitted Doug. The camera angles used on the ice show how scary it can be and bring the audience into the match. Now that I know it's based on a true story, I only want to meet the real Doug and give him a hug.

Now I like Sean William Scott and had hoped that this would continue after seeing this movie. I am pleased to say that if anything he has gone up in my regard. The last ice hockey film I saw was Youngblood (that Raki man is a F***ing animal) to quote a young Keanu Reeves. The plot of this film is simple enough. Doug Glatt (Sean W.Scott) is handy with his fists and for this gets taken on by the local ice hockey team as the enforcer whose main role is to protect the fallen prodigy Xavier Laflemme (Marc-Andre Grondin) whose overall performance was average. The film leads up to the big final, which isn't the game itself but a showdown between Doug Glatt and the ice hockey leagues number one hard Ba****d Ross Rhea played by the outstanding Liev Schreiber. Not here's an actor who has the ability to create chemistry with his fellow actors. What I really liked was the connection you started to feel towards Doug Glatt which is all down to Sean W.Scott performance. I wouldn't go to the cinema to watch it, but certainly as a rental. This for me was really watching Forest Gump play ice hockey and then smack the s**t out of someone.

This is where I confess to hating sports movies. I ended up watching the movie on the repeat urging of my boyfriend, convinced that I would dislike it.

I was wrong. So very, very wrong. I laughed all the way through the movie--loud, surprised guffaws and nerdy snort-laughs.

Without spoiling any plot details, the premise of the movie is not terribly exciting, but the combination of hilariously obscene writing, the spot-on delivery and solid acting, and the seeming ability of Sean Michael Scott to embody a truly lovable idiot sells a surprisingly likable and personable movie.

The movie also surprised me several times--sports movies have a tendency to focus on the rise of an underdog or fall of a hero. The themes are huge, and the focus of the film is on those themes.

This movie, by contrast, never forgets the importance of character and the need for the viewer to fall in love with characters in order to root for them. Thanks to the writing and acting, it is easy to fall in love with the characters, and to care deeply for them.

The movie also never forgets the small details of relationships and motivation that make characters believable. Really, it deserves a better rating than it has right now. Even if you can't stand sports movies, this one is worth checking out.

Unlike other members of his family Doug Glatt is not brainy and therefore gets by in life by being a security guard (on account of him being physically tough). However, when he finds himself in a chance encounter with another hockey player and showcases his fighting ability in front of the coach the coach offers Doug a life-changing career move, but, for Doug, it isn't quite all it's cracked up to be...

Goon is another film that I feel wasn't marketed particularly well. Seeing Seann William Scott pulling a silly half-smirk on the film's poster may make one believe that this is another of his goofball comedies. The idea that he spends the whole film beating people up may also make people believe that the film will follow the above narrative path....

For these reasons, this film may disappoint some people (particularly if you're expecting Scott to play another madcap Stifler type role). Goon is bracketed as a comedy (which is slightly misleading as I think I only laughed once). Having said that, Goon still does contain merit in other areas...

To being with, Doug is not the sharpest knife in the drawer and it's clear from an early stage that him not being bright is a defining factor in how easily he is able to be manipulated. However, one can understand why he'd want to be a part of the world that he is thrown in to... the fame...the money...the adulation...the sense of belonging. It's a dream for most people so you can't blame Doug for not wishing to pass up on the opportunity.

I think what really sells this film is how likeable and sweet-natured Doug is as a person. Yes he's physically tough and beats people up, but it's only really when he is duty bound to fight that he does so (whether it's in his role as security guard or 'Goon). His undying love for Eva (despite her seemingly doing everything to put him off) is lovely to see and at one point in the film Doug even 'takes one for the team' to show his love for Eva.

When we look at the acting one thing I will say is that it's always nice to see Seann William Scott diverting away from his Stifler type roles (you feel that he may have been in danger of being typecast at one point in his career). Interestingly, his role of Doug is probably closer to Scott's normal persona so this may not have stretched him as much as some of his other roles (I remember reading that he's quiet, shy and reserved in real life) meaning that he's really acting when he is in Stifler mode (shows how good he can be as I found that hard to believe when I read it). Schreiber is excellent in support and the likes of Pill, Coates and Grondin are also good. I was less taken with Jay Baruchel whom I found to be pretty irritating tbh.

This is not a goofball comedy like many of Scott's other films, but rather an underdog story about a man succeeding in his chosen craft and falling in love at the same time. It is a departure from what we're used to seeing from Scott, but once I became attuned to the film's wavelength I did find it to be quite enjoyable (though it may not work for everyone).

"Goon" stars Seann William Scott as Doug Glatt, a dimwitted bouncer who manages to make his way onto a local hockey team. His role? He's an enforcer, a violent position which requires him to get into bloody fist fights with opposing players. Offering respite from these scenes of violence is a hastily sketched romance between Doug and Eva, played by Alison Phill. She's a hockey fan who, like Doug, views herself as damaged goods.

Though the film's messages - "don't be ashamed of who you are or what you do", "always love your teammates" etc – are saccharine, "Goon's" overall tone is one of hyper-violence. Much of the film consists of Glatt being punched in the face or cracking skulls. Seann William Scott, so good in roles which require him to be an egotistical maverick, is given little to work with here. He's simple and childlike and not much fun, though this also makes the film somewhat interesting.

Some of "Goon's" skating scenes are well shot, but its original premise (a hockey movie about a hockey player who can't play hockey) quickly gives way to sports movie clichés. The film's swearing, which aims to be vulgarly funny, isn't inventive enough. Elsewhere director Michael Dowse lays on some heavy Christ symbolism. He think's he's making the next "Raging Bull".

7.5/10 – Starts well, goes nowhere. Worth one viewing.

Yes I only rated this 7/10, however that is fairly high in my world for a comedy film. This movie is surprising to me for there are not many comedies made nowadays that are very well presented/original. I would like to say I am a sports fan as well, but the National Football League doesn't quite encompass all sports. I would recommend this film as a solid and quite humorous comedy that will be a nice viewing for guys and gals alike. A bit clichéd storyline but it works very well in this case. I will not be buying the DVD, but would recommend this to people who want an evening with popcorn and a blanket on the couch kinda night.

A lot of swearing, nudity and beatings make this a really different breed of Sports movie altogether. So don't compare this to other ice hockey movies that have been done in the past, because it won't hold up against those, just because they were more sweet natured. This one is really a punch in the face, while it consistently insults you. Can you deal with that? Than you can watch it too.

Sean William Scotts introduction into the movie worried me a little (the opening montage made him look like another Stiffler character). But you can dismiss that thought right away, because he is almost the complete opposite (even if it sometimes feels like he could swing around and do something "Stiffler-ific"). Jay B. who also co-wrote the movie, is on best friend duty here and may either annoy you to death or amuse you to death. Hopefully the latter. Because in the end: There will be blood ...

I don't know what it is but every time I watch it's such an engaging funny movie. It's like Adam Sandler's Waterboy on Ice. Sean William Scott is excellent in this and Liev Schreiber is classic in this. Definitely a great movie.

This is a lot smarter than some reviewers are giving it credit for - it's tough, even nasty on the ice, but seriously not only laugh out loud, but it's also a wonderful inspirational film that both moved and surprised this reviewer.

Full of great performances, especially Seann WIlliam Scott and Jay Baruchel (who co-wrote) and Liev Schrieber, the surprise though is Kim Coates, who with over 40 films to his credit, is a well-known face, but here is seriously the most realistic coach I've seen on film in a while.

If you like sports movies you should love this, yes it is raw in the fights and the language, but that's where a lot of the real laughs come from - but what makes this really worth watching is that it's about the unsung hero, the underdog, the loser finding love, finding a home, and I for one loved every minute of it.

Sean has tried an unconventional role for himself, and boy is he good! I frankly liked his performance, despite it being somewhat average. It means he has more versatility than an aloof drunkard, frat boy and more chops than a fake Monk. Supporting cast was also very nice, especially the MC's love and best buddy.

Also, lot of Canadian content gets bonus points from a maple-syrup enjoyer! The reality of Hockey and pressures at young age are also showed fairly well. Overall, very gritty and rough around the edges, but a real hidden gem for a casual viewing! Hard to see films like these nowadays, so enjoy it as much as you can!

I love the game of hockey and perhaps that is one big reason I saw a complete lack of anything positive in this movie. Whereas "Slap Shot" told the story of minor league hockey (admittedly with some over-the-top humor) and "Youngblood" the story of a hockey player who wanted a shot at the big time, "Goon" tells neither a story nor illustrates it in anything but vulgar, obscene clichés. "Goon" is an insult to movie-making and the sport of hockey. Even the game scenes are poorly done and unbelievable (such as the player telling the on-ice officials not to interfere with a fight).

Not much of this movie makes sense. Someone not familiar with Canada or hockey would walk away thinking Canadians are vulgar, bloodthirsty cretins whose only interest is watching WWE-type brawls on ice when they are not replacing their native language with the worst foul-mouthed cussing I've ever heard on screen - virtually all of it unnecessary.

If the intent of the movie-maker was to tell the story of a hockey goon, and there are such people, he fell incredibility short. If it was to tell some sort of love story (the goon falls in love of course) that goes by the wayside as well.

I couldn't find a single thing in this stinking morass of a movie to like. It is crap like this that gives the sport of hockey a black eye.

As my title states I think this movie does a pretty good job of bringing 70's & 80's hockey passion into the Millennium.

Never been much of a Sean William Scott fan but he's passable as Doug "The Thug" Glatt. Liev Scrieber's character of Ross "The Boss" Rhea is more palatable and if your a hockey player or enthusiast then you'll relate to his role a lot more.

For me Slap Shot was and always will be the #1 hockey movie ever, but this won't be out of place as my #2, just pipping Youngblood.

Would've liked to have seen a bit more involvement from Eugene Levy as Doug's Dad, didn't really see what point he played in the film to be honest. Also Doug's "love interest" wasn't much cop either. If they'd steered away from the silly sub-plots of hometown bot does good or nice guys CAN finish first etc then you'd have more of a "balls to the wall" hockey flick for the hardcore viewer. That said, 7/10 for a subject that will always struggle to get bums on seats, whether it's the comedy of the year or a docu-drama that pulls on the heart strings.

I'd personally like to see the equivalent of Any Given Sunday (NFL Football) with an NHL hockey theme, making use of a high profile cast also.

I like Sean William Scott's performance here. Didn't expect much at first, but his earnest character was a really good show.

Like a modern Forrest Gump. Lol..

I'm also impressed with Marc Gordin's performance.

Well, I never understood hockey before, so I was impressed at how captivating this movie could be.

It is well directed, well written, well played...

The joke was nice, didn't find any character disturbing at all..

The flow was always making this movie interesting.

My only disappointment was how it abruptly ends.

Overall a very entertaining movie :)