Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

Johnson films the action in the same freewheeling documentary style as the television series, mixing hidden-camera encounters with unsuspecting members of the public and increasingly ambitious set pieces. The result preserves the scrappy, improvised amiability of the original while expanding it into a diabolically clever comedy, poignantly pivoting around two chums as they confront the distance between youthful certainty and middle age.

If you’re not at all familiar with the originals, but you know and/or love Back to the Future, that should be enough to guarantee you a good time at this almost-lawsuit-worthy homage/parody to the 1980s time travel classic. And if perchance you already love both Nirvanna and BTTF, then strap in, because when this movie hits 88 kilometres an hour…

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is not only the funniest movie I’ve seen at SXSW, it’s one of the funniest I’ve seen in years.

If there is a serious point to this film it is how very quickly time goes past while you are trying and failing to make it in the music business. But the laughs are the important thing.

Because the movie’s on-the-fly style is as scruffy as its protagonists, it’s easy to underestimate the intelligence and artistry it takes to make something so silly.

The film offers a joyous throwback to the optimistic feeling of the early internet creator era.

This overly meta farce beats its mildly silly jokes so steadily into the ground that it’s not so much a case of diminishing returns as humor abuse.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

A movie that asks the real questions, like what's success without friends/loved ones to share it with and where did all the goth kids go?

If you had the chance, would you turn back the clock? Other directors before Matt Johnson have explored this question. The way this happens varies. One of the best-known examples of time travel comes from the film *Back to the Future*. Coincidentally, one of Matt’s main characters is completely obsessed with this film and has turned his caravan – modelled on the one in the film – into a time machine. However, he himself believes just as little as we do that it could actually **** now to the original question: why on earth would Jay and his best friend Matt want to turn back time? They love being in a band and have been living their dream together for decades – to finally make it big and play at the Ravoli. So far, however, it has remained just a dream. Matt and Jay are two friends who couldn’t be more different. Despite all their setbacks, Matt is brimming with optimism, whilst Jay gives the impression that he’s gradually losing faith in their chances of success. With his optimism – which comes across as almost comically naïve – Matt is constantly coming up with new ideas that could bring them both huge success. His latest idea: to parachute from the Toronto Tower onto the half-time show at the baseball stadium. In the end, Jay agrees to the plan, almost in **** closer inspection, the Toronto Tower, which towers over the entire city, symbolises an unyielding hope for success. At the same time, the flight down and the landing on the roof represent the need to get back up time and again after a setback. However, following this setback, Jay gives up and wants to leave his partner, but he hadn’t reckoned on Matt spending the night in the caravan. Suddenly, to their amazement, they realise that Matt has actually built a time machine. But from this moment – marked by Jay’s concealment – the turning point begins, where the two men’s friendship takes centre stage. After all, what is more important: friendship or the success one has always dreamed of? An exciting and endlessly funny journey through time begins.With *Nirvana: The Band, The Show, The Movie*, Matt Johnson has created one of the best comedy films of recent years by focusing on pure authenticity. The cinematography and editing shine through their innovation, with the camerawork shifting in tandem with the editing. Flashbacks change the aspect ratio and switch to a monochrome look. At the same time, Matt Johnson breaks down all the barriers – something very few would dare to do. The audience is addressed directly, and one could describe the film as a film within a film, which handles its many references in a truly intelligent, witty and playful manner.

A charming, twisty, and fun time from some Canadiens I have never heard of in my life.

First off, this movie has nothing to do with the original Nirvana led by Kurt Cobain, but is based on a Canadian TV series of the same name (with 2 “n”s). Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol play aspiring performers who are desperate to get a gig at the Rialto, although we never hear them sing a song. Their efforts end up with them travelling back to 2008 and some other preposterous episodes. It was also shot guerilla style on the streets of Toronto, including some nerve-racking footage on the exterior ledge of the CN tower without permits. Their style of comedy is goofy, unexpected, brash and energetic (there’s lots of running down the street). Even so, I never found it funny, although the young audience around me seemed entertained. This duo has created a unique project that’s feels like an extended comedy sketch from two desperate wannabes.