Foley left a message for the team and his family: he wants the team to compete in the Golden Broom curling competition, with his ashes placed in one of the stones. The team reluctantly agrees to compete. Neil is a funeral director and hates his life. Eddie and his wife, Lily (Spidell), are trying to get pregnant. Lennox is a drug dealer with questionable ethics and Cutter has secrets. They also ask Cutter's estranged father Gordon (Nielsen) to coach them. At the same time, Cutter tries to make amends with Julie and pick-up his friendship with her sister Amy (Parker). Can they find a way to work together and not embarrass themselves?
This was Paul Gross' directorial debut. I know next to nothing about curling, but that doesn't really matter. The characters explain the sport to Joanne (played by Polly Shannon). It is a predictable sports film, but it is still entertaining.
The Good:
The cast has good chemistry and the story is lite comedy that plays with Canadian stereotypes. The CGI of the beavers was ridiculous, but works to illustrate the plot.
The Bad:
The female characters are not well fleshed-out. They are not the main focus of the story, but they are pretty one-dimensional. The pregnancy plot-line could definitely be better.
Other Comments:
-Leslie Nielsen can be a talented actor... unfortunately, most people know him for the over-the-top comedy performances. In this film, he holds back and gives an almost-human performance.
-It is quirky and entertaining.
Men With Brooms (2002) 102 minutes
Rating: R for language, sexuality and some drug use
Director: Paul Gross
Starring: Paul Gross as Chris Cutter
Peter Outerbridge as James Lennox
Jed Rees as Eddie Strombeck
James Allodi as Neil Bucyk
Molly Parker as Amy Foley
Michelle Nolden as Julie Foley
Leslie Nielsen as Gordon Cutter
Jane Spidell as Lily Strombeck
Greg Bryk as Alexander "The Juggernaut" Yount
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