Goon, starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber and other names like Alison Pill, Kim Coates, and American Pie's Eugene Levy, is a film about softy Doug Glatt who quits his job as a bouncer at a local bar to become one of the most brutal enforcers to see the game of hockey. The best part, it's based on a true story.
Doug Glatt is a simple man who doesn't have too much going for him in his life. With nothing but a job working as a bouncer at his local bar Doug doesn't have much in the world he can call his own. Surrounded by people who have found their "thing" in life, his parents successful careers, and his best friend's sport show, Doug is feeling lost in his search for his "thing." So for now he enjoys the simple luxuries of hanging out with his best friend Pat, going to hockey games, and beer. One fateful day Pat and Doug attend a local hockey game and are having a good time until a hockey player is thrown into the penalty box. This player being on the enemy team is made fun of, shouted at, and has things thrown at him, many of which are done by Pat. The hockey player then grows angry and begins shouting homophobic insults at Pat. Doug, whose brother happens to be gay, does not take too kindly to this man's insults and after more harassment the player climbs into the stands looking for a fight only he bites off more than he can chew after breaking his hand on Doug's skull and receiving the worst beating of his life. The fight in the stands draws everyone's attention including that of the Orangetown Assassin's head couch Rollie Hortense who sees promise in Doug's fighting abilities. Hortense then offers Doug the opportunity to try out for the position as the Assassin's new enforcer, even though Rollie doesn't even know if Doug can skate which we find out later he can not. It is here with this minor league hockey team that Doug works with Rollie in learning the basics of the game including skating and gaining the nick name Doug "The Thug" Glatt. After some time with the team Rollie claim's Doug's abilities are wasted with him and wishes Doug to join his brother's team The Halifax Highlanders in Nova Scotia. Doug accepts and goes to play for Rollie's brother Ronnie as the teams enforcer, where his main job is to protect the teams star player Xavier Laflamme who used to be a pro hockey player but after taking a serious hit from legendary enforcer Ross "The Boss" Rhea, became traumatized and is now afraid of getting hit causing a huge dip in his performance which lead to him being down drafted to the minors. Laflamme, who is a less than ideal team mate makes fitting into the team hard for new arrival Glatt. It is then that pro hockey's most infamous enforcer Ross "The Boss" Rhea gets down drafted as well for an illegal hit in the pros and rumors and hopes of a legendary fight between the two titans of hockey will come to pass. Rhea's presence in the minors shakes Laflamme and as tensions rise between the Highlanders things become difficult as they fight to make playoffs.
This movie has got to be one of my favorite sports films not because of it's brutal violence or the fact that i'm a huge hockey fan but because of the way this movie makes you fall in love with its characters. Doug especially is easily my favorite character. His kind and gentle nature and almost childlike attitude toward people and situations makes you love him even more and feel for him even more as the story progresses. His on ice brutality is a complete 360 of him off the ice. Though this movie lacks an in depth story line its character development especially for both Doug and Laflamme easily make up for it. And it is a movie about sports which you can only do so much with especially when its based on a true story. Which is another fact I love about this movie is that it's based on the real life Doug "The Hammer" Smith shown to the right.
This is a wonderful hockey film that will have you cheering
for more blood and cringing at the same time.
Verdict: Solid 9/10
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Please let me know what you think of this movie if you have already seen it and share with your friends if you found this review useful. Don't forget to check out the trailer below and as an added bonus I have included some fight footage of real life Doug "The Hammer" Smith.
The Real Goon, Doug Smith
