FUBAR
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Dowse
Written by
  • Michael Dowse
  • Dave Lawrence
  • Paul Spence
Produced by
  • Michael Dowse
  • Dave Lawrence
  • Paul Spence
  • Melanie Owen
  • Marguerite Pigott
  • Mark Slone
Starring
  • Dave Lawrence
  • Paul Spence
  • Gordon Skilling
CinematographyMichael Dowse
Music by
  • English Teeth[1]
  • Paul J. Spence
Distributed byOdeon Films
Release date
  • May 24, 2002 (2002-05-24)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
BudgetShooting Budget :$10,000 CAD[2] Final Budget $350,000 CAD

FUBAR is a 2002 Canadian film directed by Michael Dowse and written by Dave Lawrence, Michael Dowse and Paul Spence, following the lives of two lifelong friends and head-bangers, Terry Cahill and Dean Murdoch. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. Since its release, it has gained a cult status in North America, particularly in Western Canada.

Filmed and set in and around Calgary, Alberta, it was shot on a Canon XL1, on a shoestring budget that required Lawrence to max out his credit card and his dad to refinance their family home to complete it.[3]

The film features characters created by Lawrence and Paul Spence that they developed based on the head-banger subculture. Terry Cahill, one of the main characters, played by Lawrence, was based on a character he created at Loose Moose Theatre in the mid-'90s. Many people who appear in the movie (including the fist-fighters) were bystanders who thought that the filmmakers were shooting a documentary on the common man. FUBAR did not have a set script, only a rough outline from which the actors improvised.[4]

Plot

FUBAR is the story of two lifelong friends, Terry Cahill (Dave Lawrence) and Dean Murdoch (Paul Spence), who have grown up together: shotgunning their first beers, forming their first garage band, and growing the great Canadian mullet known as "Hockey Hair". The lives of these Alberta everymen are brought to the big screen by documentarian Farrel Mitchner (Gordon Skilling), a young director who decides to take a look at Terry and Dean through a lens, exploring the depths of their friendship, the fragility of life, growing up gracefully, and the art and science of drinking beer "like a man".

Their lives are complicated by a snubbing by their "party leader" Troy, better known as Tron (Andrew Sparacino). When Farrel discovers that Dean is hiding a serious case of testicular cancer, the wheels are set in motion for Dean to seek treatment from Dr. S.C. Lim (Dr. S.C. Lim). With Dean's last weekend before surgery approaching, Terry decides to take Dean, Farrel and the film crew camping. Things take an unexpected turn by the third day, and Terry and Dean must cope with further tragedy.[5]

Cast

  • Dave Lawrence as Terry Cahill
  • Paul Spence as Dean Murdoch
  • Gordon Skilling as Farrel Mitchner
  • Tracey Lawrence as Trixie Anderson
  • Rose Martin as Rose Murdoch
  • Sage Lawrence as Chastity Murdoch
  • Dr. S.C. Lim as Dr. S.C. Lim
  • Jim Lawrence as Ron Miller
  • Andrew Sparacino as Troy (Tron) McRae
  • Laurie D'Amour as Laurie D'Amour
  • Cameron Swirka as Fist Fighter #1
  • Peter N. Cipriano as Fist Fighter #2

Reception

FUBAR received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 55% based on reviews from 11 critics, with an average rating of 6.0/10.[6]

Paul Dale of The List gave it 3 out of 5 and wrote: "The gloriously stupid levels of debauchery reached in this film will have a strange resonance for anyone who lived through the Thatcherite bedsit stinkfest that was pre-Acid House Britain."[7] Kevin N. Laforest of the Montreal Film Journal compared the film to This is Spinal Tap "only with more pathetic protagonists- and funnier!"[8] Empire gave it 2 out 5.[9]

In 2023, Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail named the film as one of the 23 best Canadian comedy films ever made.[10]

Soundtrack

A soundtrack album, FUBAR: The Album, was released in 2003.[11] The album includes songs from The New Pornographers, Chixdiggit and Sloan.

Sequel

After the success of FUBAR, its sequel, FUBAR 2: Balls to the Wall, secured a $4-million budget based only on the scriptment marking the first time ever Telefilm Canada green lit a film without a complete script.[3]

Filmed in Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, the plot involves Terry and Dean moving to Fort McMurray to earn easy money in the oil patch. Similar to the first FUBAR film, the dialogue was improvised but the budget was significantly larger than the first film. The sequel was the first Canadian film to premier at the Midnight Madness slot at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 9, 2010.[12] The film was released throughout Canada on October 1, 2010.

The sequel was well received. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 90% rating based on reviews from 10 critics.[13]

Television series

On February 10, 2017, Rogers Media and VICE Studios Canada announced an eight-episode television series, FUBAR: Age of Computer, that continued the legacy of the original FUBAR films. The series captured the experiences of Terry Cahill, played by Dave Lawrence, and Dean Murdoch, played by Paul Spence, exploring the internet for the first time. The show features real-life interactions with various experts and influencers online. FUBAR: Age of Computer was inspired by Dave Lawrence's character, Terry.[14]

The series was filmed in Montreal, Quebec, and premiered on November 3, 2017, and aired on Viceland and CityTV

In 2022, TNT FUBAR was released and is aired through the streaming site Swearnet.[15] This series showcases Terry Cahill, played by Dave Lawrence, as he is living back home in Calgary, Alberta. He is joined by his cousin Shank played by North Darling and his wife Trish, played by Terra Hazelton. The series shows Terry renting out Shank’s basement, his attempted divorce from his wife Trish and a misunderstanding with a multi-level marketing scheme that leads Terry to Bret Hart, played by Bret Hart.[16]

Mobile game

On January 8, 2020, Kano Applications Inc. announced the worldwide launch of new mobile game, Fubar: Just Give'r, developed in collaboration with East Side Games and BT Productions.[17] This narrative clicker idle game available on iOS and Android picks up where the movies left off with all new storylines and exciting weekly events.[18] Players will join the iconic FUBAR (film) duo, Terry and Deaner, and help them as they embark on a quest to beat the World Record for Longest Party Streak.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Maimann, Kevin (May 7, 2010). "Gruesome tunesome", Edmonton Sun
  2. ↑ Stagg, Carly (April 20, 2017). "Calgary cult classic Fubar still givin' 'er 15 years after release". CBC News. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Miller, Abby (17 October 2011). "Dave Lawrence". Avenuecalgary.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Michael Dowse's Happy Ending: Is Hollywood ready for the Fubar director?". The Calgary Herald. August 22, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  5. ↑ Slone, M. & Michael Ladano: Story Synopsis (first paragraph) written by Mark Slone. Story Synopsis (second paragraph) written by Michael A. Ladano
  6. ↑ "Fubar (2002)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ "The List: 10 Jun 2004". The List Archive. 10 June 2004.
  8. ↑ "Fubar". Montreal Film Journal. 18 December 2005.
  9. ↑ "Fubar". Empire.
  10. ↑ Barry Hertz, "The 23 best Canadian comedies ever made". The Globe and Mail, June 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ Fubar: The Album an AllMusic Review by Stewart Mason
  12. ↑ Howell, Peter (10 August 2010). "Canadian picks about beer, brains and dysfunctional families". Toronto Star. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "FUBAR 2 on Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  14. ↑ video chat "FUBAR creators bring the Alberta headbangers into the modern age". CBC News Edmonton, November 3, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Terry's Tale: Calgary's favourite headbanger flies solo, comes up with a plan in new FUBAR series". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  16. ↑ "Terry's Tale: Calgary's favourite headbanger flies solo, comes up with a plan in new FUBAR series". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  17. ↑ "FUBAR: Just Give'r Now Available Worldwide on iOS and Android!". Kanoappd.com. January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Victoria gaming studio helps bring FUBAR back to life with new mobile game". Oak Bay News. January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Victoria studio releases new mobile game". Times Colonist. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
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