As Ricky himself might observe, how effed-up is it that I found myself thinking about Greek tragedy while watching Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day?
But as someone who has -- courtesy of a teenage son's influence -- followed the misadventures of the three non-contributors-to-society known as Ricky, Bubbles and Julian for years, I know when the writers are throwing a
thematic curveball.
And at what better time to do it than what is ostensibly the last appearance by the TPBs in a movie, TV episode or, for all I know, pizza ad?
For this swan song, themes such as relationships and fate and inevitability are actually explored. Again, yes, in a Trailer Park Boys movie.
The movie opens, familiarly, with the release from jail of Ricky (Robb Wells), Julian (John Paul Tremblay) and Bubbles (Mike Smith).
Said release features one of Countdown To Liquor Day's funniest scenes, a jumpcut comparison of Ricky and Julian's "pleas" for early release. Julian is almost pious, outlining his plans to open an auto body shop and become a solid citizen. Ricky is hilariously contemptuous, dropping F-bombs and bragging that he's going right back to the thing he does best, growing pot. Naturally, both approaches work.
But upon release, they find their world -- Sunnyvale Trailer Park -- has been turned upside down. Or more precisely, abandoned, with the opening of a sparkling new park by the evil Mr. Lahey (John Dunsworth) and his lover/lackey Randy (Patrick Loach).
Bubbles' kittens have all become wards of the Humane Society.
And everybody is questioning their relationship with everybody. (Are all Ricky's problems the result of his constantly buying into Julian's schemes? Is Randy an enabler for Mr. Lahey's drinking? Is Julian gay? No, really, is he? Because Lahey thinks he is, and is in love with him).
If it all sounds like "a very special episode" of Trailer Park Boys, let's just say don't worry.
Things eventually do get back to the mindlessly destructive and anarchic, and a drama-heavy second act gives way to a clever third, featuring, yes, one of Julian's not-quite-perfect schemes (in fact, one of his best ever). It also features something the series could never afford, a fairly kick-ass car chase.
Of course, there's the de rigueur appearance by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, here playing a drunken, undercover cop posing as a transvestite in a gay-prostitute alley (centred around a Chip Wagon that serves alcohol -- man, Halifax is one weird town).
The character may indeed be the same cop Lifeson played in the previous Trailer Park Boys movie, showing his true colours.
And if this is the last time out for our boys, diehard fans will find things to quibble about -- including the absence of TPB patsies Cory and Trevor. On the other hand, there's a pretty good dose of J-Roc (Jonathan Torrens) and his DJ Tyrone (Tyrone Parsons).
And I, for one, was definitely feelin' that.
(This film is rated 14-A)
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