HOLLYWOOD -- Tom Green has his own theory on why Canadians are so damned funny.

"I think it's interesting to look at how a lot of them started," Green says. "Some people say we grow up insecure about living and sleeping next to the elephant, that the big country down to the south of us makes us naturally sort of insecure and gives us that feeling to act out and act silly.

"I don't personally buy into that one. That could have something to do with it, but I also think it has something to do with the fact that we have our TV and comedy system up in Canada that is isolated from the rest of the world.

"I did a TV show in Canada for seven years (first on the local Rogers cable access station in Ottawa and then on The Comedy Network) and figured out what I wanted to do before anyone ever sort of heard of me or got to see me fail.

"Although, when they see this movie (Freddy Got Fingered), they'll probably say: 'Gee, he should have stayed up there a few more years.' "

Green still hangs out with Canucks. His writing partner on Freddy is Derek Harvie, a friend since the third grade. The two collaborated on homemade film projects throughout high school, worked together on The Tom Green Show for MTV and on last year's The Tom Green Cancer Special, a comic yet realistic look at Green's own successful battle with testicular cancer.