Canadian Bacon

1995’s “Canadian Bacon”, written and directed by Michael Moore.
Starring John Candy, Alan Alda, G.D. Spradlin, Kevin J. Conner, Rhea Perlman, Kevin Pollak, Rip Torn, Bull Nunn, Steven Wright, and Wallace Shawn.

It’s hard to imagine Michael Moore making a fictional film. Moore was the editor of Harpers magazine before getting fired and settling out of court with them for his severance. He used the settlement money to make 1989’s documentary, “Roger and Me”, and his career as a filmmaker was born. Moore has (for better or worse) arguably done more for the documentary medium than any other film maker, and with an Oscar for 2003’s “Bowling For Columbine”, his place in history is secure.

Moore has stated that his view of the differences between Canadians and Americans was that Canadians had the ability to make fun of themselves, and were intelligent enough to understand satire. To prove this, he makes “CB”, a satire that pokes fun at Canadians, through the lens of the so called ugly American. Centred mainly around the Niagara Falls region, we see the depressed area of Buffalo, mostly due to an arms factory closing down after it’s CEO (Spradlin) closes down the operation due to “too much peace” from the end of the Cold War. While having a fire sale for citizens on automatic weapons and bazookas, the president of the U.S. (Alda) stops by, only to realize that his popularity is flagging. Desperate for a second term, Alda enlists the help of his National Security Advisor (Pollak) and Head General (Torn), who with quite a bit of manipulation from Spradlin, advise that the best course of action is to start a war against Canada. You can see why: differences such as the metric system, mayonnaise, futuristic Zamboni technologies, and Neil Young, beg for a comeuppance. After a brief propaganda campaign, followed by ice skates and Molson Canadian being banned, the Americans (such as Perlman and Candy) begin to run amok in Canada in the name of freedom. When Spradlin’s ruthless republican heel threatens to start WWIII with his recklessness, a hero (whether on purpose or accidental) will need to step up to prevent Mutually Assured Destruction against the Canucks.

CB can be a little frustrating. While it has jokes aplenty and at times can hit levels of Strangelovian genius, it also feels very one dimensional and low budget in it’s corniness. Bits such as not being able to use lethal hit squads against Caucasians are brilliant, but major plot details like sheriffs going across the border to litter as part of the war effort can feel like they were written on a cocktail napkin. CB can be best appreciated as a primer to 1997’s superior “Wag the Dog”, which is as bitingly funny and caustic as it gets, while telling a much better crafted story (or even bits of 1999’s “South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut”). Ultimately, CB’s place in history will be the arrogant notion of misunderstanding from individuals who believe that Moore has made just another documentary about the sleepy and dopey citizens north of the 49^th parallel. Not caring to know the differences and similarities between the 2 neighbour nations will always be a pork barrel of opportunity for socially aware entertainers and commentators.

3/5

Trailer: Click Here.