Credit to Barry Hertz and The Globe and Mail for introducing us to the Canadian film The Wrong Guy. Given that the article was in The Globe and Mail, more like you can't read the article on why you can't watch The Wrong Guy, "the funniest Canadian movie ever made."
Here comes the actual funny part. We got a chance to see The Wrong Guy. Funniest Canadian movie ever made?
Dave Foley reportedly said this film was inspired by a sketch he wrote during his days with The Kids in the Hall. This film feels like a really long, stretched out Kids in the Hall sketch.
Nelson Hibbert (Foley) is sleeping with the boss' (Kenneth Welsh) daughter. Then Hibbert finds out he is not getting the promotion, losing out to the guy sleeping with the boss' favourite daughter. Hibbert vows to kill his boss but someone else gets to him first.
Through a string of coincidences, Hibbert thinks he is the prime suspect. Turns out The Killer (Colm Feore) ends up around Hibbert at the times when the police show up.
Detective Arlen (American actor David Anthony Higgins) is more concerned with padding the expense account than catching the killer right away.
Jennifer Tilly plays the love interest and Joe Flaherty plays her father. Enrico Colantoni and KITH alum Kevin McDonald have small roles.
There are plenty of running gags throughout the 1997 black comedy film. Foley, Higgins, and American writer Jay Kogen wrote the film with David Steinberg as the director. Kogen and Steinberg have cameos in the film.
Tilly's charcter has narcolepsy. Flaherty's bank is threatened by Farmer Brown who buys up paved land to use for pasture.
The film is funny in its premise and in executing the jokes. The "funniest comedy" part depends on your definition of funny.
Barry Hertz and The Globe and Mail did rank the 23 best Canadian comedies in an article we could read. Some of these films are great but not comedies in the classic sense. They listed The Wrong Guy as #1 on the list.
waydowntown, Starbuck, Crime Wave, and I Like Movies would get more votes from your humble narrator.
The film is more clever than funny. You won't bother the neighbours with loud laughter but you will smile.
Don't worry about the pressure of a list. The Wrong Guy is a fun time, especially if you think you are clever. This is a funny Canadian film and they are more rare than they should be. Enjoy this without pressure and you will have a good time.
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photo credit: @globeandmail
video credit: YouTube/Unseen Trailers
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