Blue State (2007)

Director:

Marshall Lewy

Writer:

Marshall Lewy (writer)

Release Date:

19 February 2008 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

BLUE STATE is a romantic comedy about a disgruntled Democrat who actually follows through on a drunken campaign promise to move to Canada if George "Dubya" Bush gets re-elected.

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Politically Divided Family | Arrest | Campaign | Parents

Cast

Breckin Meyer	...	John Logue
Anna Paquin	...	Chloe Hamon
Joyce Krenz	...	Mrs. Logue
Richard Blackburn	...	Mr. Logue
Adriana O'Neil	...	Gloria O'Neill
Seun Olagunju	...	Randall
Bryan Clark	...	The Horny American
Nick Ouellette	...	Hal (as Nicholas Ouellette)
Tim Henry	...	Charlie
James Juce	...	Larry
Elicia Cronin	...	Sandy
Judy Cook	...	Bride
Scott Pangman	...	Canadian Guy #1
Kristjan Harris	...	Artist Type Guy
Leigh Enns	...	Rebecca

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Eagle Vision

Movie Connections:

References Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Does the writer even know where Canada is???

I really wanted to like this film at first, it is a great idea! However, the comic undertones of the film quickly gave way to a downbeat drama and the portrayal of one of the most dysfunctional families ever seen on film.

My enjoyment of the movie dwindled as the film went on and on and on. It wasn't really the acting (at least not of the main characters), or even the directing, but rather the writing that was at fault. The script is heavy handed and unbelievable.

On top of this, the writer should have at least visited Canada, or checked out some facts about the country before writing so egregiously. The movie makes it look like Winnipeg is a day's drive from Washington state; Canada border guards do not ask Americans to see their passports at the border - they ask for identification (Social Security number, driver's license, etc.); Winnipeg does not enjoy Chinooks (where weather changes 30 degrees in a day) that's Calgary; By 2004 when this film takes place you would have a hard time finding any Canadian boasting of universal health care; and you really don't hear that tall poppy story up here -- that is a story Americans use to describe Canadians, not a story Canadians use to describe themselves.

Overall, this was a missed opportunity for a very funny, poignant and timely film that really missed its mark. The plot was good, the main actors good, but the actual writing was very clumsy.