Canadian Bacon (1995)

The U.S. President, low in the opinion polls, gets talked into raising his popularity by trying to start a cold war against Canada.

Director:

Michael Moore

Writer:

Michael Moore

Stars:

John Candy, Alan Alda, Rhea Perlman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Candy	...	Sheriff Bud Boomer
Alan Alda	...	President of the United States
Rhea Perlman	...	Honey
Kevin Pollak	...	Stu Smiley
Rip Torn	...	General Dick Panzer
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Roy Boy
Bill Nunn	...	Kabral
G.D. Spradlin	...	R.J. Hacker
Steven Wright	...	Niagara Mountie
Jim Belushi	...	Charles Jackal
Brad Sullivan	...	Gus
Stanley Anderson	...	Edwin S. Simon
Richard Council	...	Russian President
Wallace Shawn	...	Canadian Prime Minister
Michael Copeman	...	Panzer's Aide

Storyline

The US economy is in a rut, and so is the president's approval rating. What we need is a good war, but the Russians aren't interested. Hey -- how about that big polite country to the north? Niagara Falls Sheriff Bud B. Boomer takes this all a bit too seriously, though.

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Plot Keywords:

international relations | the white house | united states | president | canada | 

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Taglines:

Help America fight the Canadians

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

The American President is never given a name.

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Goofs

The helicopter that brings the Russian president to the White House has U.S. markings on the side, and a Canadian registration number on the belly. U.S. registrations begin with N, Canadian ones begin with C.

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Quotes

R.J. Hacker, President of Hacker Dynamics: The American public's attention span is about as long as your dick.

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Crazy Credits

End credits close with: To Johnny LaRue- thanks to you, we got our crane shot.

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Connections

References Forrest Gump (1994)

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Soundtracks

Ashes. . .I Fall Down
Written by Eric Phillips
Performed by Naked Earth
Courtesy of PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. and Big Viking Music
Under license from PolyGram International Publishing, Inc.

User Reviews

One trick pony that outstays it's welcome

The President of America's ratings have dropped. What he really needs to do is get a war to get his popularity up. However the usual bad guys aren't interested so he decides to start a talking war against Canada. Using the media to stir up anti-Canadian feeling his popularity rises but a group of American citizens take it too far and prepare for invasion.

Michael Moore is a rare talent and many of his programmes and films could be used as a model for anyone wanted to do satire and be both political and funny at the same time. When he's on form he puts our own Mark Thomas into the shade. However with this film he can't take a really good idea and make it last for 90 minutes. Most scenes with the President and his media war with Canada is really sharp and really funny – just like Moore at his best.

However it's the rest of the film outside of this one point that fails. It is just a rambling comedy that doesn't have anything to say or do. Moore is a little lost and it lacks bite and, sadly, laughs. The cast try hard and Candy is watchable if not at his best. Alda is good but a bit too light and friendly to be the president. The rest of the cast are amusing in different ways – Torn, Pollack, Nunn, Spadlin, Wright, Belushi etc are all good.

Overall Moore lacks his usual bite and this one good idea is lost in a film when really it could have been a good 15 minute sketch. The media war is funny and, post 9/11, is quite sharp even though it is a little too light, but outside of that the comments, ideas and laughs dry up.

Details

Official Sites:

Michael Moore Official Website

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Canadian Bacon

Filming Locations:

Pickering, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$53,349, 24 September 1995

Gross USA:

$163,971

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$163,971

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dog Eat Dog Films, Gramercy Pictures (I), Maverick Picture Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1