Fubar (2002)

Headbangers Terry and Dean explore the depths of friendship, and the art and science of drinking beer like a man.

Director:

Michael Dowse

Writers:

Michael Dowse (as Dowse), David Lawrence (as Lawrence)

Stars:

Paul Spence, David Lawrence, Gordon Skilling

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Spence	...	Dean (as Paul J. Spence)
David Lawrence	...	Terry (as Dave Lawrence)
Gordon Skilling	...	Farrel
Andrew Sparacino	...	Tron / Troy
Tracey Lawrence	...	Trixie
S.C. Lim	...	Dr. S.C. Lim (as Dr. S.C. Lim)
Sage Lawrence	...	Chastity Anderson
Rose Martin	...	Rose Murdoch
Jim Lawrence	...	Ron Miller
Laurie D'Amour	...	Laurie D'Amour
Roxana Oltean	...	Cooler Girl 1 (as Roxanna Oltean)
Carmen Lewis	...	Cooler Girl 2
Margaret Spence	...	Mrs. Mitchner
Sandy Armstrong	...	Shotgun Girl
Ella Simon	...	Ashley - Campfire Girl (as Elizabeth Simon)

Storyline

Terry and Dean are lifelong friends who have grown-up together: shotgunning their first beers, forming their first garage band, and growing the great Canadian mullet known as "hockey hair". Now the lives of these Alberta everymen are brought to the big screen by documentarian Ferral Mitchener in an exploration of the depths of friendship, the fragility of life, growing up gracefully and the art and science of drinking beer like a man.

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Plot Keywords:

death | beer | drinking | friendship | band | 

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Taglines:

Just Give'r

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual dialogue

Did You Know?

Trivia

Debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in the 'Park City at Midnight' category, which previously launched such films as The Blair Witch Project (1999).

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Quotes

Dean Murdoch: As it stands Plan B is to just keep on Given'r.
Farrel Mitchener: Giving it to her?
Dean Murdoch: No given'r
Farrel Mitchener: Can you maybe explain given'r? What exactly does that mean?
Dean Murdoch: Give'r. You just go out and you give'r. You keep on working hard.
Farrel Mitchener: Is that a plan?
Dean Murdoch: Yeah that's a plan right there.

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Crazy Credits

Opening dedication: to F.M.

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Connections

Followed by Fubar: Balls to the Wall (2010)

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Soundtracks

Indian Rope Burn
Performed by The Orlandos
(SOCAN)

User Reviews

"Just give'r" is a good motto for life.

"Fubar" is a 100% Canadian mockumentary from writer / director Michael Dowse ("It's All Gone, Pete Tong", "Goon") that delivers some modest chuckles, but works because it ultimately cares about its characters. Paul Spence and David Lawrence play Dean and Terry, two 20 something goof balls who are decidedly unambitious in life. A documentary filmmaker named Farrel (Gordon Skilling) sets out to record their day to day activities, as they live the life of those party animals known as "head bangers".

Not really to be mistaken for a rock 'n' roll movie (although the soundtrack *is* ace); music doesn't play that big a part in the story that unfolds. At first, Dowses' film is mildly amusing as it shows us the tomfoolery to which Dean and Terry are prone. It's got a funny enough script, with liberal use of profanity - especially F-bombs. Things do take a sober turn when it is discovered that Dean has testicular cancer, and he's forced to take the matter seriously. He and Terry then confront ideas of life and death, even as they entertain themselves with such things as a camping trip.

The no-name cast is quite engaging, especially Spence. Skilling is a hoot as the uptight, seemingly humourless director. Incidentally, the guy in the role of Deans' doctor was Dowses' physician in real life, and he's basically playing himself. A number of the supporting players did actually mistake "Fubar" for a serious doc on the life of the "common man" in Canada.

Overall, a likable, offbeat effort. It does bear the mark of a low budget, but it does have some charm that more than makes up for that.

Seven out of 10.

Details

Official Sites:

First Weekend Club

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 2004 (UK)

Also Known As:

Fubar: A Documentary by Farrel Mitchner

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD350,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Busted Tranny, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC), The Alberta Film Development Program of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min 80 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1