Shadows on the Wall

Nimrods!

dir-scr Lee Kirk
prd Tim Perell, Green Day, Ryan Kroft, Anna Keegan
with Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman, Ryan Foust, Mckenna Grace, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Keen Ruffalo, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Fred Armisen, Bobby Lee, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tre Cool
release US/UK 14.Aug.26
25/US Live Nation 1h42

TORONTO FILM FEST

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Loosely based on real events involving Green Day, this lively, scrappy comedy is given a rhythmic kick with the band's music. It plays out like a stoner road movie, as three engagingly dimwitted teen rockers have a series of chaotic adventures while travelling across the American southwest. Writer-director Lee Kirk keeps the tone loose and spontaneous, finding just enough underlying emotion to make up for the uneven comedy.

In Kansas City, 17-year-old Tommy (Thames) avoids school to practice with Fred (Coffman) and Chad (Foust) in their punk band Analog Dogs. Then Tommy's brother Wayne (Ruffalo) plays a prank, and they think they're opening for Green Day in Los Angeles in four days. So they "borrow" Tommy's car and hit the road. Stranded in Oklahoma, they get help after playing in a country bar. Tommy naturally gets distracted by a girl (Grace). And Chad wants to go home. It certainly doesn't seem like there's even a slim chance of them making it to California.

Of course, we never doubt that they'll get there and have further adventures with their idols. But the wildly irresponsible Tommy and Fred make one idiotic decision after another, discounting the more intelligent, nerdy Chad. Thankfully, they're also pretty good musicians, so we root for them to get a break. Corny plot complications include Wayne and his pal (Diaz-Silverio) setting off in hot pursuit because of a stash of shrooms they've hidden in the car. Most of the goofy antics feel like sketch comedy bits in need of a punchline. But they still make us smile.

That said, these guys are far too dopey to be believable, even as overconfident teens. But Thames, Coffman and Foust find terrific moments that bring their characters enjoyably to life. Each of them gets to be both outrageously silly and more intriguingly thoughtful. And they also rock out convincingly. Witty cameos add amusing touches, including Armisen as a freaky motel receptionist, Lee as a frazzled concert security guard and, yes, the members of Green Day.

Even though the plot doesn't remotely hold water, there's enough fun along the way to keep us entertained. And the generous supply of energetic music also helps. So the film works best as a sparky wish-fulfilment fantasy that celebrates the joy of rock-n-roll. Which almost excuses it from recommending all kinds of illegal behaviour as long as it's part of achieving your dream.

themes, language 9.Aug.26

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