Jay: “If you’ve got a best friend, you won’t even notice getting older.”
You know, it is pretty rare to have a critically acclaimed comedy movie coming out of Canada – other than Bon Cop, Bad Cop (as well as its sequel), Starbuck, and perhaps a few others (and that might be a stretch). . . somehow, despite all the funny people to come out of the country north of the United States, it just doesn’t happen – perhaps because so much of the talent relocates to either New York or Los Angeles. Well, another rare funny film has to be added to the short list: co-star, co-writer, and director Matt Johnson’s Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2025).
Not at all related to the 90s grunge band Nirvana, the concept is actually based upon a web series that ran between 2007-2009, its tv adaptation which spawned in 2017-2018, only for it now to evolve into its current film form. A unique mixture of mockumentary, buddy comedy, and unexpected time travel adventure, director Johnson plays a fictionalized version of himself, while his real life best friend (and co-writer on the feature) Jay McCarrol, stars as, you guessed it, his best friend.
The former being the funny ideas guy (who may be holding them back) to the latter’s slightly more realistic straight faced buddy who still ends up going along for the silly ride, their goal has always been to play the famed Rivoli Restaurant-Live Music-Pool Hall. . . the only problem – this has been their focus since 2008.
Arguably now in a dead-end friendship that has buried both of them in a rut, their musical careers are floundering, their finances are in dire straits, while even their friendship has seen better days. As Matt comes up with ideas like illegally skydiving off of the CN Tower into the Skydome to announce their yet to be procured show, or building a Back to the Future style time machine to return to 2008 to better attack their dreams, Jay is in fact thinking of ditching the forever friendship to hit the road and perform at an open mike night in the capital city Ottawa.
As these things do, it just so happens that somehow Matt’s wild second idea freakishly comes to fruition and the two find themselves back in 2008. Is this actually a Back to the Future-esque scenario? Or might it be more of The Butterfly Effect type situation? Could something occur to their current selves if they change anything within their timelines? If so, what could be the dire consequences?
With some really funny moments (and even a few rather serious ones), Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is a unique study on friendship. Looking at lifelong buddies, the shorthand they can create, the flaws the other half tolerate, and the things that lead to its breaking point, there is actually a touching pathos to this comedy – looking at what someone will do for their best friend, even when things hit a rocky patch.
Also poking plenty of fun at Back to the Future, it is actually quite impressive what they could add to the story that both pays tribute to the classic while also spoofing it (funnily enough, they reference how a specific scene is going to be a “copyright nightmare”). Not only do you see some specific callbacks, but you’ll even hear some musical cues along the way.
Most definitely funny enough to appeal to anyone watching it, there are also some inside jokes that will truly hit home for Canadians – a Jian Ghomeshi surprise, a gag revolving around a shooting that happened on Drake’s Toronto premises, riffs on the ridiculously polite nature of people here, the discontinued beverage Orbitz being the time travel fuel, some memorable Toronto landmarks, and so much more.
With some entertaining performances, great scenes, laugh out loud moments, unexpected surprises, and even some poignancy along the way, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is a must watch for anyone who hasn’t heard of this Canadian hidden gem. Like other memorable mockumentaries – think of 2014’s What We Do in the Shadows, this one finds a clever premise to work from and runs with it for great results. It is also worth noting that most of the scenes that are seemingly shot with the public actually are. . . and most of the sequences were totally unscripted – just one example being when they visit the Canadian Tire store and start asking an employee questions. So, take a shot at this band of brothers, you may “Never Come Down” from it.