'Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie': A Brilliant, Uproarious Comedy

PHOTO: Neon

One of my favorite things a movie can do is make me ask “How did they do that?” This question usually pops in my mind while watching something with intense stuntwork or impressive technical craft due. I wouldn’t have expected to think this multiple times during a comedy, let alone one that is a continuation of a Canadian webseries and sitcom that I have never seen a single episode of. But that is exactly what went through my mind while watching Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. This film is kind of a miracle, a comedy that is original, daring, incredibly funny, and exceptionally well made to boot. Not to mention that it has a healthy dose of heart and is more endearing than I would have expected. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is one of those lightning-in-a-bottle movies that you kind of can’t believe exists, but I am so glad that it does.

Lifelong friends Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol (both playing fictionalized versions of themselves) are in a band called Nirvanna the Band. They have one major goal for themselves: to book a show at The Rivoli, a legendary venue in Toronto. For over 17 years they have tried countless plans to achieve this goal, but to no avail. But when their latest plan goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay are sent back to the year 2008 and must try and return back to the present day.

This film is hard for me to review, mainly because I don’t want to give too much away. I went in knowing very little about it and I would say that is the ideal way to view it. This made the entire experience all the more surprising and delightful, as I had no idea just where the film was going to take us. I would be curious to hear opinions on this film from someone who has seen the TV series NTBTSTM is based on, but as someone who hasn’t seen a single episode, this film is a surprisingly clean entry point. 

The only element of this film I had any real frame of reference for was Matt Johnson, as I had seen his previous film, BlackBerry and liked it quite a bit. While that film and NTBTSTM are largely different from each other, they both carry some of the same sensibilities and show that he is an incredibly talented filmmaker. In the case of this film, it shows that he is exceptionally gifted when it comes to comedy and can mix seemingly disparate styles of filmmaking together and come up with something excellent and unique. The film is a mockumentary, but it adds in elements of sci-fi, drama, and adventure movies in a way that feels seamless and ultimately elevates the film. More than that, it feels so singular, like no one else could have made this but Matt Johnson. It firmly puts him in a category of director where I will go see whatever he puts out from now on because he is so skilled and makes incredibly fascinating movies.

Of course, credit also goes to Johnson’s longtime friend and collaborator, Jay McCarrol, as the two co-wrote the script and created the original web series together. They work together so well, nailing the comedic beats of the film and its premise while also coming across rather genuine. I suppose some of that is due to the mockumentary format, but so much of it also comes through in their writing and performances. Both of them are so good in this film, with Johnson as the unflinching optimist willing to do whatever it takes to play The Rivoli and McCarrol as the beleaguered straight man who goes along with his ridiculous plans. The two are such a great pair both on screen and off, as their screenplay for this is far tighter than I would have guessed. There are countless details that seem innocuous or off-handed that end up playing into major plot points of the film. Every little bit of the film matters and not a second of it is wasted. Not to mention that there are so many things in this film that shouldn’t work but shockingly do. They manage to get so much out of a relatively simple premise and seize every opportunity they have to make the most out of the entire film.

I was also quite impressed by the camerawork, which carries the documentary feel the film is going for while also utilizing creative shots and styling at various points. The film is lensed by Jared Raab, who also appears in the film as a cameraman and friend to Matt and Jay. I particularly liked the use of older cameras at various points of the film as well as how well Raab captures some of the wilder moments of the film. Much like the film itself, his work is a blend of various styles that flows together beautifully and is a great respite from the standard look most comedies tend to have these days.

I want to say so much more about Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, but I really don’t want to give anything away. This film must be seen (preferably on the big screen) to be believed and it pays to know as little as possible going into it. I went in expecting to like it and left feeling like I just watched a new favorite of mine. It may seem like I am overhyping this film, but I definitely feel the hype is justified. This is an incredibly well-made movie and one of the funniest films of the decade. NTBTSTM took me by surprise in the best possible way, as it is so much more than what I assumed it would be and hit me with a greater magnitude than I would have guessed. This is undoubtedly going to be one of my favorite films of the year and I cannot recommend it enough.

Rating: 5/5