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After two seasons of Nirvanna the Band the Show, which was based on their web series of the same name, creators Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol would not see a promised third season come to fruition due Viceland Canada shutting down in 2018.
Now the duo is back with a feature length misadventure detailing their most harebrained scheme to play Toronto venue the Rivoli yet, which sees them accidentally time travel back to the year 2008.
What ensues is 100 minutes of comedic mayhem, as the pair navigate a multitude of absurd and hilarious scenarios thanks to their time traveling plan and the inevitable consequences thereof, throwing caution to the wind when it comes to the unwritten rules of filmmaking, copyright infringement, and the law, resulting in one of the best comedies in years.
Much like their Nirvanna the Band the Show web series and TV series, Johnson and McCarrol’s foray into feature filmmaking retains the same mockumentary sitcom format, seeing the pair concoct and carry out increasingly ludicrous ideas, often with the help of unknowing bystanders whom they involve in ways that are sincerely amusing and awkward without becoming malicious or making the unaware participants the butt of the joke, as that fate inevitably befalls Matt and Jay for both better and worse.
By utilizing previously unused footage from their vast archive of material for the show, the film is able to jump back and forth in the 17-year gap between the storyline’s past and present, giving it an unprecedented degree of immersion and suspension of disbelief.
Similarly, scenes that appear staged were in fact captured during various genuine occurrences, all thanks to Johnson and McCarrol happily disregarding the need for permits and the potential for arrest and various other real-life consequences in the name of comedy.
Johnson and McCarrol’s onscreen chemistry is impeccable, and their dynamic grounds all the nonsense they engage in, leading to the film having an emotional anchor that is not always present in this type of comedy, but is integral for such comedy to ultimately succeed and keep its audience engaged.
For those wondering if they can enjoy the film if they have not watched any of show, you most certainly can, and Johnson even recommends going into the film without having watched any of their previous material, as he and McCarrol purposefully sought to make the film wholly accessible to newcomers unfamiliar with the format of their previous endeavors.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is an anarchic filmmaking effort brimming with creativity and heart, showcasing that it is still possible to break the filmmaking mold and succeed in creating entertaining and well-realized films outside the overwhelmingly restrictive and often vacuous studio system, and you better watch this miracle of a film before copyright infringement catches up with it.
Extras include audio commentaries, alternate opening, animatics, featurettes, deleted scene, home movies, post credit scene, and Nirvana the band, the Show – Episode 101.
Verdict: 10 out of 10.
