Canada is obsessed with hockey. I'm not so sure if we're obsessed with musicals, but we are definitely obsessed with hockey. Which is why it makes perfect sense that hockey-musical Score is opening the 2010 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. What will the rest of the world make of this Glee meets Slapshot fusion? Lemme know after you've taken a first look below. I'd have liked a bit more Slapshot, myself.
Seventeen-year old Farley (Noah Reid) has the stick-handling skills to be the next Sidney Crosby. Not that Farley has any idea who Crosby is. He's led a sheltered life, homeschooled by parents (Olivia Newton-John and Marc Jordan) whose idea of homework is trips to an art gallery or ashram. His best friend is Eve (Allie MacDonald), the girl who's lived next door since they were both three. Much to the dismay of his parents, Farley loves to play shinny with the local rink rats (Dave Bidini, Hawksley Workman et al.). To their even greater dismay, Farley is signed to a major hockey league, where he achieves instant stardom, throwing him into a world of hype. Farley soon finds that hockey fame comes with a price, including the expectation to fight. Throw in a changing relationship with Eve -- and Farley is losing his way.
PUKE. What a terrible opening film selection.
Heh. I went to high-school with Noah (the lead). We're both in the same play. He's a rather charismatic guy. He was the original voice of Franklin the Turtle too.
A hockey musical could be great, but these songs are of a pretty putrid sugary sweetness variety.
Bring on Kevin Smith's hockey movie.