Director: Robert Cohen
Featuring: Cobie Smulders, Seth Rogen, Nathan Fillion, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Michael J. Fox, Ben Stiller, William Shatner, Catherine O’Hara, Jason Priestley, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Howie Mandel, Will Arnett, and Rush.
Synopsis: What does it actually mean to be Canadian? This humorous documentary, featuring interviews with a who’s-who of famous Canadians, hopes to find the answer.
Having visited Canada a few times, and the fact that my other half is Canadian, I was eager to see how Robert Cohen‘s documentary would show those charismatic folk with all their unique revelry and in Being Canadian, he’s created a funny and inimitable representation – and celebration – of the country we know something about but we’re not always exactly sure what that is, or if it’s true.
Being Canadian is written and directed by Calgarian Robert Cohen, a man who moved to L.A. to pursue his dreams of becoming a comedy writer but realized that friends and colleagues knew nothing but the usual stereotypes about his beloved homeland. I know as a Brit that similar things pummel us and although some are true, most were only that some 30-50 years ago. Sure, I think we’re polite and like a beer or three but when Americans do their versions of our supposed posh Hugh Grant-type accents, well, you know as a Brit that it couldn’t be further from the truth. Anyway, Robert’s similar frustration led him out on a journey across the country to discover what his home is really all about and to prove there’s more to Canada than allegedly living in Igloos, being looked after by Mounties and drinking maple syrup.
The outcome is quite entertaining and although you might not know every specific reference, Cohen interviews the likes of Mike Myers, Seth Roger, Cobie Smulders, Dan Aykroyd, Jason Priestley, Martin Short, Eugene Levy and more, who are all Canadian (Didn’t you know?) and they all bring forward and share their brilliant life stories. The documentary also delves into the countries bizarre little history, which they’re not even sure of, and all-in-all ends up showing us we could actually learn a lot from them. I think many places would also understand their passive aggressive nature, where their hidden tensions are released in the shape of Ice Hockey fights and comedy, oh, and an overwhelming urge to say ‘sorry’ for walking into inanimate objects.
Although Canada may not have decided on what is their national food is, for me they’ve always been eagerly welcoming and this documentary helps its audience come away with a better understanding with a charming homage to the huge country. Being Canadian offers up a look inside the real Canada and by the time we hit Cohen’s conclusion, you’ll definitely appreciate why it’s a wonderful mixed melting pot of great, proud people and quite right to.
Being Canadian review by Dan Bullock, September 2015.
Being Canadian is out now in Canada, with a limited release in the States. For more information across the world please check out their official website by clicking here.
