My expectations of what this movie was about and my experience watching the film were very different, to say the least. I thought this movie was totally Canadian, set in Canada, and a parody of exclusively Canadian life. When I saw that Michael Moore was director.... I was just confused. The CanCon, while high, was not the real focus.
In actuality, this film is a critique of American culture and society, which hyperbolizes Canada to help emphasize some of the societal and governmental problems of the US. The film doesn't critique Canada, but instead essentializes us as a sweet, docile country with a heart that is an easy and unjustifiable target for America at the end of the Cold War. Without the money that comes from warmongering, many people are out of jobs and desperate. The current president incites hatred against a common enemy, both accusing and blaming Canada to gain political sway.
The movie has a lighthearted tone, and I, for one, mostly like its portrayal of Canada. While not at all realistic, its nice to imagine that overall the American caricature of Canada is friendly and caring, if a bit gullible. The constant rearranging of the RCMP acronym was sweet. My favourite moment was when the "night shift" at the power plant was an old couple reposing in a living room setting. If only life were really like that!
The film does, however, point to the relatively unclear identity of Canada as a nation on the international stage. In general, the portrayal is very diminutive. Its one of those movies where the message is supposed to be that America really needs to reassess its corrupt values and government. But, another of its underlying messages is, well, at least we are brave and strong unlike these sissy, small Canadians. The fact that we could be so easily manipulated and controlled by the government was a frustrating admission to our lack of independence and power.
Though fifteen years old, I think many of the issues presented here are as real now as they were then. The world is still struggling economically, and now the divide between rich and poor is even more extreme. The "closed power plant" scenario of Niagara Falls seems to be applicable to large portions of both countries.
How do we define ourselves and deal with these economic issues? Besides scapegoating and warmongering, tactics that have largely failed, what are our options? Surely to god we can come up with something better. I know it.
While this movie is a comedy, I think its outlook is pretty bleak. National pride is not a useful commodity. It doesn't fix problems... it only seems to provide a sense of security and comfort in uncertain times.
I wouldn't watch this again. I appreciate the film's goal, but I wasn't engaged with it. I had to watch it in two sittings, and then I had to double check plot points before posting. Maybe it just wasn't my genre.
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