‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’ Review: Matt Johnson’s Outrageous Time-Travel Stunt Pays Off

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How much effort or lengths might two unrecognized Canadian artists be willing to take to secure a performance slot at The Rivoli, a Toronto establishment famed for nurturing comedic talents such as Kids in the Hall decades ago?

Hailing as the most outrageous movie of the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival, “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” follows the bizarrely prolonged infatuation of Canadian comedy pair Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol in their quest to break onto the semi-celebrated stage. This seemingly attainable ambition provides a platform for some of Canada’s most inventive mockumentary humor (excluding a mock politician’s proposal that they become the 51st state). Label it “an endeavor that took 65 million… or, 17 years” to materialize, as the time-travel comedy mirrors Johnson’s dream venture: a comedic journey that encapsulates his satirical thoughts following the triumph of “BlackBerry,” which granted him creative freedom for his subsequent project.

Originally created in 2007, five years prior to Johnson’s Slamdance win with “The Dirties”, the duo’s web series, initially spelled with a single ‘n’, was based on a straightforward concept: Johnson and McCarrol, who were the only ones in on the joke, would go out of character (as exaggerated, foolish versions of themselves) and include the public in their skits, similar to Sacha Baron Cohen or Nathan Fielder. In the later years of the 2010s, they transformed “Nirvanna” into a full television show, ramping up the absurdity of their antics. As this is a film, everything needs to be larger and more daring, yet still relatable for the broad audience who are unfamiliar with their earlier endeavors, much like the Tenacious D movie.

The initial scene of the movie sets the stage for Matt’s inflated sense of importance, as he fantasizes about the immediate success he and composer-pianist Jay would receive if only the public could witness their talent on stage. From the outset, they were already sketching ideas to capture the attention of the Rivoli. By 2025, despite their strategies becoming increasingly complex, they still haven’t reached their goal.

Matt excitedly declares, “Jay, I’ve got a brilliant idea!” He proposes they both parachute into the SkyDome during a baseball game. Now, that’s not your average suggestion, but Jay, ever enthusiastic, consents to this daring plan. This scheme of theirs involves jumping from the top of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower and gliding down into the open stadium right in the middle of a game.

Soon after, they’re seen purchasing supplies to sever the safety harness ropes and making an effort to sneak those cutting tools past the security personnel stationed at the entrance of the CN Tower EdgeWalk. Spotting Matt repeatedly pass through the metal detector already provided quite the entertainment, but the oversized, parachute-like bulge hidden under his jacket serves as the perfect finishing touch to this comedic act.

A common humor among us is how Matt tends to blab about his schemes to almost everyone he encounters. It’s much like observing Wile E. Coyote exposing his flawed strategies, but in this scenario, it involves sharing ideas with unwitting bystanders, which often results in unexpected responses and makes it seem as though Johnson successfully executed their stunts through clever editing and special effects.

You have the liberty to carry out your plans,” he says casually. “I’m a supporter of personal freedom.” Filming secretly was necessary due to the hidden camera style used in many scenes. This approach was more accepted by audiences during the 2000s, especially when “The Office” was popular, but it remains crucial here due to its similarity to shows like “Candid Camera.

In no time at all, I found myself woven into the grand narrative as Matt embarked on his eccentric marketing stunt – transforming our RV into a “Back to the Future”-esque time machine – which surprisingly worked flawlessly, transporting me and the two musicians back to 2008. To add another layer of pop culture reference, Johnson crafted a storyline where a bottle of Orbitz, that peculiar blob-water drink, held the key to making our time machine operational. Alas, this elusive Canadian beverage had been discontinued, so our mission became locating another bottle for the machine to function.

The intricate aspects reveal how absurdly comedic the storyline sometimes becomes, but beneath this humor (even with its exaggerated, Alan Silvestri-esque orchestral soundtrack) and over-the-top plots lies a genuine examination of their friendship. This exploration centers around what transpires when the force that binds Nirvanna the Band together starts to fray. After decades of tolerating Matt’s tricks, Jay is now ready to embark on a solo career. If there’s one aspect where the film could improve, it would be in creating original songs like those effortlessly produced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

It’s an ideal moment to conclude a long-standing friendship, isn’t it? Jay decided to do so during a secret viewing of the 2009 blockbuster “The Hangover”. He picked an awkward scene for his exit (a clear example of how the humor in that movie doesn’t seem as funny today), thereby altering their past significantly. As a result, he becomes one of Canada’s most popular celebrities by 2025 when they revisit this timeline. After all, stranger things have happened – at least in movies! “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” is all about celebrating how influential low-brow culture can be on young minds.

Despite appearing random, there’s a delicate blend of strategic planning and spontaneous talent required for its execution, as the team operates predominantly without necessary permits. Consequently, scenes like Jay strolling casually through Drake’s mansion gates and infiltrating a high-profile police press conference within the same affluent neighborhood are captured on film. The movie may be hilarious, but the absurdity of its existence adds another layer of amusement, leaving us in awe at how they managed to pull it off. To uncover the intricacies behind this spectacle, we’ll have to wait for “Nirvanna the Band the Show: The Movie: The Documentary.

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2025-03-13 19:18