Strange Brew (Movie)
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Strange Brew is one of the most neglected comedies of all time. It was created on the premise of a sketch called "The Great White North" that Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas did on the television show SCTV (Second City TV).
The film is about two very dumb Candaian Brothers (Bob and Doug McKenzie) who still live at home with their parents. The story begins when the brothers get a job at a local brewery called Elsinore Brewery. The brewery is being run by the brother of the founder and "Brewmeister Smith." Smith is trying to take over the brewery from the original owner's daughter, Pamela. Pamela thinks that the two are up to no good, and she's right. They are putting a chemical in the beer that they will use to control everyone who drinks it. With the help of Bob and Doug McKenzie, Pamela tries to figure out what's up and save all the innocent people at Oktoberfest from the drugged beer.
Rick Moranis (Bob) and Dave Thomas (Doug) unbelievably hold most of the camera time, even though they are really not essential to the plot at all! They are mainly there for gags, and have no essential role in the film.
Believe it or not, the movie is loosely based on none other than Shakespeare's Hamlet! Shakespeare scholars will recognize the brewery's name as the same of the Castle Elsinore in Hamlet. The original owner's brother (named Claude) is based on Claudius, as he kills his brother to take over the brewery. Also, Claude marries Pamela's mother less than a month after the father's death (Pamela even has a line, "Don't you think it's a little odd to get married so soon after his death?")
Altogether, the film is very silly, but I liked it, and it was amusing to see the parallels with one of the greatest plays ever written.
The film is about two very dumb Candaian Brothers (Bob and Doug McKenzie) who still live at home with their parents. The story begins when the brothers get a job at a local brewery called Elsinore Brewery. The brewery is being run by the brother of the founder and "Brewmeister Smith." Smith is trying to take over the brewery from the original owner's daughter, Pamela. Pamela thinks that the two are up to no good, and she's right. They are putting a chemical in the beer that they will use to control everyone who drinks it. With the help of Bob and Doug McKenzie, Pamela tries to figure out what's up and save all the innocent people at Oktoberfest from the drugged beer.
Rick Moranis (Bob) and Dave Thomas (Doug) unbelievably hold most of the camera time, even though they are really not essential to the plot at all! They are mainly there for gags, and have no essential role in the film.
Believe it or not, the movie is loosely based on none other than Shakespeare's Hamlet! Shakespeare scholars will recognize the brewery's name as the same of the Castle Elsinore in Hamlet. The original owner's brother (named Claude) is based on Claudius, as he kills his brother to take over the brewery. Also, Claude marries Pamela's mother less than a month after the father's death (Pamela even has a line, "Don't you think it's a little odd to get married so soon after his death?")
Altogether, the film is very silly, but I liked it, and it was amusing to see the parallels with one of the greatest plays ever written.
