Canadian comic and director Matt Johnson, known for his 2023 hit BlackBerry, reunites with writing partner Jay McCarrol for a goofy time-travel comedy that channels the spirit of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Wayne's World. The film, titled Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, follows two slacker fortysomethings from Toronto who devote themselves to their terrible band, Nirvanna (the two-n misspelling of the more famous band is part of their loser vibe).
Plot: Accidental Time Travel and Psychic Wounds
Matt and Jay are constantly trying and failing to get booked at the hip Toronto venue Rivoli. After a disastrous skydiving publicity stunt from the CN Tower, Matt hatches a new plan: install a fake time machine in their RV and claim to be from 2008. But when lightning strikes the RV as they reach a certain speed, they actually travel back to 2008. This opens a psychic wound, leading Jay to consider ditching Matt and starting a solo career.
Lo-Fi Aesthetic Meets Digital Trickery
The film embraces a lo-fi klutz aesthetic, with downbeat indie visuals that cunningly coexist with sensational digital effects. Johnson and McCarrol bring a weird conviction to their high concept, reminiscent of Shane Carruth's cult time-travel film Primer. The comedy is rooted in sheer goofball silliness, and while it may take time for newcomers to acclimatize, the ridiculous spectacle wins viewers over.
No Women, No Satire: Just Pure Goofiness
Unlike Back to the Future, this film has no interest in Freudian observations about men's relationships with women—in fact, women play zero role. Instead, it revels in an infantilized male spirit. The choice of 2008 as the destination is arbitrary; the joke is its daft randomness. The film's serious point, if any, is how quickly time passes while trying and failing in the music business.
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is in UK and Irish cinemas from 3 July.
