Deaner '89
| Deaner '89 | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Directed by | Sam McGlynn |
| Written by | Paul Spence |
| Produced by | Kyle Irving Paul Spence |
| Starring | Paul Spence Star Slade Will Sasso Stephen McHattie Mary Walsh |
| Cinematography | Samy Inayeh |
| Edited by | Reginald Harkema |
| Music by | Justin Delorme Paul Spence |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Mongrel Media |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Deaner '89 is a 2024 Canadian action comedy film directed by Sam McGlynn. It stars Paul Spence, Star Slade, Will Sasso, and Mary Walsh. Spence plays Dean Murdoch, a metalhead character from the FUBAR series.[2]
The film was released in theaters on September 6, 2024.[1][3]
Despite the Murdoch character having previously appeared in the FUBAR films, the film is not considered a FUBAR sequel, but a standalone film.[4]
Plot
In 1989, Murdoch and his sister first become interested in heavy metal music, soon after learning that their adoptive parents have hidden from them that they are Indigenous. Dean is Métis[5] and his sister is Blackfoot. They go on a trip to Calgary to see a band.
Cast
- Paul Spence as Dean
- Star Slade as Jen
- Will Sasso as Glen
- Stephen McHattie as Dack
- Mary Walsh as May
- Kevin McDonald as Principal Gil
- Maddy Foley as Kitty
Inspiration
The film's content related to Indigenous identity was partly inspired by Spence's own family history. His father was adopted into a non-Indigenous family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and only learned as an adult that his parents were Métis (and that his ancestor, Scottish-Métis leader Andrew Spence, had been part of the North-West Resistance).[6] According to Spence, "It seemed like such a natural fit to take some of my father's stories, as well as my own, to create something fun and funny, but that also had some heart and authenticity — where audiences will laugh their asses off, but also learn something about Canada's complicated history."[7]
Reception
Thom Ernst of Original Cin gave the film a B- and wrote, "The comedy here doesn't pull punches — big gags, big cameos, big laughs. Not all of it works, but when it does, it works beautifully."[8]
Andrew Parker of TheGATE.ca gave the film a score of 3 out of 10, writing, "Unassured, scattered, and trying too hard to relive past glories while simultaneously failing to make viewers forget about everything that came before, Deaner '89 is a messy vanity project that never settles on a satisfying hook on which to hang all of its tired jokes about metal heads, hosers, and givin'r."[9]
Richard Crouse was more positive, awarding the film 3.5/5 stars, asserting that Spence "weaves humor into every scene, but never settles for the easy joke."[10]
Awards
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Screen Awards | 2025 | Best Lead Performance in a Comedy Film | Paul Spence | Nominated | [11] |
| Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Film | Will Sasso | Nominated | |||
| Mary Walsh | Nominated | ||||
| John Dunning Best First Feature | Sam McGlynn | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Song | Paul Spence, Michael Phillip Heppner, Ian Kerr Wilson, Guillaume Marc Antoine Tremblay, Stan Pietrusik "The Power of the Tribe" |
Nominated | |||
| Best Makeup | Doug Morrow | Nominated | |||
| Best Stunt Coordination | Sean Skene, Rick Skene | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b "'Deaner '89' Traces the Origin Story of Canada's Favourite Metalhead in New Exclusive Clip". Exclaim!. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ "Will Sasso, Kevin McDonald, Paul Spence Set to Star in 'Deaner '89' Action Comedy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. May 30, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ "Deaner '89 trailer: Paul Spence recreates a classic Canadian comedy character (exclusive)". JoBlo.com. July 10, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ Jen Zoratti, "Banger of an ’80s origin story". Winnipeg Free Press, September 6, 2024.
- ^ Marko Djurdjić, "'Deaner '89' Brings Humour, Heart and Headbanging to Stories of Canadian Atrocities". Exclaim!, September 5, 2024.
- ^ Ward, Dennis (29 October 2024). "Paul Spence reviving iconic role in Deaner '89". APTN News. Vol. Face to Face. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ Hudson, Alex (19 August 2024). "'Deaner '89' Traces the Origin Story of Canada's Favourite Metalhead in New Exclusive Clip". Exclaim!. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ Thom Ernst (September 4, 2024). "Deaner '89: Canuck Headbanger Saga Continues, Bro… Just Don't Say Fubar!". Original-Cin. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "Deaner '89 Review". TheGATE.ca. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ Crouse, Richard. "DEANER '89: 3 ½ STARS. "You're never too old to start givin'er."". richardcrouse.ca. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ "2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS CBC/RADIO-CANADA NOMINATIONS BY PROGRAM". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, March 25, 2025.
External links
- Deaner '89 at IMDb