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] In 1989, Murdoch and his sister go on a trip to Calgary to see a heavy metal band, soon after learning that their adoptive parents have hidden from them that they are Indigenous. Dean is Métis[3] and his sister is Blackfoot.
The film was released in theaters on September 6, 2024.[1][4]
Despite the Murdoch character having previously appeared in the FUBAR films, the film is not considered a FUBAR sequel, but a standalone film.[5]
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
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."[6]
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."[7]
Awards
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Screen Awards | 2025 | Best Lead Performance in a Comedy Film | Paul Spence | Pending | [8] |
| Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Film | Will Sasso | Pending | |||
| Mary Walsh | Pending | ||||
| John Dunning Best First Feature | Sam McGlynn | Pending | |||
| Best Original Song | Paul Spence, Michael Phillip Heppner, Ian Kerr Wilson, Guillaume Marc Antoine Tremblay, Stan Pietrusik "The Power of the Tribe" |
Pending | |||
| Best Makeup | Doug Morrow | Pending | |||
| Best Stunt Coordination | Sean Skene, Rick Skene | Pending |
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.
- ^ Marko Djurdjić, "'Deaner '89' Brings Humour, Heart and Headbanging to Stories of Canadian Atrocities". Exclaim!, September 5, 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS CBC/RADIO-CANADA NOMINATIONS BY PROGRAM". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, March 25, 2025.
External links
- Deaner '89 at IMDb