Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017)

If you are checking out the sequel to Goon, then odds are you watched and liked the original. I've watched the first Goon about twenty times on Netflix. I'd place it in the top twenty all time of sports movies. I really wanted to get behind this movie but ultimately it falls flat. The script isn't bad - in fact it touches on some great ideas: what becomes of a hockey enforcer after they retire? What happens to players when you get older and maybe aren't quite as fast or strong? What would Hot Ice have been in the YouTube age? What do we give up when we start a family and have to think about other people instead of just ourselves? All of these are interesting questions to explore in a sports movie, unfortunately none of these ideas are really fleshed out. Most are brought up in conversation then dropped. Jokes, which mostly fall flat, are squeezed around these ideas along with a father/son relationship between the owner of the Halifax Highlanders and the new antagonist to Doug Glatt. Almost all of the original cast returns for this film which is both a good and bad thing. Most of them do exactly the same thing as they did in the first movie. Others, such as Allison Pill's Eva spend most of the movie asleep (both literally and figuratively).The Hockey elements of the story really aren't very good. The lock out story line makes no sense whatsoever. The PA announcer also tells us the Highlanders only made the playoffs 2 times in the last 10 years. So they team went back to being awful after the original Goon? I never felt as if I were invested in the Highlanders like I was in the first movie. There is a lot less hockey in this one so that might be a reason. Another might be the strange timeline in which the movie zooms through weeks at a time and you really have no sense of what is taking place along with players moves which simply don't make sense. The Highlanders are supposed to be one step below the NHL, at that level you simply don't acquire and release players just because you want them or don't. Liev Schreiber does stand out in his return as Ross Rhea. His character was my favorite part of the movie. A better version of this movie follows Rhea and Glatt and explores in more detail some of the questions it clearly was trying to raise. I wish they could get a do over and take another try at this.

To be honest I loved the first one so much this didn't compare, this one was good but not as good as the first and I found that some of the jokes were forced into the situation Almost the same story line as the first With almost the same type of ending Trust me when I say this the movie is almost exactly like the first If you didn't see the first movie you'd love this

I really liked Goon, and had no idea a sequel had been made until today. This movie, like the first, was a very pleasant surprise. Since the first one just ends with the big fight between Scott & Schreiber, I was really happy to have a continuation of the story, some more character development, and most importantly, a sense of closure for Doug Glatt. I feel like they really delivered in this aspect. That final punch, cementing his new life and dedication to his "team" was a moment of pure joy!It was great to see the entire gang back, especially Schreiber. I was also happy to see that Wyatt Russell was in this, and wow -- he put on an amazing performance. Awesome villain.Just like the first one, this movie made me smile a lot, and really care about the characters. I hope Ross "The Boss" Rhea is OK...actually kinda bummed we don't get a satisfying ending to his story, but maybe they're saving that for Goon 3 (fingers crossed).I had no idea this sequel existed until a few hours ago, and I am very happy and grateful that it was made.

With few exceptions sequels tend to not be as good as the originals. That is the case here, sadly.However, this movie surprised me with how fun it is. I am a fan of the 1st Goon, which charmed me with its heart and crazy gore-filled fights. This movie continues in that tradition, with a little less success than the 1st movie had. Sure there were a few annoying parts, like TJ Miller's cameo as a sports desk host, but the overall chemistry of the cast remains, as does the brutal violence. I wasn't expecting much and I found this movie to be quite enjoyable.