Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day
Encyclopedia
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day is a 2009 Canadian mockumentary
comedy
/crime film
directed by Mike Clattenburg
. It is the second film based on the Canadian television series Trailer Park Boys
, following 2005's Trailer Park Boys: The Movie. Countdown to Liquor Day follows Ricky (Robb Wells
), Julian (John Paul Tremblay
) and Bubbles (Mike Smith
) as they return to a life of crime after being released from prison.
Clattenberg first announced plans to end the Trailer Park Boys franchise with a feature film in November 2008. Countdown to Liquor Day is not a direct sequel to the first film, but instead a conclusion to "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys", the television special that ended the series after its seventh season. Filming for Countdown to Liquor Day took place on location in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day premiered in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the 29th Atlantic Film Festival
; it was released theatrically in Canada on September 25, 2009. The film received mixed reviews; some critics praised it for staying true to the television series, while others derided it for its crude humor. Countdown to Liquor Day grossed over $3 million during its domestic theatrical run. It won an Atlantic Film Festival Award for Best Sound Design, and earned a Genie Award
nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
.
, Bubbles finds that all of his kitties are at an animal shelter and that he will need to pay thousands of dollars in order to have them released; secondly, Ricky and Julian successfully rob a liquor store, but Julian uses all the money to buy a car and refurbish his trailer into an auto-body shop
. Ricky's plan is to pass his Grade 12 exam, which he feels will open doors of opportunity for him.
Jim Lahey is sober and has opened up a posh new trailer park while attempting to demolish Sunnyvale. Lahey's only problem is that his new sewer line will have to run through Julian's lot, so he tries to convince Julian to move. One sip of Randy's beer causes him to revert back to alcoholism. After Randy leaves him, Lahey goes on a liquor-fueled rampage. Meanwhile, the boys experience failure: Julian's auto-body business is failing, Ricky fails his Grade 12 exam, and Bubbles' kitties remain in the animal shelter.
The boys decide to rob a bank disguised as security guards making an armored-car transport. They succeed in obtaining the money from the vault but they are foiled by Lahey showing up at the last minute. The boys are arrested and sent back to prison. Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles receive a short sentence due to their arresting officer being drunk but request not to be filmed anymore. The closing scene shows Lahey drunk in Cuba
, after absconding with the stolen money.
, following Trailer Park Boys: The Movie. It was directed by Mike Clattenburg
, the creator and director of the series and director of the first film. Countdown to Liquor Day is not a direct sequel to the first film, but a conclusion to "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys", the final television special that concluded the series. As with the previous film, Countdown to Liquor Day sees the cast from the television series reprise their respective roles.
Clattenburg officially announced plans to end the Trailer Park Boys franchise in November 2008. He initially wanted to end the series after the fifth season. Due to popular demand from fans of the series, Clattenburg decided to produce two more seasons for the show. When asked why he chose to end the franchise, Clattenburg stated, "There comes a time I'd like to do more new stuff and develop in different ways." Filming took place on location in Nova Scotia, Canada.
. Prior to its theatrical release, the film held its world premiere in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the 29th Atlantic Film Festival
, where it won an award for Best Sound Design.
wrote that the film was "a celluloid celebration of everything that boys love about being boys; from running around in their underpants, to setting stuff on fire, demolishing structures with heavy machinery and eating fried chicken for breakfast." Stephen Cole of The Globe and Mail
awarded the film three stars out of four, writing, "Trailer Park Boys succeeded because they were good company. So they are again in their second movie." Steve Newton of Straight.com stated the film was "the funniest Canadian movie ever made."
Norman Wilner of Now Magazine
wrote in his negative review, "Even the fans might wonder where the laughs are this time around. Heads get shaved, stuff gets smashed and drinks get drunk, but nothing has much of a payoff." Jay Stone of The StarPhoenix wrote that the film's "shenanigans run out of steam in a hurry, a problem that Countdown to Liquor Day tries to counteract with an episodic structure that flies through several stories, each of them cruder than the last."
and Blu-ray disc
formats on December 22, 2009. Special features for the film include deleted scenes, extended takes, lost interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. In the United States
, the film was released in the same home video formats on February 23, 2010.
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
/crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg is a Canadian TV and film director best known as creator/director of the TV comedy series Trailer Park Boys , and This Hour Has 22 Minutes...
. It is the second film based on the Canadian television series Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
, following 2005's Trailer Park Boys: The Movie. Countdown to Liquor Day follows Ricky (Robb Wells
Robb Wells
Robb Wells is a Canadian actor and screenwriter who portrayed Ricky on Trailer Park Boys.-Early life:Wells was born in Moncton, New Brunswick and moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia when he was eight years old...
), Julian (John Paul Tremblay
John Paul Tremblay
John Paul Tremblay is a Canadian actor who stars in the hit Canadian TV show Trailer Park Boys, playing Julian, a newly released ex-con returning to his home in a trailer park in Nova Scotia...
) and Bubbles (Mike Smith
Mike Smith (actor)
Mike Smith is a Canadian actor and musician, most famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys.-Personal life:...
) as they return to a life of crime after being released from prison.
Clattenberg first announced plans to end the Trailer Park Boys franchise with a feature film in November 2008. Countdown to Liquor Day is not a direct sequel to the first film, but instead a conclusion to "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys", the television special that ended the series after its seventh season. Filming for Countdown to Liquor Day took place on location in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day premiered in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the 29th Atlantic Film Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival is an international film festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Held annually, the ten-day celebration of film and video from Atlantic Canada and around the world is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the...
; it was released theatrically in Canada on September 25, 2009. The film received mixed reviews; some critics praised it for staying true to the television series, while others derided it for its crude humor. Countdown to Liquor Day grossed over $3 million during its domestic theatrical run. It won an Atlantic Film Festival Award for Best Sound Design, and earned a Genie Award
30th Genie Awards
The 30th Genie Awards were on April 12, 2010 to honour films released in 2009. Nominations were announced on March 1, 2010.-Controversy:Despite having won three awards at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and having been selected as Canada's submission for Best Foreign Language film at the 82nd Academy...
nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
The Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best supporting Canadian actor.-1st Genie Awards:* Gordon Pinsent, Jack London's Klondike Fever...
.
Plot
Following the events of the episode "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys", the film opens with Ricky, Julian and Bubbles being released from prison. Upon returning to Sunnyvale Trailer ParkSunnyvale Trailer Park
Sunnyvale Trailer Park is the fictional infamous trailer park home of the characters of Trailer Park Boys, a Canadian TV series. The park is owned by Barbara Lahey and is located somewhere on the outskirts of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia....
, Bubbles finds that all of his kitties are at an animal shelter and that he will need to pay thousands of dollars in order to have them released; secondly, Ricky and Julian successfully rob a liquor store, but Julian uses all the money to buy a car and refurbish his trailer into an auto-body shop
Automobile repair shop
An automobile repair shop is a place where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and electricians.- Types :The automotive garage can be divided in so many category....
. Ricky's plan is to pass his Grade 12 exam, which he feels will open doors of opportunity for him.
Jim Lahey is sober and has opened up a posh new trailer park while attempting to demolish Sunnyvale. Lahey's only problem is that his new sewer line will have to run through Julian's lot, so he tries to convince Julian to move. One sip of Randy's beer causes him to revert back to alcoholism. After Randy leaves him, Lahey goes on a liquor-fueled rampage. Meanwhile, the boys experience failure: Julian's auto-body business is failing, Ricky fails his Grade 12 exam, and Bubbles' kitties remain in the animal shelter.
The boys decide to rob a bank disguised as security guards making an armored-car transport. They succeed in obtaining the money from the vault but they are foiled by Lahey showing up at the last minute. The boys are arrested and sent back to prison. Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles receive a short sentence due to their arresting officer being drunk but request not to be filmed anymore. The closing scene shows Lahey drunk in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, after absconding with the stolen money.
Cast
- Robb WellsRobb WellsRobb Wells is a Canadian actor and screenwriter who portrayed Ricky on Trailer Park Boys.-Early life:Wells was born in Moncton, New Brunswick and moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia when he was eight years old...
as Ricky - John Paul TremblayJohn Paul TremblayJohn Paul Tremblay is a Canadian actor who stars in the hit Canadian TV show Trailer Park Boys, playing Julian, a newly released ex-con returning to his home in a trailer park in Nova Scotia...
as Julian - Mike SmithMike Smith (actor)Mike Smith is a Canadian actor and musician, most famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys.-Personal life:...
as Bubbles - John DunsworthJohn DunsworthJohn Dunsworth is a Canadian actor known for playing the frequently drunk trailer park supervisor Jim Lahey on the hit TV show Trailer Park Boys. He has also appeared in Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion, a CBC film about the 1917 Halifax explosion...
as Jim Lahey - Patrick RoachPatrick RoachPatrick Roach is a Canadian actor best known for playing the always shirtless and cheeseburger-addicted assistant trailer park supervisor Randy on the cult television series Trailer Park Boys....
as Randy - Jonathan TorrensJonathan TorrensJonathan Ormond Torrens is a Canadian actor and television personality best known for his co-hosting of Street Cents, his talk show Jonovision, and his role as "J-Roc" in the popular Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys...
as J-Roc - Lucy DecoutereLucy DecoutereLucy Decoutere is a Canadian actress known for her role as the character Lucy in the hit television series Trailer Park Boys.She grew up as the youngest sibling of four from British and Czech parents. She attended grad school in Montreal and has held various jobs, including as a kindergarten...
as Lucy - Sarah E. DunsworthSarah E. DunsworthSarah E. Dunsworth is a Canadian actress who plays the character of the same name on the Canadian television program Trailer Park Boys. She is the real life daughter of John Dunsworth, the actor who plays Mr. Lahey. She was also the costume Designer on Hobo with a Shotgun. Additionally she...
as Sarah - Barrie DunnBarrie DunnBarrie Dunn is a Canadian actor, film and television producer best known for his character Ray on the Canadian mockumentary television program Trailer Park Boys....
as Ray - Jeanna Harrison as Trinity
- Tyrone Parsons as Tyrone
- Mary Fay Coady as Jenny
- Sam Tarasco as Sam Losco
- Bernard Robichaud as Cyrus
- Jacob Rolfe as Jacob Collins
- Richard Collins as Phil Collins
- Kale Rodger and Samuel Sleigh as Uncredited Extras
Production
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day is the second film to be based on the television series Trailer Park BoysTrailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
, following Trailer Park Boys: The Movie. It was directed by Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg
Mike Clattenburg is a Canadian TV and film director best known as creator/director of the TV comedy series Trailer Park Boys , and This Hour Has 22 Minutes...
, the creator and director of the series and director of the first film. Countdown to Liquor Day is not a direct sequel to the first film, but a conclusion to "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys", the final television special that concluded the series. As with the previous film, Countdown to Liquor Day sees the cast from the television series reprise their respective roles.
Clattenburg officially announced plans to end the Trailer Park Boys franchise in November 2008. He initially wanted to end the series after the fifth season. Due to popular demand from fans of the series, Clattenburg decided to produce two more seasons for the show. When asked why he chose to end the franchise, Clattenburg stated, "There comes a time I'd like to do more new stuff and develop in different ways." Filming took place on location in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Release
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day was released in Canadian theatres on September 25, 2009. The film was produced and distributed by Alliance FilmsAlliance Films
Alliance Films is a major Canadian motion picture distribution/production company, which serves Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain.-History:It was formed in 1984 by Stephen Roth, Denis Heroux, John Kemeny, Robert Lantos and Jay...
. Prior to its theatrical release, the film held its world premiere in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the 29th Atlantic Film Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival is an international film festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Held annually, the ten-day celebration of film and video from Atlantic Canada and around the world is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the...
, where it won an award for Best Sound Design.
Reception
Prior to its domestic theatrical release, Countdown to Liquor Day divided film critics. Linda Bernard of the Toronto StarToronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
wrote that the film was "a celluloid celebration of everything that boys love about being boys; from running around in their underpants, to setting stuff on fire, demolishing structures with heavy machinery and eating fried chicken for breakfast." Stephen Cole of The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
awarded the film three stars out of four, writing, "Trailer Park Boys succeeded because they were good company. So they are again in their second movie." Steve Newton of Straight.com stated the film was "the funniest Canadian movie ever made."
Norman Wilner of Now Magazine
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
wrote in his negative review, "Even the fans might wonder where the laughs are this time around. Heads get shaved, stuff gets smashed and drinks get drunk, but nothing has much of a payoff." Jay Stone of The StarPhoenix wrote that the film's "shenanigans run out of steam in a hurry, a problem that Countdown to Liquor Day tries to counteract with an episodic structure that flies through several stories, each of them cruder than the last."
Box office
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day grossed $1,396,229 on its opening weekend, placing 12th place at the box office. The film dropped 65.33 percent during its second week, earning only $484,072. The film dropped an additional 45.85 percent in its third week, grossing only $262,129 at thirty-second place. In total, Countdown to Liquor Day has grossed $2,941,985 in Canada.Home video releases
In Canada, Countdown to Liquor Day was released in DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Blu-ray disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
formats on December 22, 2009. Special features for the film include deleted scenes, extended takes, lost interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the film was released in the same home video formats on February 23, 2010.
Accolades
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 30th Genie Awards 30th Genie Awards The 30th Genie Awards were on April 12, 2010 to honour films released in 2009. Nominations were announced on March 1, 2010.-Controversy:Despite having won three awards at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and having been selected as Canada's submission for Best Foreign Language film at the 82nd Academy... |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role The Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best supporting Canadian actor.-1st Genie Awards:* Gordon Pinsent, Jack London's Klondike Fever... |
John Dunsworth John Dunsworth John Dunsworth is a Canadian actor known for playing the frequently drunk trailer park supervisor Jim Lahey on the hit TV show Trailer Park Boys. He has also appeared in Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion, a CBC film about the 1917 Halifax explosion... |
Nominated |
| 29th Atlantic Film Festival Atlantic Film Festival The Atlantic Film Festival is an international film festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Held annually, the ten-day celebration of film and video from Atlantic Canada and around the world is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the... |
Best Sound Design | Brian Power | Won |