Deaner ’89: Canuck Headbanger Saga Continues, Bro… Just Don’t Say Fubar!

By Thom Ernst

Rating: B-

There's an understanding that we should sidestep the F-word when talking about Deaner ‘89, the new film from writer-actor Paul Spence and director Sam McGlynn. And by F-word, I mean Fubar.

The need for this careful avoidance makes sense because Deaner ‘89 looks, acts, and feels so much like the very thing we're trying not to mention. Yet, let's be clear: Deaner ‘89 isn't another notch in the Fubar bedpost. It's its own beast.

And here's where it hits me: Fubar has quietly become a franchise. Think about that — how many Canadian films can we say that about? Sure, we have Prom Night, Saw, Scanners, Silent Hill, The Cube, Trailer Park Boys, and Resident Evil, but those are just a handful in a century's worth of Canadian cinema.

To have Fubar — with two films and a TV series — join those ranks is something of an achievement for a scrappy little mockumentary about headbangers.

In a twist of irony, the Fubar films were helmed by Michael Dowse, who also directed The F Word — a title with its own ironic twist in this context. But I digress.

We've been cautioned against comparisons between Deaner '89 and Fubar lest people believe the films are part of the same parcel. It's easy to fall into that trap, especially with Dean Murdoch (played by Spence) at the centre of it all once again. Yes, this is the same character from the Fubar movies, but this is a different story altogether.

The last thing before we drop the Fubar comparisons: where the previous films leaned into the mockumentary style, Deaner '89 tells its story through a more traditional narrative. This shift in style comes with its own set of challenges. Without the faux-documentary lens, some of the raw authenticity feels lost, even though Spence's Dean Murdoch remains that same loveable headbanger we've always known.

Deaner ‘89 serves as an origin story, with a focus on identity politics, told through a series of flashbacks. This time, Dean is younger, at least in theory. Part of the joke is that as a teenager, Dean (still played by Spence) looked older and was impossibly handsome, which pairs nicely with his prowess as a hockey player.

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. Mary Walsh appears as an aging headbanger, who introduces Dean to shot-gunning beers, while Stephen McHattie plays a hockey scout with an unapologetically racist edge, and Kevin McDonald takes on the role of an easily flustered high-school principal. Music aficionados will notice glimpse of Brent Fitz, the former drummer for Slash's band, Conspirators.

Will Sasso brings the most to the party in the role of Dean's adopted father, a functional alcoholic whose bad habits frequently clash with his good intentions. Star Slade is memorable as Dean's adopted sister, Jen, with whom he shares a tight bond.

Both Dean and Jen are Indigenous, raised by non-Indigenous parents, and their quest to uncover their heritage kicks off when a trunk arrives, sent by Dean's deceased father, filled with heavy metal memorabilia. This discovery ignites in them a burning desire to connect with their roots.

There are moments in Deaner ‘89 that charm, entertain, and amuse. It's a solid, standalone rock 'n' roll comedy that doesn't demand prior knowledge of the Fubar saga. So yes, Deaner ‘89 is its own thing, crafted by a different director and written solely by Spence.

But can we at least agree that if it's not part of the Fubar franchise, it certainly exists in the same universe?

Deaner ’89. Directed by Sam McGlynn. Starring Paul Spence, Star Slade, Will Sasso, Mary Walsh, Stephen McHattie, and Kevin McDonald. In theatres September 6.