Canadian Bacon (1994)
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14% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
48% of users liked it
(33,988 ratings)
In Michael Moore's political satire, the U.S. president (Alan Alda) decides to wage a cold war against Canada in an attempt to reverse his slipping popularity, and, as a result, he drives a small group of incensed Canadians to take matters into their own hands. Alda is the first president in… More In Michael Moore's political satire, the U.S. president (Alan Alda) decides to wage a cold war against Canada in an attempt to reverse his slipping popularity, and, as a result, he drives a small group of incensed Canadians to take matters into their own hands. Alda is the first president in years not to lead his country into war, which naturally means that his approval rating is dangerously low. The sure-fire way to boost his popularity is to start a war and demonstrate American superiority. Unfortunately, as his advisors point out, the U.S. has run out of enemies. That is, until Alda's National Security Advisor Stuart Smiley (Kevin Pollak) happens to catch a segment on the news about a brawl at a Canadian hockey game that began when local American sheriff Bud Boomer (John Candy) made a remark about Canadian beer. This incident gives Smiley the notion to make the public believe that Canada is their new enemy. Determined to demonstrate the mighty power of America to the Canadians, Boomer gets a group of equally angry fellow Americans together to cross the border and perform the most serious of all Canadian crimes -- littering. However, the invasion is foiled and Boomer's numerous blunders threaten to turn a fabricated war into a real one. Written, directed, and produced by Michael Moore, Canadian Bacon takes lighthearted jabs at the differences between the U.S. and Canada, while also satirizing America's obsession with its military strength. The film features John Candy in his last complete screen performance. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael Moore
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Sep 22, 1995 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Mike Clark, USA Today
The best thing you can say about this scattershot political satire is that the late John Candy's next-to-last picture is relatively funnier and less depressing than his valedictory Wagons East.
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Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
Moore's agit-prop is mildly amusing, but far too preachy to hold water.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Moore's only non-docu is a misfire, a diffuse, unfunny political satire that only John Candy's most avid fans might enjoy.
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Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com
Falls entirely short of its potential
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Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Let's leave the poking fun at Canadians to those who do it best - Canadians.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Alan Alda
as President of the United States
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John Candy
as Sheriff Bud Boomer
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Rhea Perlman
as Deputy Honey
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Kevin Pollak
as Stuart Smiley
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Rip Torn
as Gen. Dick Panzer
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Bill Nunn
as Kabral Jabar
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Beth Amos
as Ruthie
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Stanley Anderson
as Edwin S. Simon
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Michael Copeman
as Panzer's Aide
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Richard Council
as Russian President
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Fab Filippo
as Candy Striper
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Bruce Hunter
as President's Aide
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Kevin J. O'Connor
as Roy Boy
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Wallace Shawn
as Canadian Prime Minister Clark MacDonald
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Brad Sullivan
as Gus
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Steven Wright
as Niagara Mountie
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Dan Aykroyd
as Highway Patrolman (uncredited)
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James Belushi
as Charles Jackal
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Michael Moore
as Redneck
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G.D. Spradlin
as R.J. Hacker
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Kenner Ames
as Mountie Sergeant
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Matt Cooke
as State Trooper
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Sheila Gray
as Hacker Hellstorm
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Carlton Watson
as Clarence Thomason
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Dana Brooks
as Paulette Kalin
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Roger Dunn
as Mountie Major
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Stan Coles
as Secretary of State
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Jack Mather
as Pops
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Michael Woods
as State Trooper
