FUBAR (2002)

55% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(6,974 ratings)

Two young men ponder life, death, cheap beer, and the guitar stylings of Angus Young in this mock-documentary-comedy. Dean (Paul Spence) and Terry (Dave Lawrence) are a pair of Canadian metalheads who have devoted their lives to the manly arts of drinking beer, appreciating the finer points of heavy… More Two young men ponder life, death, cheap beer, and the guitar stylings of Angus Young in this mock-documentary-comedy. Dean (Paul Spence) and Terry (Dave Lawrence) are a pair of Canadian metalheads who have devoted their lives to the manly arts of drinking beer, appreciating the finer points of heavy metal, and breaking stuff. Filmmaker Farrell (Gordon Skilling) has been trailing the pair with a camera crew in order to produce a documentary on their lives, and while initially there isn't much about Dean and Terry's existence that seems at all interesting, it looks like he may have hit pay dirt when Dean discovers he has cancer, and a possible tragic death looms on the horizon. FUBAR was the first feature film from writer and director Michael Dowse; the film was screened in competition at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 17 min.
Directed By: Michael Dowse
Genres: Documentary, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2002 Limited
On DVD: May 20, 2003
Studio: Xenon

Critic Reviews

Peter Howell, Toronto Star
A very funny movie.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
The comedy is so bone-dry that it hardly feels funny at all. But it is. Kind of.
Barry Robison, Film Threat
I couldn't help but feel the wasted potential of this slapstick comedy.
Mark Palermo, Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
If director Michael Dowse only superficially understands his characters, he doesn't hold them in contempt.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
Exploits [headbanger] stereotypes in good fun, while adding a bit of heart and unsettling subject matter.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
A recent favourite at Sundance, this white-trash satire will inspire the affection of even those unlucky people who never owned a cassette of Def Leppard's Pyromania.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
Fubar is very funny, but not always in a laugh-out-loud way.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Like "This is Spinal Tap", only with more pathetic protagonists- and funnier!

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Fubar is a mockumentary type film about the headbagin subculture of Calgary, Alberta. We are introduced to two metalheads, Terry and Dean as the primary subjects of this documentary. We are shown such traditions as shotgunning beer like a man and listening to the healing power of… More
Fubar is a mockumentary type film about the headbagin subculture of Calgary, Alberta. We are introduced to two metalheads, Terry and Dean as the primary subjects of this documentary. We are shown such traditions as shotgunning beer like a man and listening to the healing power of heavy metal music. Fubar is a cult classic of Canadian cinema, and as many reviewers have pointed out, this is the best mockumentary since This Is Spinal Tap, and it is. Fubar is hilarious from start to finish, and it amazes me how they were able to pull that many laughs out of a simple idea. Fubar won''t appeal to everyone, only the metalheads and hardcore beer drinkers will enjoy this film. Documentary film maker Farrell Miictchner documents the exploits of Terry and Dean and the banger subculture in general, what we get is a lesson in drinking beer like a man and how a close nit friendship can save another friend from testicular cancer. I've basically summarized the story, and thats all it is really. But it's interesting how they were able to pull out so many laugh out loud moments with a few simple ideas like that. Fubar has all the cliches of the headbanging subculture and if you love heavy metal music, then you'll love Fubar. If you're easily offended by vulgarities, then I would skip it if I were you. But if you love mockumentaries, then give'r and give Fubar a viewing. Just remember that everything you see here is to make you laugh hard, so let loose, shotgun a beer, and watch Terry and Deaner give you a life lesson in the heavy metal lane.
Christopher B

Very funny look at 2 Canadian headbangers. FUBAR!
Wu C

It's Canadian.