Kids in the Hall - Brain Candy (1996)

38% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(9,186 ratings)

The Canadian sketch-comedy masters hit the big screen with Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, their send-up of psychopharmacology and its social ramifications. Each "kid" plays a plethora of roles; in fact, nearly every character in the film is played by one of the five "kids". When Roritor… More The Canadian sketch-comedy masters hit the big screen with Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, their send-up of psychopharmacology and its social ramifications. Each "kid" plays a plethora of roles; in fact, nearly every character in the film is played by one of the five "kids". When Roritor Pharmaceuticals finds itself on the verge of bankruptcy, research chemist Chris Cooper (Kevin McDonald) finds himself pressured to push his latest development to market without adequate testing at the risk of losing his job. The product -- Gleemonex, an anti-depressant bearing more than a slight resemblance to Prozac -- seems at first to be a wonder drug; users find themselves in a perpetual state of bliss as they relive their fondest memories time and again. Success goes awry, however, when a fatal side-effect surfaces -- users become catatonics. The craze has caught on, however, and the entire world seems to be taking Gleemonex, forcing Dr. Cooper to fight his employers and warn the masses before disaster strikes. The plot is really just an excuse for a series of funny, hallucinogenic sketches involving the memories and fantasies of its users; the funniest include a grandmother's all-too brief holiday visit with her family, and a married man's homoerotic experiences in the military. Another winning scene: a brooding grunge-rock idol (Bruce McCulloch) who's taken the drug unexpectedly changes his tune at a concert to the bewilderment of his angst-hungry fans. Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy is hit-or-miss satire, but much of the humor finds its mark in this humble, surprisingly intelligent film. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Kelly Makin
Written By: Norm Hiscock, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 12, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jul 16, 2002

Critic Reviews

Leonard Klady, Variety
The ensemble is assured and adroitly gets the gags across without telegraphing punch lines.
David Ansen, Newsweek
A twisted comedy for twisted times, this movie made me happy. Go figure.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
A splendid showcase for their diverse, frisky talents.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
[A] shrill and slovenly opus.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Isn't anything more than a sloppy showcase for the group's costume-changing tricks, but sometimes its sheer chutzpah can be amusing.
Andy Seiler, USA Today
Some of this is very funny; much of it isn't.
, Film4
You'll be laughing through your disapproval.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
There are some very funny bits, but they're interspersed with long stretches of exposition that drag the whole thing down, down, down.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
It was supposed to be a comedy, but it just wasn't funny. End of story.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A quintet of Canadian TV comedians hit the cinema screen with a splat.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
The Kids stopped doing their show two years ago. It's too bad that this may be what they're remembered for.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Some fairly funny stuff, but not up to par with the HBO series.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A shambling disappointment.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
I was privy to an early test screening of this, and it was weirder and better than the final product. Even the final, watered-down version beats the hell out of most safe so-called comedies, though.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Coxxie M

ehh.... it aint no American pie: naked mile, dats da trufe.
Curtis L

It's exactly like stummies! But it makes flipper babies. This movie was great, but after a while it got to that point where it felt like they were just making stuff to fill time.
Lafe F

A wacky comedy about a pharmaceutical corporation releasing "Gleemonex", a happiness drug - and its affect on the world. It's quirky and funny, with a trip inside the minds of those who take the drug. I really liked Cancer Boy, the Disco-Chick and the Gay Dad. It's… More
A wacky comedy about a pharmaceutical corporation releasing "Gleemonex", a happiness drug - and its affect on the world. It's quirky and funny, with a trip inside the minds of those who take the drug. I really liked Cancer Boy, the Disco-Chick and the Gay Dad. It's hummm-funny like "The Kids in the Hall" TV show, but not rip-roaring funny.
Michael G

If you've never seen an episode of Kids in the Hall, you probably won't get into it. If you have and didn't like it, you probably won't like it. But if you love the show, you'll love the movie.
Quinto W

The film was not worth destroying The Kids in the Hall, but at least they could come up with a clever and funny story and it's just always a blast to see these guys together.