Niagara Motel (2005)

36% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(547 ratings)

A handful of oddballs and misfits cross paths at a motel overlooking one of Canada's more recognizable landmarks in this independent comedy. Phillie (Craig Ferguson) is the alcoholic and deeply depressed manager of the Niagara Motel, a shabby inn a stone's throw from the Canadian side of the Niagara… More A handful of oddballs and misfits cross paths at a motel overlooking one of Canada's more recognizable landmarks in this independent comedy. Phillie (Craig Ferguson) is the alcoholic and deeply depressed manager of the Niagara Motel, a shabby inn a stone's throw from the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls. Phillie's guests at the moment include Michael (Kevin Pollak), a sleazy director and producer of porn videos who is attempting to persuade Loretta (Caroline Dhavernas), a pretty young waitress at a nearby diner, to star in his latest series of adult movies; Denise (Anna Friel) and R.J. (Kristen Holden- Reid), a drug-addled couple struggling to regain custody of their child; Henry (Peter Keleghan) and Lily (Wendy Crewson), whose marriage is already starting to crumble before temptation presents itself to Lily; and Boris (Damir Andrei), the Niagara's short-tempered owner. Over the course of their stays, the folks staying at the Niagara will witness an unplanned kidnapping, meet the motel's in-house prostitute, encounter a down-on-his-luck staple salesman, and get uncalled-for advice from a born-again social worker. Niagara Motel received its world premiere at the 2005 New Montreal Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Gary Yates
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 3, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Feb 5, 2008

Critic Reviews

Eddie Cockrell, Variety
A blue chip cast is wasted in the painfully unfunny ensemble comedy Niagara Motel, about a gaggle of self-absorbed nitwits struggling to make ends meet on the Canadian side of the tourist mecca.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
Too many characters and so much plot that no single scenario ever develops into an absorbing drama.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
The actors are more or less on the same page, trying as much as possible to underplay this overheated material. But that doesn't help when the page itself is a scribbled sheet of foolscap crammed with narrative tangents and thematic jottings.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I'm not exactly sure what compelled me to finish watching this so-called "black comedy," which is a little heavy on the black and far too light on the comedy.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
a tragicomic ensemble piece about people on the edge and love on the rocks.
Angela Baldassarre, Sympatico.ca
An unfunny ensemble that completely wastes the talent gathered and the material it's based on.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...an overly quirky yet strangely compelling drama...
David Schmeichel, Jam! Movies
The lives of nine assorted down-and-outers converge in frequently funny and sometimes tragic ways, giving Yates a chance to put his own spin on a template perfected decades ago by Robert Altman and reinvigorated in recent years by P.T. Anderson.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
An ensemble piece with spirit, vitality and a heavy dose of dark, twisted humour.
Matt McNally, BBC
Yates has given himself so many stories to tell here that his only plausible excuse for Niagara Motel's total lack of dramatic tension or laughs is a script that fails to include a solitary good line.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
The quirky script is packed with good lines and off-the-wall moments and the stories are surprisingly moving in places.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Extremely watchable, even though it's a bit fragmented and unfocussed.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Curtis L

It's movies like this that make me avoid "comidies".
Red L

A movie about some people who are staying or living at a dumpy Niagara Falls motel or eating at a nearby diner. Everyone has problems of some sort, and the movie deals with their lives. I didn't mind the acting, but I thought the writing left a lot to be desired. Each of their… More
A movie about some people who are staying or living at a dumpy Niagara Falls motel or eating at a nearby diner. Everyone has problems of some sort, and the movie deals with their lives. I didn't mind the acting, but I thought the writing left a lot to be desired. Each of their stories were not connected enough and sort of ho-hum.
FanGirl B

The poster says "extremely funny," I guess I must have missed that part, even though I watched the whole thing. It's one of those depressing doesn't really go anywhere, but it doesn't matter that it doesn't go anywhere, independent films.

Cast

            Craig Ferguson as Phillie Phillips

            Anna Friel as Denise

            Caroline Dhavernas as Loretta Bourgogne

            Peter Keleghan as Henry

            Kristen Holden-Reid as R.J.

            Tom Barnett as Dave

            Catherine Fitch as Sophie (Boris' Daughter)

            Janet-Laine Green as Helen Mackie

            Krista Bridges as Sandy

            Normand Daneau as Gilles

            Damir Andrei as Boris the Motel Owner

            Pierre Collin as Claude

            Daniele Lorain as Lucille

            Kevin Pollak as Michael

            Wendy Crewson as Lily

            Harry Nelken as Bartender

            Mike Bell as Pool Player

            Curtis Moore as Salesman

            Jessica Burleson as Receptionist

            David Evans as Job Applicant

            Jeff Skinner as Mr. Wilcox

            Ernesto Griffith as Warehouse Boss

            Stephen Eric McIntyre as Billy

            Joanne Rodriguez as Talk Show Guest

            Sara McCrindle as Talk Show Guest

            Lee White as Talk Show Guest

            Tracy McMahon as Phillie's Wife

            Kevin Klassen as Young John

            Clifford Wasylik as Older John

            Sarah Constible as Foster Mom

            Eleanor Coopsammy as News Anchor

            Kristen Holden-Ried
            
See full cast