Strange Brew
Strange Brew is a feature-length adaptation by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas of their Canadian stereotype characters from SCTV, the McKenzie brothers. It’s also based loosely on Hamlet, making it the oddest update of Shakespeare still to this day (sorry, She’s the Man) and giving it way more plot than you’d expect from a dumb comedy about knuckleheads trying to get a free case of beer.
1924, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK
10 April 1929, Lund, Skåne län, Sweden
30 May 1908, San Francisco, California, USA
17 September 1952, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
May 13, 2008
The film celebrates stupidity and would likely have caused an international incident if Canadians weren't so nice, but it essentially lives up to its premise, once in a while coming up with a gag that is halfway funny.
December 06, 2005
There's tons of weird stuff here.
August 17, 2016
Overall, I'm not sure anyone picking up Strange Brew cold right now without any prior exposure to the characters would even be able to tell what they're looking at. I still find it entertaining, and I love Rick Moranis in the film in particular.
March 18, 2004
Just odd enough to skate by; you remember the singular tone of the film long after the gags have faded.
April 02, 2010
Their take on the Bard is as imaginative as any other cinematic adaptation, plus a good deal funnier
August 30, 2004
The price of a ticket could buy enough beer for an experience at least as memorable as this one.
May 13, 2008
No, there's nothing intelligent here -- just a couple of likable fellows trying to stop mad Brewmeister Smith (Max von Sydow) from gaining control of the world.
August 30, 2013
Frankly, I was sold the moment the MGM lion gave out an inebriated belch.
February 22, 2008
Clunky booze comedy based on popular Canadian air heads.
May 27, 2003
Brilliant. Stupid...but brilliant.
February 09, 2006
The plotline (derived from Hamlet) soon goes flat.
March 05, 2005
"Hamlet" done by Canadian drunks! Absolute genius!
