‘Trailer Park Boys Presents: Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties’ Review
Stars: Mike Smith, Robb Wells, JP Tremblay, Pat Roach, Billy Bob Thornton, Ronnie Wood, Martin Freeman, Robert Sheehan | Written by Mike Smith | Directed by Charlie Lightening
It’s a little hard to say how popular the series Trailer Park Boys is. It went for twelve seasons and this is the fourth movie spin-off, all in the space of over twenty years. Not many shows have been quite as prolific as that. But. I have met very few people who have watched the show and I see very little talk about it online. I am a fan of the show and have been for a good while. Although in truth, it’s been a long time since I’ve opened up my DVD boxset. When I discovered a new movie was out though, I jumped at the chance to see it.
Focusing on Bubbles and his band – Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties (to give the film its shorter title) – shows Bubbles deciding to make is hobby something more worthwhile. Which seems fitting for the time. He writes new music, gets a band together and goes on tour.
For those that don’t know, and have never watched a single episode or movie, I guess I should give it a brief rundown. Trailer Park Boys is a mockumentary set in a Canadian (you guessed it) trailer park. The film crew follow around the inhabitants, mainly Julian, Ricky and Bubbles, a trio who make money from, usually illegal ways.
What makes the movie so good, is the same reason the Trailer Park Boys series was often so good. And that’s because the Bubbles characters is fantastic. Both in how he is performed (Mike Smith, who also directs here) and how he is written. He has always been this likable, even lovable guy that you just can’t helping liking and feeling tons of sympathy for. And in this movie you will absolutely be rooting for him to live out his dream. Even though there are plenty of other positive parts of this film, it just wouldn’t work without Mike Smith and this character.
Trailer Park Boys Presents: Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties is very funny. As I said previously, I am a fan of the show, so I know the humour already and I was pretty positive I was going to enjoy the movie. But even after twenty plus years, the jokes have not run out and it’s funnier than ever. I laughed out loud several times and I was sniggering away throughout. Perhaps even better than that, I was smiling throughout aswell. It gives you plenty of feel -good moments. I know it’s the very start of the year but I doubt you’ll see many more movies this year that will make you smile as much as this ones does. Especially in those closing moments.
On top of that there’s plenty of great performances. Like I’ve already said, Mike Smith is the standout but there’s others two. John Paul Tremblay and Robb Wells as Julian and Ricky, obviously know the roles so well and play them to perfection. They do have a bit more than a cameo here, which works fine. There are also a handful of very big cameos that I don’t want to spoil but they are all really really good.
We’re only a few days into 2025 but Trailer Park Boys Presents: Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties will be one of the best and funniest comedies of the year, I have no doubt about that.
**** 4/5
Trailer Park Boys Presents: Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties – The Bubbles and The Shitrockers Story will be exclusively screening in VUE Cinemas from 10th January.
