If you’re a Canadian around my age, then you probably grew up with Ricky, Julian, Bubbles, collectively known as the Trailer Park Boys. I was probably too young to watch the shenanigans the boys would get up in Sunnyvale Trailer Park and their confrontations with Jim Lahey and Randy, but in so many ways, they were unavoidable. Whether you had your own Bubbles impression, referred to any kind of booze as “the liquor,” or you thought Phil Collins was just the owner of the Dirty Burger (and not a legendary musician), the impact the boys had on the culture has been significant.
In the last few years I’ve watched all the movies and the show again and there’s a remarkable consistency to their work that’s damn impressive. My favourite of the movies is definitely Trailer Park Boys: The Movie released in 2006. I’d hold it up against anything as the most Canadian movie of all time and something that fills this guy with Canadian pride every time I watch it. One thing that helps that feeling is the soundtrack, which features songs from Canadian legends The Tragically Hip, April Wine, and Rush.
Fast forward 18 years later and Bubbles has his sights set on making Bubbles and the Shitrockers the next great Canadian band in Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties: The Bubbles and the Shitrockers Story. Is the story of Bubbles and the Shitrockers a worthy entry in the Trailer Park Boys franchise though?
Before I get into the answer, I want to thank Strike Media for giving me the chance to watch and review this movie ahead of its Canadian and UK release. Getting a chance to review a Trailers Park Boys movie ahead of its release is one of the cooler moments for this small-town Canadian boy!
My Thoughts
The movie kicks off in Sunnyvale Trailer Park. After the success of his first song “Liquor and Whores”, Bubbles is looking to make it in the music business, managing his own recording studio out of his sheds, and by starting his own band.
Bubbles (played by Mike Smith) is really the main focus here. Ricky (Robb Wells) and Julian (John Paul Tremblay) are also in the film, but are definitely used in more of a supporting role. Bubbles has always been the heart of the Trailer Park Boys and that definitely is used to the advantage of the movie. He’s very easy to root for and the more heartfelt moments land a bit stronger because of that.
As much as Bubbles wants to take a stab at real music, he writes about what he knows, which of course is where the kitties come in. A good chunk of the songs are either about kitties or include references to them, but while some get some laughs for sure, “Who’s Getting His Belly Now,” is a surprisingly sweet song about “Vince the Pince,” Smith’s real life cat from back in the day.
Speaking of the music, I actually enjoyed it throughout the movie! Nothing changed my life or anything, but there were some really catchy songs in here that have become welcome additions to my playlist. Some favourites are “Breakfast Beer,” “Drinkin’ With the Angels,” and “Home is Where Your Shed Is.”
Of course, the main reason you watch a Trailer Park Boys movie is the jokes, and there are plenty of laughs to be had here. There were a couple moments that actually would rank high on my list of hardest laughs in Trailer Park Boys history. Of course, Randy (Pat Roach) is always a great source of amusement and he’s around quite a bit in this one as he joins Bubbles and the Shitrockers on tour.
Speaking of the cast, everyone is solid here, including the rest of the Shitrockers. The movie is jam packed with some cameos from very famous musicians, celebrities, and music producers. One cameo from an actor towards the end of the movie caught me by surprise and made for some great bits too.
My only real complaint is that the big final song of the movie didn’t land as strongly for me as other ones throughout the movie. This caused a bit of a stumble for me at the ending, but nothing significant enough to derail the movie or anything. I just would have really liked for that last song to be the best one so it feels like a more proper payoff.
Also, as you might expect, the story isn’t one that will blow you away with its originality, but it’s still solid enough to move you along throughout the movie without weighing it down at all. The pacing is great too and you never feel bored or too eager to move on to the next beat.
Verdict
Overall, Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties: The Bubbles and the Shitrockers Story is a worthy entry to the Trailer Park Boys filmography!
After more than 23 years of Trailer Park Boys, you should more or less know what to expect here. If you’ve never enjoyed them (what’s wrong with you?!) then I don’t think there’s anything here to really change your mind, but I think the catchy songs, celebrity cameos, and the humour are enough to make this worthwhile for someone who isn’t all that familiar with the Trailer Park Boys. It also doesn’t require any sort of experience with their previous works for you to enjoy either, which is impressive in its own right given just how extensive their back catalogue is.
You can catch this one in theatres in Canada on December 6th and in the UK exclusively in VUE Cinemas as of January 10th, 2025!
Adriana Wiszniewska