Featuring: The Kids in the Hall
Directed by: Dave Foley

The Kids in the Hall are a Canadian pride. Love them or hate them, every good Canadian knows of their existence. Their show lives in infamy, their skits often crude, nasty or downright tasteless, yet usually hilarious. So, doing the patriotic thing, JBo, Vintz (an itoop ally) and I trekked down to catch the Canadian premiere of The Kids in the Hall: Same Guys, New Dresses, a documentary following last year stage tour of the group (Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Scott Thompson, Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney).

Before the movie started, an emcee stood before the audience, spoke about the film and then introduced three of the kids that were on hand for the premiere: McDonald, Thompson and Foley (who also directed it). They talked briefly about the movie and then it started. The documentary follows the kids on their 2000 tour of North America, doing on stage what they do best, which is being scathingly funny. Although the film does show some good chunks of the show itself, Foley (the most successful of the gang, starring in the great sitcom Newsradio) chooses the focus his camera on the backstage going-ons. We're privy to the rehearsals, the make-up sessions (if you know the Kids, then you know there are a lot of those) and mainly arguing. If this movie shows the audience one thing, it is that when you get a group of talented people together, it becomes difficult to work towards a common goal.

The movie does get slow at times. We're subjected to Thompson whining that he wants one of those robot dogs to incorporate into the show. When he finally gets one, he can't get it to work properly. He did no research on the matter and when it doesn't do exactly as he wanted out of the box, he sulks and gets moody.

Some interesting parts include Foley having laser eye surgery scheduled before a show one day, and everyone gets on his case about it, thinking that it may be botched and the show will have to be cancelled. However, worth the price of admission alone is when Foley and McDonald show up in Conan O'Brien's office and convince him to put them in a skit for that night's show in an effort to promote their show. That scene is pure genius, due mainly to Conan and the-sidekick, Andy Richter. Conan walks into his office and sees the two guys sitting on his couch and says, "What? In my sanctum?" Pretty funny stuff. They then discuss the content of the skit and the audience is privileged enough to see the thought process of master comedians at work.

After the movie, the three Kids there did a little Q&A. Actually, it was heavier on the Q than the A. They mostly answered questions with jokes. Someone asked, "What's your relationship to Toronto?"

"Mostly platonic," said Foley. "In fact, I once got drunk and f***ed Toronto."

"I once got drunk and Montreal f***ed me," quipped Thompson.

"I'm a virgin," said McDonald.

Then some girl right behind me garbled a question that nobody heard. So Thompson climbed over the seats (� la Roberto Benigni) and perched over Vintz and me, propping himself up on our shoulders. Some good laughs were had by all.

Much older now, the Kids in the Hall still know how make people laugh as they did in the day. Now that they have all gone their separate ways, it is always good to see them back together every once in a while. Foley has created a nice little film demonstrating how comedy is crafted.

Note: After the Q & A, Dave Foley hung around in the lobby, talking to fans. I shook his hand and told him I enjoy his work. He said "Thank you" and we parted ways. How's that for sucking up?

DroopyMcC
Jack