Strange Brew

By Jim Emerson

Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis created their popular toque-wearing, beer-swigging "Great White North" hosers Bob and Doug McKenzie on the great TV comedy show SCTV to fulfill a Canadian broadcasting regulation that required Canadian shows to have a certain amount of "Canadian content." Bob and Doug became so popular that they made a hit record (Take Off, with Geddy Lee, nasalist with the Canadian rock band Rush) and this Major Motion Picture--filmed in "Hoserama." Bob and Doug are the Cheech and Chong of beer, so the plot involves the boys's attempt to scam a free case of Elsinore beer from the brewery, which is run by a mad scientist Brewmeister Smith (Max von Sydow), who wants to rule the world, like all mad scientists do. Strange Brew's intoxicating blend of hops and malt--er ... cleverness and silliness--earned it a loyal and well-deserved cult following.

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