Men with Brooms Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A dead man forces his loser curling team to reunite by putting his ashes in a rock, apparently because he didn’t think sending a strongly worded email from beyond the grave was Canadian enough.

🍿 Men with Brooms: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Dying Wish and a Disgraced Team

Long Bay’s beloved curling coach, Donald Foley, passes away, leaving behind an unusual last request: his ashes are to be placed inside a specific curling stone he recently retrieved from the bottom of Long Bay. His non-binding will also urges the reunion of his former team, which disbanded after a crucial loss ten years prior, to compete in the Golden Broom Bonspiel and finally bring home a win for Long Bay. The four former teammates haven’t curled since their last fateful game. Chris Cutter, the former skip, left town after the loss, burdened by guilt over a ‘burnt rock’ incident he never reported. He’s estranged from his father, Gordon, a renowned curler. Each of the other team members faces significant personal hurdles. Neil Bucyk is dominated by his controlling wife, Eddie Strombeck and his wife Lilly are intensely focused on conceiving a child, and James Lennox is a small-time drug dealer trying to evade creditors. Despite their ten-year hiatus and individual troubles, the men hesitantly agree to honor Donald’s dying wish, facing not only their past failures but also the formidable reigning champions, the Butte team.

Personal Struggles and Rekindled Relationships

As the team attempts to practice and prepare for the bonspiel, their personal lives constantly intrude. Neil struggles to assert his independence from his wife, whose family owns the funeral home where he works. Eddie and Lilly’s relentless efforts to get pregnant lead to comedic and often ill-timed interruptions. James’s involvement with unsavory characters threatens to derail his participation. Meanwhile, Chris must confront the reasons for his departure, reconnect with his father, Gordon, who reluctantly agrees to coach the team, and navigate complicated relationships with Donald Foley’s two daughters: his successful ex-girlfriend Julie, now an astronaut, and her sister Amy, a physiotherapist and single mother who has quietly harbored feelings for Chris.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Chris Cutter (Paul Gross): The estranged skip who returns to reunite his old curling team for a final bonspiel following their coach’s death.
• Gordon Cutter (Leslie Nielsen): Chris’s estranged father and a knowledgeable curler who helps coach the reunited team.
• Neil Bucyk (James Allodi): A member of the curling team whose life is largely dictated by his controlling wife.
• Eddie Strombeck (Jed Rees): A member of the curling team who is desperately trying to conceive a child with his wife, often prioritizing this over curling.
• James Lennox (Peter Outerbridge): A member of the curling team who has returned to town and is dealing drugs while trying to evade people he owes money to.
• Amy Foley (Molly Parker): Donald’s daughter, a physiotherapist and friend of Chris, who has long held romantic feelings for him.
• Julie Foley (Michelle Nolden): Donald’s other daughter, a successful member of the space program, who was Chris’s girlfriend before he left town.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• James Lennox: “You gotta think like snooker, poker, and free-rock climbing. This is dangerous shit.” – Attempting to explain the strategic and seemingly precarious nature of curling to his girlfriend Joanne.
• Brandon Foley: “What do bodies do when they die?” – A child’s direct and morbid question posed at the dinner table to his father, Neil, highlighting the unusual nature of his family’s funeral home business.
• Gordon Cutter: “It’s not about the rock, Chris. It’s about the sweep.” – Offering wisdom to his son Chris, emphasizing that while the throw is important, the precise sweeping of the ice is crucial to controlling the stone’s path and success.
• Chris Cutter: “Sweeeeeep!” – The quintessential and often urgent command yelled by the skip during a curling shot, directing teammates to brush the ice ahead of the stone.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $7,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $4,245,870
• Worldwide Gross: $4,245,870

💥 Men with Brooms Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into “Men with Brooms” not really knowing what to expect, honestly. A movie about curling? In Canada? But you know what, I ended up really digging it. It’s got this total underdog vibe that’s hard not to root for. I loved how it felt really Canadian without being cheesy about it. Like the Tim Hortons cups everywhere and the beavers on the road scene – totally random but hilarious! The characters felt like real people you’d meet in a small town, flaws and all. The curling itself was actually way more engaging than I thought it would be, especially with the whole ‘dead guy’s ashes rock’ thing adding a weird layer of pressure. It made the final match surprisingly tense! It’s not a perfect movie, some jokes didn’t land, but overall, it was a genuinely fun and charming watch that made me smile.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of sports comedies, particularly those about underdog teams.”
  • “Viewers interested in Canadian cinema or small-town stories.”
  • “Fans of Paul Gross or Leslie Nielsen.”
  • “Those looking for a lighthearted movie with elements of drama and romance.”
  • “Curling enthusiasts interested in seeing their sport depicted on screen.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild to moderate adult language and humor.”
  • “Sexual references and some suggestive situations (comedic context).”
  • “Thematic elements include death, strained family relationships, debt, and struggles with addiction (implied for one character).”
  • “Some slapstick or low-brow humor may not appeal to all viewers.”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized: “This Canadian comedy attempts to sweep you off your feet with its quirky premise about a ragtag curling team, but often slips on patchy ice. While it offers moments of genuine, often distinctly Canadian humor, the plot relies heavily on tired sports movie clichés and uneven comedic beats. The cast, including a surprisingly subdued Leslie Nielsen, gives it their best, but the script frequently fumbles, resulting in a watchable yet ultimately forgettable experience that struggles to balance its heart with its low-brow jokes.
• Synthesized: “”Men with Brooms” delivers exactly what the title promises: men, with brooms. The film centers on a group of lovable misfits rediscovering their passion for curling after their coach’s death. While the core premise is charming, the execution is hit-or-miss. Some subplots feel underdeveloped or unnecessary, and the humor occasionally veers into predictable territory. Despite its flaws, it manages to capture a certain small-town warmth and national identity that resonates, especially for Canadian audiences.

Audience Reactions

The blend of quirky Canadian humor and underdog sports story was a highlight for many.: Viewers often praised the film’s unique setting, the relatable small-town characters, and finding the curling matches surprisingly engaging and fun.

Overall Consensus: A charming, albeit uneven, Canadian comedy that finds humor and heart in the unlikely world of competitive curling and second chances.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip makes a cameo appearance in the film, playing the opposing curling team from Kingston.”
• “Principal photography for the film took place in and around Sudbury and Copper Cliff, Ontario, locations chosen to authentically represent a small Canadian town setting.”
• “Paul Gross, the movie’s lead actor playing Chris Cutter, also took on the roles of director and co-writer for the film.”
• “The movie features noticeable examples of Canadian product placement, including frequent appearances of Tim Hortons coffee cups throughout various scenes.”

🖥️ How to Watch Men with Brooms?

Discover where to watch ‘Men with Brooms’. You can typically find this Canadian comedy-drama available for rent or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check these services for current streaming availability or digital purchase options to enjoy the film at home.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Men with Brooms, you might like these similar films:

• Mystery, Alaska (1999): Focuses on a small, somewhat isolated town whose community and identity are deeply tied to its local hockey team facing a significant, high-stakes game.
• The Full Monty (1997): Features a group of ordinary men facing personal difficulties who come together to attempt an unlikely endeavor for financial and personal redemption.
• Waking Ned Devine (1998): A charming comedy set in a small, eccentric village where residents unite to carry out an improbable scheme, sharing a similar blend of quirky humor and community focus.
• Goon (2011): Another Canadian sports comedy centered on an underdog team and the camaraderie between teammates, albeit focusing on the world of minor league hockey with a raunchier style.
• Strange Brew (1983): Considered a classic Canadian cult comedy, known for its distinct, often absurd, humor and embrace of Canadian cultural stereotypes, appealing to fans of Canuck comedies.

🛒 Men with Brooms Related Products

• Official Curling Stone Replica: A high-quality, weighted replica of a standard curling stone, perfect for display or novelty use (not for actual competitive play). Features authentic design details.
• Team Long Bay Curling Club T-Shirt: Comfortable cotton t-shirt featuring the fictional Team Long Bay Curling Club logo from the movie. Available in various sizes.
• Great Canadian Comedies Film Collection (Digital): A digital bundle featuring ‘Men with Brooms’ and other classic or popular Canadian comedy films. Stream or download instantly.
• Learn to Curl: The Complete Guide Book: An instructional guide covering the history, rules, techniques, and strategy of curling, from basic sweeping to advanced shots.

🎧 Soundtrack

Men with Brooms features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Silver Road” – performed by Sarah Harmer with The Tragically Hip

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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