Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

Matt Johnson and Jay McCarroll first brought the series Nirvanna the Band the Show to public attention in 2007. Initially, the Canadian mockumentary was released as a web series – remember those? – before obtaining a network release for two seasons in 2017. During this time, the duo have garnered critical acclaim for their work, and now they are returning with their most challenging and ambitious project to date. This is Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.

After 17 years, Matt and Jay are still doing all they can to score a gig at Toronto music venue The Rivoli and going to extreme lengths to do so. Matt remains a fountain of insane ideas after all this time, but Jay is beginning to feel disillusioned by his best friend’s plans and starts to feel he should go it alone. In one last Hail Mary, Matt comes up with a ruse to trick the world into believing the duo were time travellers, but when RV he converts into a time machine, actually transports them back to 2008, the actions they take begin to have life-changing consequences in the future.

The true genius in this film comes from the unused footage from the original web series. Once Matt and Jay travel back in time, they encounter their younger selves, with excellent camera trickery allowing them to interact in dialogue with their counterparts despite half of it being filmed nearly two decades ago. The cinematography is inspired, particularly when it comes to filming scenes at the top of the CN Tower, and it constantly leaves you asking, “How the hell did they do that?”

The pair also confess unashamedly that the mockumentary is going to be a logistical and copyright nightmare, with limited filming permits required and uncontrolled environments becoming a living, breathing element of the plot. Using real-life events to flesh out the movie, it relies heavily on United States fair use permissions, but Matt and Jay are willing to risk it all, even arrests, in the hopes of pulling off their public stunts and boy, does it pay off.

Just like its two stars, the film is funny, charming and wonderfully chaotic. A masterclass in story planning, the small team behind this project have created their own version of Back to the Future, but in a way that is unique and insanely creative. Like the 90s beverage Orbitz that also has a starring role in this film, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is lightning in a bottle that leaves you speechless and desperate for a sequel. Perhaps Matt and Jay can unearth some more unused footage?