Movie Review: Strange Brew (1983)

★★★★★

It's Hamlet with beer, hockey, and a flying dog somehow dumber and smarter than it has any right to be. Total cult classic.

Arthur H.

Montana

If you've never seen Strange Brew, you're either too young, too sober, or tragically unaware of Canada’s greatest cinematic export that doesn’t involve hockey or heartache. As a personal reviewer at BoxReview.com, I’ve been revisiting cult classics lately, and rewatching Strange Brew felt like catching up with a couple of old, weird friends who still make me laugh way more than they should.

Directed by and starring Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, Strange Brew is essentially a feature-length spinoff of their SCTV sketch characters, Bob and Doug McKenzie, two toque-wearing, beer-chugging Canadian brothers who seem to live off back bacon, donuts, and movie clichés. On the surface, the film is a slapstick comedy full of dumb jokes and beer burps. But under all that foam, there’s actually a surprisingly clever structure and more than a few things most reviews don’t talk about.

A Hamlet Parody in Flannel Disguise

Yes, Strange Brew is basically Hamlet with beer. Seriously. There’s an evil uncle (played by Paul Dooley), a murdered father, a ghost, a usurped brewery empire, and even a damsel in distress (Lynne Griffin). But instead of swords and soliloquies, we get hockey fights, flying dogs, and beer-fueled mind control. If you’re not paying close attention, you might miss just how closely the story riffs on Shakespeare’s tragedy, which is honestly the funniest part. It’s Hamlet for people who prefer their introspection with a side of Molson.

Surprisingly Smart in Its Stupidity

What always gets overlooked in reviews of Strange Brew is how smart it is about being dumb. Moranis and Thomas clearly know their characters are idiots, but they also know how to build a story that works despite that. The jokes may be lowbrow, but the timing is razor-sharp. And the film never tries to elevate itself with faux drama or forced character arcs. It’s committed to the bit from start to finish.

There’s something kind of genius about how low-stakes the high-stakes plot feels. You’ve got a mad brewmaster (played by Max von Sydow, yes, that Max von Sydow), who’s using beer to brainwash hockey players into becoming his mind-controlled army. But Bob and Doug bumble their way through the whole thing with the kind of laid-back confusion that somehow keeps saving the day. It’s absurd but also kind of perfect.

The Unsung Brilliance of the Soundtrack and Visual Gags

Here’s a piece that rarely gets mentioned: the music in Strange Brew actually slaps. The synth-heavy score by Ian Thomas (Dave’s brother) is a strangely fitting blend of early ’80s video game vibes and mock-epic drama. It enhances the cartoonish feel of the film without ever being distracting.

And visually, the film pulls off some unexpectedly great gags. Whether it’s Bob drinking an entire vat of beer to prevent drowning, or the ghostly father appearing in a mug of beer, the movie plays with visuals in a way that feels like live-action Looney Tunes. It’s not artistic, but it’s artfully executed.

A Time Capsule of Canadian Identity (and Beer Culture)

This movie is unapologetically Canadian in the best possible way. From the accents and “ehs” to the hockey references and donut shop cameos, Strange Brew leans into its cultural roots without ever trying to explain or translate them. It's not trying to be universally relatable; it’s proudly specific, and that’s part of the charm.

There’s also something quietly subversive about how it treats corporate power. The idea of a brewery being a front for mind control? That hits a little harder when you think about how marketing and media operate today. It's ridiculous, yes, but also... not that ridiculous?

Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas: An Underrated Duo

We talk a lot about comedy teams, but Moranis and Thomas deserve more credit. Their chemistry is effortless, and they manage to stay completely in character no matter how absurd the situation. They never wink at the audience. They are Bob and Doug, and that commitment sells every joke.

It’s also worth mentioning how well Moranis plays the straight man and the fool, sometimes in the same scene. There’s a reason his career took off after this it takes real skill to be this dumb convincingly.

Final Thoughts – A Cult Classic with Brains Beneath the Foam

Is Strange Brew for everyone? Probably not. If you’re looking for polished, structured comedy with emotional arcs and life lessons... you’re in the wrong brewery. But if you want to see two lovable dopes save the world with a beer truck and a flying dog, it’s exactly the kind of cult classic you need in your life.

From the perspective of a reviewer at Box Review, this movie still holds up not just as a time capsule of early ’80s comedy, but as a clever, uniquely Canadian gem that never tries to be anything it’s not. It’s weird, it’s quotable, and it has a ghost in a beer glass. What more could you want?

So grab a six-pack, take off, and give Strange Brew a rewatch or a first watch, if you’re lucky enough to experience it fresh. Either way, your brain might not be better for it... but your mood definitely will be.