GravyTrain
Encyclopedia
GravyTrain is a 2010 Canadian comedy film directed by April Mullen who also produced the feature with Tim Doiron under the company name G-Train Productions.
used Red One camera technology. Many scenes were filmed at the Olde Country Antiques facility whose interiors were suitable for a 1970s-styled set.
The cast includes Alan Frew
of the rock band Glass Tiger
in his first feature film appearance.
. During this time, they become actors in a snuff film
produced by Hansel Suppledick (Ryan Tilley).
. It premiered in Toronto on 23 April 2010 and has a limited release schedule in Montreal and Ottawa the following month.
declared the production "a cute idea, but it should never have been a movie." The Toronto Star
's Bruce DeMara also considered the film a bomb, blasting the production as "wretchedly and resolutely not amusing." The Globe and Mail
s Liam Lacey also panned the film, deeming the work "at best, a distended TV sketch and at worst like something improvised by middle-school kids with cameras." Norman Wilner of Now
considered GravyTrain to be an "empty husk of frantic mugging, pointless 1970s movie references and unearned self-regard." Eye Weekly
took a somewhat favourable view, noting among other elements the "unexpectedly gorgeous cinematography."
Production
The film's 15-day shoot at Niagara Falls, OntarioNiagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
used Red One camera technology. Many scenes were filmed at the Olde Country Antiques facility whose interiors were suitable for a 1970s-styled set.
The cast includes Alan Frew
Alan Frew
Alan Frew is the lead singer for the Canadian band, Glass Tiger, and has also released two solo albums...
of the rock band Glass Tiger
Glass Tiger
Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band formed in 1983, in Newmarket, Ontario.-Biography:Originally named 'Tokyo', the band produced several hit singles in Canada and placed two songs on Billboard magazine's top 10: "Don't Forget Me " and "Someday," both of which came from their debut album, The Thin...
in his first feature film appearance.
Plot
Charles Gravytrain (Tim Doiron) is a policeman in the community of Gypsy Creek, a present-day community whose appearance resembles the 1970s. He and his partner Uma Booma (April Mullen) are attempting to arrest Jimmy Fish Eyes, blamed for the murder of several people including Gravytrain's father. During their quest for justice, Gravytrain and Booma are themselves blamed for the murders and are forced underground until they can escape their frameupFrameup
A frame-up or setup is an American term referring to the act of framing someone, that is, providing false evidence or false testimony in order to falsely prove someone guilty of a crime....
. During this time, they become actors in a snuff film
Snuff film
A snuff film is a motion picture genre that depicts the actual death or murder of a person or people, without the aid of special effects, for the express purpose of distribution and entertainment or financial exploitation. For-profit snuff films are generally regarded as an urban legend, whose...
produced by Hansel Suppledick (Ryan Tilley).
Release
The film is distributed by Alliance FilmsAlliance Films
Alliance Films is a major Canadian motion picture distribution/production company, which serves Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain.-History:It was formed in 1984 by Stephen Roth, Denis Heroux, John Kemeny, Robert Lantos and Jay...
. It premiered in Toronto on 23 April 2010 and has a limited release schedule in Montreal and Ottawa the following month.
Reception
Initial reviews were mostly negative. Liz Braun of the Toronto SunToronto Sun
The Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
declared the production "a cute idea, but it should never have been a movie." The Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
s Liam Lacey also panned the film, deeming the work "at best, a distended TV sketch and at worst like something improvised by middle-school kids with cameras." Norman Wilner of Now
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
considered GravyTrain to be an "empty husk of frantic mugging, pointless 1970s movie references and unearned self-regard." Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
took a somewhat favourable view, noting among other elements the "unexpectedly gorgeous cinematography."
Cast
- Tim Doiron - Charles Gravytrain
- April Mullen - Uma Booma
- Jennifer DaleJennifer DaleJennifer Dale, née Ciurluini , is a Canadian television, dancer, and actress.- Early life :She is the sister of Canadian actress Cynthia Dale...
- Harriette Handlescock - Tim Meadows - Full Serve
- Colin MochrieColin MochrieColin Andrew Mochrie is a Scottish Canadian actor and improvisational comedian, most famous for his appearances on the British and US versions of television improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.-Early life:...
- Mayor Chester Chubbins - Kyle SchmidKyle SchmidKyle Schmid is a Canadian actor who starred as Henry Fitzroy in Lifetime's series Blood Ties. He has also guest starred in a number of television series including Degrassi: The Next Generation, Odyssey 5, The Zack Files and CSI: Miami.In addition he has also appeared in a number of films like The...
- Lance Dancaster - Ryan Tilley - Hansel Suppledick
- A. C. Peterson - Sgt. Leroy Fatts
- Peter KeleghanPeter KeleghanPeter Keleghan is a Canadian television actor, who has played roles in several popular Canadian comedy series.Keleghan's best-known roles have been film industry CEO Alan Roy on Made in Canada, low-IQ news anchor Jim Walcott on The Newsroom, and Ranger Gord on The Red Green Show...
- Houston Gravytrain, Senior - Chris Baker - Willy Cheddars
- Alan FrewAlan FrewAlan Frew is the lead singer for the Canadian band, Glass Tiger, and has also released two solo albums...
- Ewan McCauley