Lyndon Ogbourne, left, stars in a creatively funded film about doing things for the right reasons. It’s an earnest but entertaining salute to youthful idealism and indie-rock romanticism.Robin Cymbaly
In real life, the Cocksure Lads are a Toronto-based British Invasion-style parody band led by musicians Mike Ford and Murray Foster.
To comprehend The Cocksure Lads Movie, the viewer needn't know that context – in fact, forget it was mentioned.
Written and directed by Foster, the modest, charming musical comedy covers a day in the life of a fictional British band arriving in Toronto for a debut tour with dreams of fame and riches, only to immediately break up.
The uncomplicated story follows the guys doing rock 'n' roll things – sex, fights and beer-drinking – while trying to locate a wayward lead singer.
The joke confusing Canada with America is overdone, and hearing "wanker" in a British accent is funny only the first seven times.
But then Foster wasn't shooting for Spinal Tap laughs, even with songs like Mushy Peas and Wellies in the Bath.
No, the creatively funded film is about doing things for the right reasons, the result being an earnest but entertaining salute to youthful idealism and indie-rock romanticism.
Brad Wheeler