First Round Down

2016

1h 36m

Action

Comedy

List

20%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

56%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

A former hockey player and hit man returns home to escape his past and care for his brother.

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Sport is a safe choice for filmmakers. Even if you don't subscribe to the hype, it doesn't require any explanation. The Butler Brothers (Mourning Has Broken, 2013; Confusions of an Unmarried Couple, 2007) use Ice Hockey as an anchor for their action "comedy" First Round Down. We live in a world where sports are greeted with religious fervour and high hopes are pinned on young sports men and women. Sometimes with tragic consequences: I, Tonya (2017); Senna (2010); I am Ali (2014). Now lower your expectations. First Round Down is not really about sport, it is simply shorthand for the "boys will be boys" mentality. Essentially, if you're good at sports, it is a license to be a dickhead in all areas of your life. First Round Down equates spectator sports with brutality. Tim Tucker is hard-wired for violence and this reputation is bolstered by others on a regular basis. The blow of a career-ending injury can be softened by turning your abilities towards a life of violent crime. They are after all transferable skills, and heaven forfend you become a (whisper it) pizza delivery guy. First Round Down was screened at Edmonton International Film Festival, Canada in 2016. The landscape of cinema has since experienced some welcome shifts. Just as western politics has experienced some unwelcome ones. Brushing misogyny, homophobia, and general dickishness off as "just locker room talk" has never been ok, but it is increasingly difficult to laugh it off. It's the thin end of the wedge. Trading comedy for excellent camerawork, First Round Down is Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) with all of the humour stripped out. Director of Photography Michael Jari Davidson is one to watch, though most of his work to date has been horror (hard pass for me). Here's a brief overview: Tim Tucker, a pouty Ryan Gosling type played by Dylan Bruce, and his goofy Seth Rogen type sidekick Bobby (Rob Ramsay) get involved in humourless hi-jinx and armed robbery. Everyone is very interested in the station wagon that a lot of teenagers had sex in. Tim Tucker and Coach trade profundities second only to the Goss brothers. The scenes involving Tim's little brother are accompanied by wistful guitar music (A Love Song to the City by Kalle Mattson): see, he's a good guy really. Gimme a break. You could start watching First Round Down at 1 hour in, and not miss a thing as far as plot goes. First Round Down is a good excuse to get lost down a rabbit hole of Ice-Hockey-themed films, and there are a lot. Slapshot (1977), Youngblood (1986), Red Army (2014), but Mighty Ducks it is not.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

kevin w

The Brett Brothers of Canada present this film less as entertainment than as a primer to aspiring filmmakers. Well, not really. But while, yes, you can do everything yourself, it's much better to have help, professional help, lots of it, and in just about every department, or otherwise your work will show the lack. This is surprisingly good work, missing the mark by "just about that much" for the entire length of the thing. I actually wanted to dislike it but realized I couldn't. That doesn't mean you should watch it though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Brett M. Butler

Director

Jason G. Butler

Director

Dylan Bruce

Tim Tucker

Rachel Wilson

Kelly Quinn

Kristian Bruun

Winston

John Kapelos

Sonny

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Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

There's a nice twist midway through, but the film never quite comes together.

Rated: 2/4

May 4, 2017

Full Review

Alan Ng

Film Threat

While the film has a lot going on, there's also a lot to like about it. As convoluted as the twisting plotlines are, it's easy to follow, and the action pushes us through the film from start to finish.

Rated: 6/10

Oct 9, 2019

Full Review

Esme Betamax

Battle Royale With Cheese

Tim Tucker, a pouty Ryan Gosling type played by Dylan Bruce, and his goofy Seth Rogen type sidekick Bobby (Rob Ramsay) get involved in humourless hi-jinx and armed robbery.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 27, 2019

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Clever ideas -- ripping off "Grosse Pointe Blank" is the cleverest -- get lost in this slow, off-tone Canadian action comedy.

Rated: 1.5/4

Apr 12, 2019

Full Review

Norman Wilner

NOW Toronto

Brett and Jason Butler have been making movies for a few years now, and they know what they like: tough guys standing around peacocking and insulting each other, and occasionally landing a joke.

Rated: 2/5

May 4, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

A former hockey player and hit man returns home to escape his past and care for his brother.

Director: Brett M. Butler, Jason G. Butler
Producer: Jonathan Gross
Screenwriter: Brett M. Butler, Jason G. Butler
Genre: Action, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 5, 2017
Runtime: 1h 36m

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