Fighting in hockey has always been a contentious issue, but Goon arrives in theatres at a particularly controversial time, as the news media has turned its eye on the darker side of the sport. Star players have been sidelined by brutal concussions, and a disturbing number of former NHL brawlers have committed suicide in the past year. Hardly the backdrop for a sports comedy.
For the record, I don’t believe fighting is, or should be, an essential part of the game. But that isn’t an obstacle to the enjoyment of Goon, which is a well-paced and highly amusing film with a surprising sweetness.
Read the rest of my review at Oakville.com: