Roller Town (2011) User Reviews

Roller disco will never die

[bcrumpacker · 5/10 · 22 July 2013]

WARNING SPOILER ALERT! Saw this on Netflix recently. This is a laid back, deadpan spoof of the roller disco movie subgenre: Roller Boogie, Xanadu and The Apple. Those movies are great in a so bad its good way. This movie's entire plot is lifted directly from Roller Boogie, which in turn is the ancient let's put on a show or hold a contest and save the fill in the blank from the evil business man and his hench men story. Just add a typical working class guy falls in love with classy girl subplot.

It kicks off with our hero dressed in the same clothes and colors as the hero of Roller Boogie, working the same type of skate rental booth. The heroine is a pudgy Linda Blair type but with less sex appeal. Her acting is pretty good, but... Linda Blair's admission to Julliard morphs into our heroine's admission to a roller skating conservatory, whatever that is. Once in awhile The Boogaloos, a ridiculous mythical disco trio, appear and shoot miraculous rainbows at everyone. This is a "tribute" to Xanadu. Finally, the God of Disco drives up in a Batmobile painted gold, a "tribute" to the deus ex machina in The Apple. It's all just silly fun.

As other reviewers note, many jokes fall flat, but don't blame Canada. Maybe just Nova Scotia. Occasionally something truly funny pops up, like the "double dicker" scene at the 26 minute mark. And the additional credits at the end are a blast, listing executive executive, thought unfurler, fart wrangler, etc. Bottom line: nice try, but crank up the yuks.

Move over "ROLLER BOOGIE"

[adambombnola · 6/10 · 10 August 2018]

This film had me "rolling" with laughter. So light hearted and inspiring. Definitely one of the best skating movies ever made.

Well, it's definitely among the best roller skating films made in Nova Scotia, that's for sure!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 24 February 2013]

"Roller Town" is a modern roller disco film that was made in the hotbed of roller skating, Nova Scotia. In many ways, it's a parody of "Roller Boogie", though I think "Roller Boogie" is a funnier film simply because it was never intended as a comedy--but was so unintentionally funny. Occasionally, "Roller Town" almost managed to be a good film...almost. I will admit that it did make me laugh a few times (such as with the Roller Skating Conservatory and talk of the girl being a 'classically trained' skater!), but most of the time the jokes fall very flat. And, a few times the jokes are just disgusting and stupid--such as references to oral gratification, urination and the OVER-FREQUENT use of words for genitalia instead of actual punchlines for the jokes. In many ways, it seems like a homemade film made by some middle schoolers--albeit reasonably talented middle school kids! My recommendation is that if you'd like to see a 70s retro film, try "Black Dynamite". It's so much funnier and better made and a much better sendoff of decade.

What the heck?

[OutwestAlberta · 3/10 · 26 September 2012]

How did the ratings get to be over 7 so far? All the cast and crew voting for it? If I knew it was made in Canada, I would have not gone to see it in the first place. I gave it three stars, because I can only remember laughing three times in the whole movie. A couple of the actors were pretty good in it, but really poor effects, lines, some things that just made no sense at all. What is the obsession with corn? You will have to see it to know what I am referring to. I think the Government of Canada needs to rethink who it gives grants or money to. It looked like a TV movie, but then too many people would have changed the channel. Save your money, let it have its limited run in the theatres.

Take that rod out of your butt

[robmars666 · 10/10 · 31 July 2013]

I have no clue why people are giving this such bad reviews, maybe they were just born without a sense of humor, maybe they wanted this to be more The Usual Suspects. All I know is the theater I saw this in was cracking up the entire time. This movie is loaded with parts that will make you laugh so bad you feel a 6 pack coming on. This film is not intended to be for humorless adults, it is intended to be a movie for a bunch of people to watch together in a basement and have a great time at a badly made very funny film. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes the movie Mystery Team (another film made by a comedy group who got their start on youtube). Can not wait to see it again.

Great fun, great soundtrack, and lots of laughs

[ShaeSpencer · 8/10 · 17 December 2012]

"Roller Town" is the first film from the genius sketch comedy group Picnicface. I became a big fan of the group when they exploded on Youtube with viral hits like "Powerthirst" and "Hey Africa." I'm the kind of guy who started subscribing to individual members' channels, watching every obscure, random video they'd post, and I have loved every minute of it. So there was obviously some anticipation for this movie on my part.

In short, it did not disappoint.

The writing on the film is excellent. 90% of the jokes are good to great, a few, not so much. I was giggling throughout the movie. The goofy style and lighthearted spin on 70's pop culture was great fun. The soundtrack was surprisingly excellent. All of the Picnicface members in the film did a great job. Watch for a great scene-stealing performance from Brian MacQuarrie as Grandpa.

There are a few minor sound and pacing/editing issues, but these do not detract at all from a hilarious, entertaining film. Looking forward to more from these great humans in the future, collectively or as individuals.

Hilarious comedy that knows it's stupid.

[nrage40 · 8/10 · 19 January 2015]

The good thing about this movie is that it doesn't take itself seriously even as a comedy. Yes, some of the humor is juvenile, vulgar even or just plain not funny but Imo their are just as many parts where this offbeat comedy completely works. It makes fun of itself as well as the entire decade of the 1970's especially the disco era. I loved the music especially sung by the guys that are spoofing the Bee Gee's known here as The Boogaloo's. I literally cracked up when they sang "It's F*** O' clock!". The actors,writers and director did a good job of making this a fun movie to laugh and make fun of. Just go into this knowing that it's a completely stupid movie and you should enjoy it if you have a wacky sense of humor. I hope to see more from them in the future.

A sublime and thrilling tale, that brings a smile across one's face

[goold-phillip · 10/10 · 11 February 2014]

"Rollertown" is nothing short of a sublime masterpiece, operating on multiple levels to grant an audience the time of their lives. Performances offered by Mark Little and Evany Rosen stand out, yet the entire ensemble cast shines brighter than any star in our universe.

It is as impossible to count how many times I have watched this movie, as it is to number how many times this film has brought me to tears, laughter, and expressions of pure joy.

The Canadian feature has earned not only a place in my personal all time favorite films, but a place in my all time favorite experiences. Without a shadow of doubt, pinicface's bold and courageous film will live on throughout history as a unique and thrilling comedy ride. I count myself fortunate to have been taken along for that ride, and I recommend anyone with the means to have a crack on the heavenly roller coaster that is "rollertown" as well.

Shockingly Good

[csromano · 9/10 · 13 December 2023]

I like Picnicface but after watching this I wanted them to quit sketch comedy and go full time into filmmaking because Roller Town is phenomenal. It's a cult movie by design. The jokes and gags are dumb and smart at the same time. The humor hits every note; dark, dirty, goofy, campy, slapstick, and so on. The whole movie is just joke after joke, so when I meet a fellow Roller Town fan and we get to quoting it, we go on endlessly.

The most impressive thing, in my opinion, is how the movie never runs out of steam. Lots of comedy movies like this usually unravel near the end, i.e., all the good bits are frontloaded and the premise eventually wears thin. Roller Town overcomes this-the film never drags, it stays funny to the glorious end.

I have probably watched Roller Town 10 or 11 times. It's one of my favorites ever. I once put it on in a room full of distracted people as background ambience and 10 minutes later the whole room was glued to it, laughing hysterically.

Cannot recommend enough. Roller Town.

Roller Town?

Roller Town.