Mr. Will Wong, Toronto Entertainment Blogger

#INTERVIEW: THE CAST OF “GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS” INCLUDING JAY BARUCHEL, SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT, ELISHA CUTHBERT, WYATT RUSSELL AND MORE

March 07, 2017
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The Red Carpet was rolled-out tonight at Scotiabank Theatre for the Toronto for the World Premiere of Hockey Comedy, GOON. In its own right a Canadian Classic, the Film centers on veteran brawler Doug Glatt (Sean William Scott) who at once is dealing with nagging injuries and aging, just about ready to retire. This all changes when his beloved team, the Halifax Highlanders are acquired by new ownership and at once, his arch rival is named captain of the team, threatening to destroy the team irreversibly.

Taking the reins this time around as Director, Montreal’s Jay Baruchel wears multiple caps here as Writer and as one of the Film’s stars. Joining him at the Premiere were the likes of stars Seann William Scott, Elisha Cuthbert, Marc-André Grondin, Wyatt Russell, George Tchortov, Richard Clarkin and Trent Pardy, plus TSN‘s James Duthie and Alexisonfire‘s Wade MacNeil, the latter whose music can be heard in this sequel.

It was a night filled with star power as in-town celebrities including English Soul Singer Beverley Knight who stars in Mirvish‘s The Bodyguard came out, while Katie Findlay who stars in Man Seeking Woman alongside Baruchel too showed her support. Several were surprised to see among others, members of iconic Canadian rock outfit RUSH in attendance, including Geddy Lee!

Our David Baldwin and Siobhán Rich had the pleasure of chatting with the Cast of GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS. We chat about their experience filming in Barrie, just north of the City and also some of their own Stanley Cup picks!

Watch our Chats:

JAY BARUCHEL, Director, Co-Writer and “Pat”

Montreal’s Baruchel tells us about the joys of filming in his native Canada. “I’m home. I get to eat the food I like, people get the references I make and my turns of phrase. Most artists want to create from the place they’re from and I’m no different. It was a very quick ‘yes’.”. He adds, “This Movie’s been in my head and heart for a very long time.”.

And on who he’d like to win the Stanley Cup this year? “Obviously Montreal!”.

ELISHA CUTHBERT, “Mary“

The Calgary-born Actress who has found major success on popular series like Happy Endings and 24, tells us about her reuniting with former Popular Mechanics for Kids Co-Star Jay Baruchel in GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS. “It’s surreal. We started working together when we were so young and to come full circle and have him directing me – I mean there were some pinch-me moments as I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d be starring in a Film with him directing. It was amazing. It was really cool.”.

On preparing for the role of Mary, she says “I drank a lot. I mean, it was acting but I thought this was so great. I can go into this not worrying about sounding too Canadian and just have a good time with it.”.

Married to hockey star Dion Phaneuf, it is clear who Cuthbert is rooting for in the Stanley Cup. “I hope my husband and his team, the Ottawa Senators go all the way.”.

MARC-ANDRÉ GRONDIN, “Xavier”

Grondin gained international acclaim for his work in Jean-Marc Vallée‘s 2005 Film C.R.A.Z.Y. The Montreal native tells us, “I would shoot GOON every year. It’s that much fun for real. Surrounded by friends, playing hockey and getting coached into being a better hockey player. What more could I ask for?”.

On working with Baruchel as Director, he reveals “Actually for Jay‘s birthday, I gave him a GOON Jersey with a ‘C‘ on it because he’s the real captain of the ship.”. He also praises Co-Star Scott, saying “Seann is a great captain, I’ve never seen someone so humble and nice to everyone. He was so available and he’s a real team player and that’s special.”.

“I hope the Habs win. I’m not too sure but that would be amazing!”, Grondin says about the Stanley Cup.

WYATT RUSSELL, “Anders”

Formerly a professional hockey player, Russell also happens to be son of Hollywood royalty Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. On being a real-life hockey player to playing one in GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS, he admits “It was a good time and I’m happy I got to do it.”. That being said, there was still a bit of a learning curve. “I was learning how to be a player because I was a goalie. It was fun to learn a new hockey skill that wasn’t goal-tending.”.

On what advice he’d give his character Anders on getting along better with his own father, he imparts, “I would teach my dad how not to partake and to show love in a different way. I’d speak more to him than me!”, he laughs.

Being a Los Angeles native, he shows his hometown bias choosing the Los Angeles Kings to win the Stanley Cup.

TRENT PARDY, “Stevenson“

Taking-over the role of Stevenson from fellow Canadian actor Ricky Mabe, Trent Pardy tells us about how he became involved with this project. “I met Jay a few years ago and Ricky unfortunately couldn’t be a part of number two, and he asked ‘Why don’t you come in and reprise his role?’. I had big shoes to fill, they were hospitable and welcomed me into group. I’m blessed to be a part of the Highlanders family.”.

He recalls his daily routine filming just north of Toronto. “We shot four weeks up in Barrie on the ice in the morning at 8 o’clock and finished around 6. We’d shoot and have lunch for 15 minutes only. We’d have epic shinny (street hockey) matches, come off drenched in sweat and Hair & Makeup were like, ‘You have to go shower!’.”.

On Baruchel‘s directorial skills, he reveals to us “He’s so technical behind the camera. He’s able to see what he needs, ask what he needs from the actors and gets the technical team to shoot it and it’s picture perfect.”.

“I’m a Habs fan, but they way they’re playing these days who knows?”, he comments on the Stanley Cup.

RICHARD CLARKIN, “Gord”

Reprising the role of Gord, the Murdoch Mysteries star tells us about his experience this time around. “It was the the best family reunion ever. We had such an incredible time – big loving. We got everyone back for the sequel and had as much fun, if not more. We also gained some great new people come in Callum Keith Rennie, Elisha Cuthbert and Wyatt Russell.”.

He adds, “Jay is a wonderful Director. He’s generous, trusts and loves his actors. He runs a happy set.”.

On the Stanley Cup, he says “I’m a Leafs fan but I think Pittsburgh’s got a good chance to repeat.”.

WADE MACNEIL (ALEXISONFIRE), Composer

Known best for his work as a guitarist and vocalist in popular Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, MacNeil and Baruchel actually have been friends for quite some time. “Jay has been a big Alexisonfire fan for a long time. A few years ago we went to Habs game together and as he was putting a Film together. I did a song… and then another… and then I sat down and watched the whole thing. When all was said and done, I did about 30-40 minutes of music.”.

On his goals sonically for GOON: LAST OF THE ENFORCERS, he explains “I wanted it to be all things that sound like you could turn up to 10 in an arena, whether it be big, show-offy, Rock and Roll stuff or tense agro-dance music – whatever it needed to be.”.

MacNeil having grown-up in St. Catharines, Ontario which is close to Buffalo, naturally is Sabres fan.

JAMES DUTHIE (TSN) as himself

The Canadian Screen Award-winning TSN personality has a cameo in this sequel and explains to us about his day on-set. “I shot in one day and next to T.J. Miller, who was lots of fun.He said the rudest, most outrageous stuff I’ve ever heard. I cracked-up several times so I don’t know if I did my part very well.”. He jokes, “I played James Duthie, a sportscaster, so I really had to go out of my realm to play myself.”.

For the Stanley Cup, Duthie has four picks: Washington, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minnesota. He says, “If I had to narrow it down to one, it’s Washington.”.

See some Snaps from the evening:

Richard Clarkin, Wyatt Russell, Marc-André Grondin, Seann William Scott, Elisha Cuthbert, Jay Baruchel, George Tchortov + Trent Pardy