Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, 2025.
Directed by Matt Johnson.
Starring Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol.
SYNOPSIS:
When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008.
What to say about Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie? If you’ve ever seen the series, this plays like a supersized episode. If you’ve seen Back to the Future, it’s a loving, Canadian, cut-rate, home-movie-style homage. And if you’ve seen neither, it still works as a silly, goofy film that’s enjoyable on its own.
Nirvanna began back in 2007 as a mockumentary web series, and the film cleverly weaves in archival footage from the show’s history. The plot follows two men—Matt and Jay—as they try to book a gig at Toronto’s famous Rivoli restaurant & music club. Instead of going through the proper channels, they decide to manifest their success with elaborate publicity stunts. Jay improvises on piano while Matt delivers spoken word alongside him; together, they’re a dynamic duo with terrific comedic energy and rapport.
And the funny thing with this band is that they are actually pretty good and their schemes involve quite a bit of ambitious planning. What distinguishes Matt and Jay from typical comedic archetypes is their dynamic. Matt may be as optimistic as he is deluded, but Jay balances him with steadiness, without slipping into cynicism. Their rapport—part one-upmanship, part creative collaboration—anchors the film giving it just enough heart and warmth. The interplay between their present-day selves, their younger counterparts, and unsuspecting Torontonians only heightens the sense of spontaneity.
The opening stunt—a jump off the CN Tower—is a breathtaking piece of reverse-engineered DIY filmmaking that mirrors the “shoot first, cut later” approach of latter day Mission: Impossible films, though on a much more considerable scale with a slightly more coherent narrative. Through a series of mishaps, the band sends themselves back in time to July 2008, where they interact with—or desperately try to avoid—their past selves. Dated pop-culture references and nostalgia provide plenty of laughs, but the film would feel empty if that were all it offered. Fortunately, at its core is a story about two men growing older, wondering what they still share in common, well at least one of them is. The film balances goofy antics with just enough heartfelt character drama, all while serving as both a loving Back to the Future homage and a celebration of Toronto itself.
The craft behind the chaos is notable. Inventive editing weaves old footage and new footage together that the characters react to seamlessly, all the while roping in innocent Toronto onlookers who are sometimes bystanders and often unwitting accomplices to their harmless shenanigans.
Jay McCarrol’s score playfully echoes Alan Silvestri’s iconic Back to the Future themes while adding enough variation that suits the story being told on screen. The intentionally dated 2008 references the film makes are entertaining gags that are Canadian specific, but you don’t have to be Canadian to find them funny. With its comedic blend of genres: action, sci-fi and comedy, along with a clear love and craft of pop filmmaking, were I Spielberg, I’d seriously consider these filmmakers as candidates for Ready Player Two.
In the end, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is a salute to Canadian culture and a testament to the enduring creative partnership of its stars. Its mix of outrageous humour, funny character beats, and thoughtful editing, earns its place as one of the year’s best comedies.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Will Hume
Originally published September 27, 2025. Updated September 28, 2025.
