Canadian Bacon (1995)
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A struggling U.S. President is persuaded to declare war on Canada after a local sheriff's actions spark an international incident.
The story
In Niagara Falls, New York, at the end of the Cold War, military businessman R. J. Hacker closes his weapons manufacturing plant, leading to outrage among thousands of former employees. When Hacker blames the visiting President of the United States for the shutdown, the President's approval ratings plummet. Following an assassination attempt by a despondent former employee, the President confides in advisors that he is unhappy lacking an enemy. After a local sheriff's offensive comments about Canadian beer spark a riot in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the government begins broadcasting anti-Canada propaganda, leading the sheriff to form a local militia to prepare for war.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In Niagara Falls, New York, military businessman R. J. Hacker closes his weapons plant, Hacker Dynamics, blaming the U.S. President for the move. After a despondent employee, Roy Boy, attempts suicide, Sheriff Bud Boomer saves the President from the attempt. The President, seeking an enemy to improve his approval ratings, is influenced by advisors to target Canada after Boomer's offensive comments about Canadian beer spark a riot in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The U.S. begins broadcasting anti-Canada propaganda, and Boomer forms a militia. After a series of incidents, including a blackout caused by Boomer's group, the President learns that Hacker is using a software program to activate missile silos. Hacker demands $1 trillion to stop the launch. During the crisis, Stuart Smiley accidentally kills Hacker while obtaining the codes. While the President pleads with Canadian Prime Minister Clark MacDonald over the phone, Honey escapes from the Mounties, reaches the CN Tower, and destroys the Hellstorm computer, aborting the launch. Boomer and Honey escape on a speedboat. The film ends with an epilogue detailing the characters' fates, including Boomer becoming a regular on Cops and the President losing the next election.
- First release year
- 1995
- Runtime (minutes)
- 90
- Production countries
- United States; Canada
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Moore
- Writers
- Michael Moore · writer; Michael Moore · producer; Michael Moore · director
- Genres
- comedy; political satire
- Themes
- Canada–United States relations; war sentiment; political satire
- Tone and mood
- satirical; comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- political satire; comedy; war
- Reception
- The film received unfavorable reviews from critics, with some noting it felt inconsistent in its quality between acts.
- Production trivia
- It was the final film released starring John Candy.; It is Michael Moore's only non-documentary film to date.; The film features numerous cameos by Canadian actors, including Dan Aykroyd.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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