Arriving on Blu-ray this week is Matt Johnson’s Canadian comedy Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, based on the acclaimed web series and television show created by Johnson and Jay McCarrol. Admittedly, I had never seen the original series, though I had been hearing enthusiastic praise for the 2025 feature for quite some time. Given its heavy inspiration from Back to the Future — my favorite film of all time — I was eager to finally check it out.
Set in 2025, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol spend their days concocting increasingly outrageous schemes to land a performance at Toronto venue The Rivoli. Though they formed their band, Nirvanna, back in 2008, they have never actually performed for an audience. Matt’s latest idea involves skydiving off the CN Tower into the Skydome during a Blue Jays game, believing the stunt will generate enough publicity to convince people they are performing at The Rivoli that very night — despite not actually having a booking there. Naturally, the plan goes disastrously wrong when the dome roof closes before they can make it inside.
Frustrated by years of failure, Jay secretly books an open mic night in Ottawa for himself, while Matt moves forward with an even more ambitious plan: transforming their RV into a time machine inspired by Doc Brown’s DeLorean in Back to the Future. Against all odds, the machine works after Matt accidentally spills a bottle of Orbitz — the bizarre drink discontinued in 1998 — onto the control console.
The pair soon discover they can only return to 2025 if they find another bottle of Orbitz; otherwise, they will remain stranded in 2008. Since the drink had already disappeared from shelves years earlier, the only place they can track down another bottle is at the apartment of their younger selves. Inevitably, their interference with the past alters the timeline, and when they return to 2025, their lives have changed dramatically.
What stands out most about Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is its distinctly Canadian sense of humor. Much like British comedy, it embraces absurdity in ways American comedies often shy away from. It reminded me of why I have always loved groups like Monty Python and The Kids in the Hall. The film thrives on that same offbeat energy, balancing silliness with genuine heart. Johnson and McCarrol share terrific chemistry, and their friendship grounds even the most ridiculous moments.
Most impressive of all is how original the film feels despite wearing its Back to the Future influences proudly on its sleeve. If I had access to a time machine myself, I would travel back just to experience Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie with a packed crowd instead of discovering it alone at home.
Bonus Features:
- Commentary with Matt Johnston and Jay McCarrol
- Commentary with Matt Johnson and the Post Team
- Alternate Opening
- Animatics: Back to 2008, Running Cable
- Ethan Deted Scene
- Home Movies
- Figured it Out Featurette
- Nirvanna the Band the Show Episode 101 – The Banner
- Post Credit Scene
