{{Short description|2024 film}} {{Infobox film | name = Deaner '89 | image = Deaner '89 poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Film poster | native_name = <!-- {{Infobox name module|language|title}} or {{Infobox name module|title}} --> | director = Sam McGlynn | writer = Paul Spence | screenplay = | story = | based_on = <!-- {{Based on|title of the original work|creator of the original work|additional creator(s), if necessary}} --> | producer = Kyle Irving<br />Paul Spence | starring = Paul Spence<br />Star Slade<br />Will Sasso<br />Stephen McHattie<br />Mary Walsh | narrator = | cinematography = Samy Inayeh | editing = Reginald Harkema | music = Justin Delorme<br />Paul Spence | production_companies = Eagle Vision | distributor = Mongrel Media | released = {{Film date|2024|9|6|ref1=<ref name="exclaim"/>}} | runtime = 90 minutes | country = Canada | language = English | budget = | gross = }}
'''''Deaner '89''''' is a 2024 Canadian action comedy film directed by Sam McGlynn. It stars Paul Spence, Star Slade, Will Sasso, and Mary Walsh. Spence plays Dean Murdoch, a metalhead character from the ''FUBAR'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-sasso-kevin-mcdonald-deaner-89-movie-1235503209/|title=Will Sasso, Kevin McDonald, Paul Spence Set to Star in 'Deaner '89' Action Comedy (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 30, 2023|access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
The film was released in theaters on September 6, 2024.<ref name="exclaim">{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/deaner-89-traces-the-origin-story-of-canada-s-favourite-metalhead-in-new-exclusive-clip|title='Deaner '89' Traces the Origin Story of Canada's Favourite Metalhead in New Exclusive Clip|website=Exclaim!|date=August 19, 2024|access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/deaner-89-trailer/|title=Deaner '89 trailer: Paul Spence recreates a classic Canadian comedy character (exclusive)|website=JoBlo.com|date=July 10, 2024|access-date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
Despite the Murdoch character having previously appeared in the ''FUBAR'' films, the film is not considered a ''FUBAR'' sequel, but a standalone film.<ref>Jen Zoratti, [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/2024/09/06/banger-of-an-80s-origin-story "Banger of an ’80s origin story"]. ''Winnipeg Free Press'', September 6, 2024.</ref>
==Plot== {{more plot|section|date=July 2025}}
In 1989, Murdoch and his sister first become interested in heavy metal music, soon after learning that their adoptive parents have hidden from them that they are Indigenous. Dean is Métis<ref>Marko Djurdjić, [https://exclaim.ca/music/article/deaner-89-paul-spence-will-sasso-interview "'Deaner '89' Brings Humour, Heart and Headbanging to Stories of Canadian Atrocities"]. ''Exclaim!'', September 5, 2024.</ref> and his sister is Blackfoot. They go on a trip to Calgary to see a band.
==Cast== {{castlist| *Paul Spence as Dean *Star Slade as Jen *Will Sasso as Glen *Stephen McHattie as Dack *Mary Walsh as May *Kevin McDonald as Principal Gil *Maddy Foley as Kitty }}
==Inspiration== The film's content related to Indigenous identity was partly inspired by Spence's own family history. His father was adopted into a non-Indigenous family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and only learned as an adult that his parents were Métis (and that his ancestor, Scottish-Métis leader Andrew Spence, had been part of the North-West Resistance).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Dennis |title=Paul Spence reviving iconic role in Deaner '89 |url=https://www.aptnnews.ca/facetoface/paul-spences-deaner-character-still-givinr-20-years-later/ |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=APTN News |volume=Face to Face |date=29 October 2024}}</ref> According to Spence, "It seemed like such a natural fit to take some of my father's stories, as well as my own, to create something fun and funny, but that also had some heart and authenticity — where audiences will laugh their asses off, but also learn something about Canada's complicated history."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Alex |title='Deaner '89' Traces the Origin Story of Canada's Favourite Metalhead in New Exclusive Clip |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/deaner-89-traces-the-origin-story-of-canada-s-favourite-metalhead-in-new-exclusive-clip |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Exclaim! |date=19 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
==Reception== Thom Ernst of ''Original Cin'' gave the film a B− and wrote, "The comedy here doesn't pull punches — big gags, big cameos, big laughs. Not all of it works, but when it does, it works beautifully."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.original-cin.ca/posts/2024/9/4/deaner-89-canuck-headbanger-saga-continues-bro-just-dont-say-fubar|title=Deaner '89: Canuck Headbanger Saga Continues, Bro… Just Don't Say Fubar!|website=Original-Cin|date=September 4, 2024|access-date=September 5, 2024|author=Thom Ernst}}</ref>
Andrew Parker of TheGATE.ca gave the film a score of 3 out of 10, writing, "Unassured, scattered, and trying too hard to relive past glories while simultaneously failing to make viewers forget about everything that came before, ''Deaner '89'' is a messy vanity project that never settles on a satisfying hook on which to hang all of its tired jokes about metal heads, hosers, and givin'r."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegate.ca/film/067513/deaner-89-review-death-to-false-metal/|title=Deaner '89 Review|website=TheGATE.ca|date=September 4, 2024|access-date=September 4, 2024}}</ref>
Richard Crouse was more positive, awarding the film 3.5/5 stars, asserting that Spence "weaves humor into every scene, but never settles for the easy joke."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crouse |first1=Richard |title=DEANER '89: 3 ½ STARS. "You're never too old to start givin'er." |url=https://richardcrouse.ca/deaner-89-3-%C2%BD-stars-youre-never-too-old-to-start-giviner/|website=richardcrouse.ca |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>
===Awards=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- | rowspan=7| Canadian Screen Awards | rowspan=7| 2025 | Best Lead Performance in a Comedy Film | Paul Spence | {{nom}} | rowspan=7| <ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/press-release/2025-canadian-screen-awards-cbc-radio-canada-nominations-by-program "2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS CBC/RADIO-CANADA NOMINATIONS BY PROGRAM"]. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, March 25, 2025.</ref> |- | rowspan=2| Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy Film | Will Sasso | {{nom}} |- | Mary Walsh | {{nom}} |- | John Dunning Best First Feature | Sam McGlynn | {{nom}} |- | Best Original Song | Paul Spence, Michael Phillip Heppner, Ian Kerr Wilson, Guillaume Marc Antoine Tremblay, Stan Pietrusik<br>"The Power of the Tribe" | {{nom}} |- | Best Makeup | Doug Morrow | {{nom}} |- | Best Stunt Coordination | Sean Skene, Rick Skene | {{nom}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|23149654}}
{{FUBAR}}
Category:English-language Canadian films Category:2024 English-language films Category:2024 Canadian films Category:Canadian comedy films Category:2024 comedy films Category:2024 films Category:Métis film Category:2024 directorial debut films Category:Films set in 1989 Category:English-language comedy films