Music: {allcanada} Starbuck has laughs and heart

Thursday, November 24, 2011

{allcanada} Starbuck has laughs and heart

At first blush, the premise of the Quebec comedy Starbuck sounds absurd, perhaps even insane. Yet the results are wonderful, with a touch of poignancy.

This week, Ken Scott's French-language movie debuted on DVD and Blu-ray as one of the minor league must-sees of 2011. That premise? Our hapless anti-hero (Patrick Huard from Bon Cop, Bad Cop) is shocked to discover he is the biological father of 533 children, 142 of whom have filed a class-action suit to find who he is. Huard's character fathered them through 693 donations to a sperm bank in Montreal two decades earlier, using the nickname Starbuck. Apparently, his contributions were potent.

Now in his early 40s, he is a total loser. He even screws up meat deliveries for his father's butcher shop. He is in debt to thugs for $80,000. He is growing pot in his apartment to raise funds. His girlfriend (Julie LeBreton) is a police officer. She not only has antipathy towards illegal drugs, but is preparing another shock for their relationship.

Director Scott co-wrote the screenplay with Martin Petit. He directs Starbuck in perfect balance. The movie is both a crazy comedy and a heart-wrenching drama. The brilliant Huard does both sides simultaneously. His foil is Antoine Bertrand as his best friend and lawyer. The overall spirit is giddy but the emotional depth is legitimate, not overly sentimental.

As Huard starts to visit his children, without revealing his identity, he finds offspring are a mixed blessing. One is a pro soccer player for the Montreal Impact. He cheers. Another is a drug-addict. He cries for her and actually helps out. Another is severely disabled. He provides friendship. As the story evolves, Huard becomes a better person, less of a loser, and shows potential for ordinary greatness. The movie deftly deals with parenting issues. You are left grinning.

The separate DVD and Blu-ray releases for Starbuck are both one-disc offerings with the same extras. Unlike the movie, these extras are in French-only with no subtitles. But it is easy for Anglophones to figure out what is going on, including in the deleted scenes. Then you absolutely must watch actor-musician David Giguere -- who plays one of Starbuck's children -- present his music video of L'Atelier, a great song from a great little movie. Quebec talent rules in Starbuck.