It happens to all of us. 

Sometimes, a film just doesn't work. 

It's not always a bad film. Heck, it's always possible that Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties: The Bubbles and the Shitrockers Story isn't a bad film. 

It's possible that I just missed it. It's possible that I was having a bad day and I just didn't get into its narrative groove. 

It's possible that this film from the Trailer Park Boys is the funniest film of the year. 

It's possible. Highly unlikely. 

It's more likely that Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties really is one of the worst films of the year, a film that almost unfathomably has an appearance by Billy Bob Thornton (and The Boxmasters) and brief turns by The Rolling Stones' Ron Wood, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, GnR's Duff McKagan, and even The Animals' Eric Burdon. 

The truth is I hated every minute of Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties. 

While I would never call myself a Trailer Park Boys devotee, the truth is I was eagerly anticipating this viewing amidst a season of FYC screeners, awards season fodder, and overly self-important cinematic fare. I didn't expect to love this film, but I did expect to like it. 

I didn't. 

The narrative is simple. Bubbles (Mike Smith, who also pens the film) something bigger and when a viral video leads to an invite from Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters to join them on a European tour there's no way his band The Shitrockers will pass it up. Of course, we know that nothing goes as planned and they end up in Europe and booted off the tour and forced to busk their way out of their situation. Randy (Patrick Roach), Ricky (Robb Wells), and Julian (John Paul Tremblay) unite for this overly long, dreadfully unfunny, and just plain annoying film that likely won't please most Trailer Park Boys fans and sure won't attract any new ones. 

Directed by music video director Charlie Lightening in his feature debut, Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties shows occasional signs of life, especially in scenes involving Thornton and when it's apparent that Bubbles, typically more of a supporting character, is putting on display an actual iota of talent. The cameos here are fun - while they don't really have a strong purpose, they add a needed spark in a film that doesn't have many. 

The film's atmosphere is intriguing - Daniel Lightening's lensing is effective throughout and it all adds up to a film I kept wanting to love but moreso kept wanting to end. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic