Strange Brew

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2:46

Strange Brew

PG

1983

1h 30m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In their quest for free beer, bumbling Canadian brothers Bob (Rick Moranis) and Doug McKenzie (Dave Thomas) wind up working at the Elsinore Brewery. The hapless lads uncover a sinister mind-control plot spearheaded by Brewmeister Smith (Max von Sydow) and must stop the scheme, which also involves Uncle Claude (Paul Dooley), a member of the Elsinore family. As Bob and Doug try to prevent Smith from taking over the world, they also manage to drink plenty of their favorite sudsy beverage.

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Critics Consensus

Though lowbrow in intent and outcome, Strange Brew effectively mines laughs from its unique premise and likeable stars.

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

02/09/2006

The plotline (derived from Hamlet) soon goes flat.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

08/30/2004

2/5

The price of a ticket could buy enough beer for an experience at least as memorable as this one.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

03/10/2003

[A] funny movie about a couple of Canadians who sit around and drink a lot.

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M.V. Moorhead

Less Hat, Moorhead

04/26/2022

This very silly but sweet-natured and sometimes hilarious '80s curio deserves a bigger cult. I defy anyone to deny the ring of Shakespearean poetry in a line like "Gee, you're real nice. If I didn't have puke breath, I'd kiss you."

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/24/2020

3.5/4.0

This is a silly, goofy, innocent comic classic.

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Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

02/21/2018

4/5

Classic '80s send-up of Canada; lots of beer drinking.

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xpig332 B

Nov 13

Classic 1980’s stupid good movie!

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Jonathan N

@Passtheacidtest Sep 1

Really very hard to watch. Did not enjoy it and turned it off after 20 min. Did it improve? I will never know!

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Jul 1

A 1980s classic! If you grew up watching SCTV, this was the holy grail. Thomas and Moranis are let lose to be Bob and Doug, legendary characters. Joining them are legends Paul Dooley and Max von Sydow. Love this film!!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 30

Funny in 1.5 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring directors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as Canadian characters Doug and Bob, that are funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The worldwide gross is $8,571,374.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Rich S

@RPS1963 01/11/2025

Take off, eh? If you watched Strange Brew in 1983 and enjoyed it, like so many others (including critics) did, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the celluloid has not aged well. The only saving grace of this film are the memories of the early 1980s and the shenanigans of Canadians Bob and Doug McKenzie. The fear is that Strange Brew has been stuffed into a beer-keg-shaped time capsule and will be opened by people who will realize the Rick Moron-is truth about our society.

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Gayle G

12/19/2024

I always liked the skits on SCTV and the movie is like a cute and funny feature length Bob and Doug skit. Love it!

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Rick Moranis

Director

Dave Thomas

Director

Dave Thomas

Doug McKenzie

Rick Moranis

Bob McKenzie

Max von Sydow

Brewmeister Smith

Paul Dooley

Claude Elsinore

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Strange Brew: Trailer 1

2:46

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Synopsis

In their quest for free beer, bumbling Canadian brothers Bob (Rick Moranis) and Doug McKenzie (Dave Thomas) wind up working at the Elsinore Brewery. The hapless lads uncover a sinister mind-control plot spearheaded by Brewmeister Smith (Max von Sydow) and must stop the scheme, which also involves Uncle Claude (Paul Dooley), a member of the Elsinore family. As Bob and Doug try to prevent Smith from taking over the world, they also manage to drink plenty of their favorite sudsy beverage.

Director: Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas
Producer: Louis M. Silverstein
Screenwriter: Steve De Jarnatt, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 26, 1983, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2014
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Mono, Stereo

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