Studio: DECAL - NEON
Release Date: 5/26/2026
Rating: R
Film Grade: B-
The Story: Nirvanna – The Band, not to be confused with Nirvana (notice the extra n?), are on the edge of their big breakthrough. Matt and Jay have conjured the foolproof plan that will finally get them to play their dream destination, The Rivoli! This will be the one, it can’t go wrong! Or, maybe it can, in an entirely unexpected way.
My Take: I went into this movie mostly blind, although I had watched the trailer which gives away the big plot twist from the end of the first act. But it would have helped if I had known a little bit about the duo, so here’s the non-spoiler information. Real-life creators Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol started a comedic web series back in 2007 that featured fictional versions of themselves as musicians trying to make it big. The show was shot documentary-style with improvised dialog as they come up with stunts to get attention for their band. This led to Nirvana the Band the Show, which was a Canadian TV show that followed that same formula, often including unsuspecting people on the streets of Toronto as unknowing particpants.
For the movie, they’ve cleverly taken that earlier footage and incorporated it into this new film in an entirely unexpected way. Using a combination of editing and special effects, they’ve created a movie that stands on its own. The reason for mentioning the history behind it, is so that you don’t end up like me, wondering how they got that earlier footage, or if it involved CGI de-aging.
The plot is absolutely wild, quickly taking a far-fetched turn, and resulting in something that is utterly unpredictable. I’ll not spill the beans on the big twist (watch the trailers if curiosity gets the best of you), but it’s a loving nod to a beloved movie from the 80s. Along the way there are cultural references that reflect on changing public morays, silly trends, and ideas of celebrity. At its core, the movie is about the deep friendship between two pals. The kind of friendship that isn’t always smooth and will occasionally dip into conflict or even resentment. On that level, it feels real.
Much of this can be attributed to the actual friendship between the two creators, Johnson (who also directs) and McCarrol (who handles the music). It’s a bold move to put out fictional, but not idealized, versions of yourselves for a worldwide audience’s amusement. Matt is the manic idea man of the two, mind constantly in motion and not pausing long enough to consider the consequences. Jay dominates the musical side of the duo, following along with Matt’s ideas while also harboring a small amount of resentment beneath his generally genial appearance. It’s an effective combination that feels real, even under the most ridiculous of circumstances.
Added to this are the unassuming and unknowing participants that get caught up in the events. Using guerrilla-style filmmaking, they’ve included various people on the street and in locations to help play out various parts, unknowingly. It’s an effective technique that adds an element of authenticity to the story. This is especially true in the first act. Less convincing, is the way the cameramen are handled. Since this is shot as a documentary, we get to see interactions with them. And while this can be used realistically, it also has the side effect of throwing off the audience when things happen that couldn’t have been filmed at the time. This can be a distraction in places, as the shots don’t jive with what could happen within the story. It was at about the halfway point in the film where I had to make a conscious decision to stop paying attention to that aspect of the film.
The other fault to the movie is with the third act, where the story begins to stall out. We watched this with a couple of friends and one of them noticed this as well. The pacing of the first two acts is solid, filled with unbelievable events, but by the time we’re ready for a resolution, it begins to drag out a bit. Part of this is the nature of the genre that inspired them. We kind of know the way things will turn out, so the question becomes how, and the how part drags on longer than needed.
Still, the main hook of the movie is the friendship that holds Matt and Jay together, and despite that lag, the sentiment holds strong. This is followed closely by the humor, which is mostly character based, and aided by how well developed they are.
Visuals: Given its nature of old segments filmed on consumer equipment blended with new, it’s a mixed bag. There’s nothing here that’s outstanding, but that only adds to the feeling of authenticity. And while there aren’t any demo-worthy scenes, the special effects work is outstanding for a low-budget movie.
Audio: The disc comes with a 5.1 DTS MA mix, which is fine for this movie. There aren’t any standout sound effects, but it does capture the varied environments that make up the film. Dialog is clear, despite the occasional difficult filming situations.
The score was composed by Jay. While it’s used sparingly, it’s surprisingly effective in setting the proper tone to the film. This includes several pieces that are clearly inspired by the movie and composer for that film. Like the Video, there’s nothing here that’s demo-worthy, but it works just fine for the movie.
Special Features: There’s a great assortment here. The two commentary tracks are filled with stories about the show and music. The second one gives away some of the technical trickery that was used in filming. They’re a great study in just what can be accomplished with a tiny budget but tons of creativity.
- Commentary with Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol
- Commentary with Matt Johnson and the Post Team
- Alternate Opening
- Animatics
- Ethan Deleted Scene
- Home Movies
- Figured It Out Featurette
- Nirvannna the Band the Show Episode 101 – The Banner
- Post Credit Scene
Final Verdict: I almost dismissed this movie based on the title (my interest in current music ended around the mid-80s). But I began hearing some buzz about it from unexpected places. It wasn’t about a grunge band nor was it about a musical tour. Instead, this is a wild, wacky, irreverent buddy movie filled with hearty character-driven laughs.
There are a few minor issues because of how the existing footage was originally captured, and the pace dips a bit in the third act. But in a sea of cinema sameness, this is an island refuge. While inspired by an older movie, it doesn’t use it as a crutch, just as a springboard. It’s not long before it charts its own course. All of us enjoyed it, and it’s certainly worth a watch. As a bonus, the extras detail the history of the show and movie and even give away some of the secrets of how they made it.
This is a fun ride that shows how inventive low-budget movies can be and a welcome change from typical big-budget affairs. Recommended for anyone that is looking for something different and unusual.
Fun Dialog: “Goths. Real goths. Look at the gothness of it. They’re goths!”
This review was written by a human without the use of AI.My Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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