Even if surreal, mockumentary cringe comedy is not typically your thing, it would be hard not to laugh out loud at least a few times while watching “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” (2025). The movie really goes for it with gag-filled and somewhat absurd humour, but within a creatively crafted premise with surprisingly convincing special effects and edits.  

Releasing in theaters Feb. 13, the film follows two best friends hoping to secure a music show at “The Rivoli,” one of Canada’s hottest music clubs. The entirety of the film takes place in Toronto, and creators and actors Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol play fictionalized versions of themselves. Johnson is the film’s director as well. 

The absurd humour is immediately apparent during the opening segment. Matt,  immature and optimistic, suggests a plan to Jay, a realist: they should skydive off the CN Tower into the SkyDome to get the attention of the stadium and advertise their not-yet-secured Rivoli show. What follows is so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh. 

Filmed in a mockumentary style, the camera work adds a lot to the comedic appeal. The film is full of shaky pans to action, comedically timed zoom-ins on random onlookers in the city and plenty of scenes filmed in a “hidden camera” style. Feeling almost like a homemade travel vlog, and quite dizzying at times, the cinematography contributes to the surrealism of the film and makes you wonder how much of the film was actually real.

After the skydive fails catastrophically, Jay becomes disillusioned with the band and wants to go solo, ignoring Matt’s new plan to use time travel to secure the show spot. However, as he is leaving, Jay accidentally sets off Matt’s time machine — a near copy of the one from “Back to the Future” (1985), flux capacitor and all. From here, chaos ensues.

Now, the duo is in 2008, the year they first started trying to perform at The Rivoli, and they must figure out how to get back to the present day, as they live through the classic time travel trope of avoiding their past selves.

At this point in the film, Johnson begins to masterfully weave in pop culture references, which also contribute greatly to the humour of the piece. For those familiar with the sometimes senseless memes and media of the early 2000s, the throwbacks will definitely be laughable. When transported to 2008, one of the first indications to the audience that they have, in fact, made a time jump is the presence of now “cancelled” celebrities on billboards and advertisements. 

In a similar style, one of the funniest moments in the film can also be credited to a witty understanding of cultural differences over time. Matt, while watching a screening of “The Hangover” (2009), only realizes he actually is in 2008 when the audience around him unashamedly laughs at a joke that would be extremely offensive in 2025. 

Eventually, Matt and Jay reflect on their long friendship, and Jay reconsiders his decision to go solo. It is an emotional turn for the film, which had been overtly lighthearted to that point. However, Matt becomes angry when Jay admits that he thought of leaving him and writes a message to their past selves, whom they’ve been narrowly avoiding until this point. Eventually, we get back to the present, where Jay has become a star solo singer as a result of the message.

Jay, now a global superstar, is inserted into major pop culture moments and phenomena of the 2020s. One of these moments includes taking Chris Rock’s place at the Oscars in 2022. Jokes like these show that Johnson isn’t afraid to allude to a little controversy here and there, and surprisingly, it works. 

Now, the film starts losing momentum. The dependence on references for comic appeal and the use of classic yet overused tropes and gags get old. The antics of Matt’s immature character start to feel a little tiring as well. However, the film picks itself back up with a couple of final twists. Jay accidentally puts his success on the line after things get bloody. 

The film starts to close with Matt choosing to sacrifice himself to allow Jay to remain successful, using his body to conduct electricity into the time machine. Jay, however, thinks back to their beginnings as a band and reevaluates his decision, deciding to go back and rewrite Matt’s message to their younger selves. 

To close, we are brought back to the opening scene of the film, where Jay, instead of disregarding Matt’s skydive plan, tells him to go early, knowing the time change will enable Matt’s success. 

Overall, as a buddy comedy, the film is a success. Even though the never-ending gags get tiring, it’s refreshing that the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously with its many self-referential jokes. Matt often speaks to the cameraman, Jared, and even addresses the audience at one point. At one point, he remarks to the camera that one of his particularly absurd plans is actually “too stupid,” exemplifying the film’s fun self-awareness.  

Ultimately, this film is about friendship. A lot of the gags are old classics, and the character dynamics are nothing new, but the creative premise of the film, witty pop culture references and meta humor make it worth a watch.