Barenaked in America

With this rockumentary, first-time director Jason Priestley (better known as 90210 sweetie Brandon Walsh) and quirky pop sensations Barenaked Ladies have conspired to restore Canada's good name after the beating our northern neighbor took last season at the hands of the South Park movie. Priestley traces the history of the band from their days as a mid-'90s cult favorite to the release of Stunt, the blockbuster '98 disc that yielded their breakthrough US hit, "One Week." The group's not-so-overnight success is undercut by tragedy when keyboardist Kevin Hearn is stricken with leukemia, which he overcomes in time to join the band at the triumphant Buffalo concert that figures prominently in the movie.

That's about the only time things get serious for the Ladies, whose legendary on-stage pranks (ridiculous ad lib dance segments, Kraft-macaroni-and-cheese-throwing wars) get ample screen time. The film overdoes the theorizing about the mundane struggles of making it in the US as a Canadian band, and at times Priestley lets the members go on and on about themselves to the point of self-indulgence. But it's hard not to like these hockey-loving, euchre-playing freaks -- even if you think their music is precious.

-- Sean Richardson