Being Canadian | Rotten Tomatoes

Being Canadian

2015

1 hr. 30 min.

Documentary

TRAILER

for Being Canadian: Trailer 1

List

33%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Rob Cohen tries to find out what it really means to be Canadian.

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Audience Member

It's incredible that this regressive documentary was made a mere seven years ago. It's full of cliches and stereotypes. For example, that early Canadian television was bad. (The late sixties drama "Wojeck" was circulated internationally and quirky shows like "Seeing Things" were innovative and interesting). There is no indigenous nor black Canadian representation in the film either. Nor mention of their contribution to Canadian history. The only Inuit reference was igloo this, igloo that. Contrivances galore. There was also few women and permanently residing in Canada actors. (The Farce appear briefly but Mr. Cohen quickly gets back to the Canucks residing in Los Angeles). I am surprised bordering on shocked, that CTV and CBC online continue to screen such an out of place and time feature. Considering what Canadians are grappling with at the moment in the spring of 2022: residential school children in graveyards, rude, opportunistic governments and fringe "freedom" convoys polluting the capital - "Being Canadian": not.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

dave s

In Being Canadian, Robert Cohen sets off on an epic road trip from Nova Scotia to British Columbia in search of what it means to be a Canadian. The documentary confirms that Canadians are polite, apologetic, resistant to but also accepting of periodically frigid temperatures, and like to look down their collective nose at Americans while simultaneously feeling a bit overshadowed. As a Canadian, it was nice to see the beautiful landscapes and enjoy some of the self-deprecating humor, but the movie felt a bit aimless and much of it felt heavily contrived. While those who are unfamiliar with Canadian culture may have learned a thing or two, Canadians themselves will simply shrug at the end and think ‘yeah, that sums it up, eh?'

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Zach S

i love Canadians. many of these people are intolerable though.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/10/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Great job ! Well done

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/15/20

Full Review

fargo n

Great try, but rather superficial tourist trip by a white guy who most likely lives in the USA now with WAY to many "celebrities" who all now live in the USA - i.e. mostly all white men. Nothing about the land, nature. Maybe that is why people live in Canada - they love the natural surroundings.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very funny movie full of great Canadian comedians and definite good-natured Canadian vibe.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

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Robert Cohen

Director

Robert Cohen

Host

Catherine O'Hara

Self

Cobie Smulders

Self

Ben Stiller

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Mike Myers

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Being Canadian: Trailer 1

2:07

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Adam Nayman

The Walrus

Being Canadian reifies stereotypes under the guise of deconstructing them, and panders to the pernicious idea of celebrity authority (with a few experts and plucked-from-the-crowd civilians sprinkled in for good measure).

Jan 2, 2016

Full Review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Los Angeles Times

It's all pleasant enough, but the film, ultimately more of a checklist than an in-depth analysis, never really shines any fresh light on Canada's identity crisis or gets to the source of all those preconceived notions.

Sep 17, 2015

Full Review

Liz Braun

Toronto Sun

[A] good-natured documentary.

Rated: 3/5

May 7, 2015

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Norman Wilner

NOW Toronto

Being Canadian is more of a pandering stunt than a proper documentary, filled with easy jokes and semi-comical historical observations, but not much in the way of actual insight.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 18, 2015

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Jay Stone

Ex-Press.com

Another shallow, easy, and small-time immersion in the sort of nationalistic navel-gazing most people outgrew years ago.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 12, 2015

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Ethan Alter

Film Journal International

Like our good neighbor to the north, this first-person documentary is genial, amusing and a little bit dull.

Sep 16, 2015

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Synopsis

Rob Cohen tries to find out what it really means to be Canadian.

Director: Robert Cohen
Screenwriter: Robert Cohen
Production Co: GRAiNEY PICTURES
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016

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