Technically, fans curious about the mockumentary, Hey Viktor! does not need to see the comedy Smoke Signals to make sense out of why Cody Lightning is stuck in the past. He’s done much more since playing that kid long ago. And thankfully, off camera, this Native American actor has done better for himself than in what this movie suggests. However, I couldn’t help but wonder where the lines of reality are blurred. After the aforementioned movie’s success, most of these talents moved on to do better things.
However, for Lightning, he’s stuck in the past and he’s wondering why he’s not been receiving those royalty checks. As a result, he’s taken on jobs he’s not proud of, and when his wife finally leaves him, this guy is not sure how to forge ahead. After a proposition from Craig Boner (Colin Mochrie) who has his own success story with a reality show, “Getting Sober with Craig Boner,” this individual decides it’s time to make a sequel to that cult hit. To see him attempt to reconnect with that cast is sometimes pitiful and strangely funny.
When all he has is Kate (Hannah Cheesman) as perhaps the only person willing to go along with his plan, what’s presented is very Scooby-Doo. I had to chuckle along. Other characters who get involved include Uncle Reggie (Conway Kootenay) and a mysterious gun-wielding German who thinks recreating moments of the original film would win favours! It’s quite the opposite!
Had I not sought out the 1985 film to see what the fuss is about, I would not have recognized the value of the original. Also, I would not have recognised Simon Baker, Adam Beach, Gery Farmer, Irene Bedard; they returned to appear in this work to simply say hi. In a way, this movie is not just a fever dream about Lightning wanting to relive all those glory days. Instead, it concerns how to deal with life The Simpsons style. And as it’s also a reunion of sorts, this film has a bit of purpose.
Hey, Viktor! is a film that won’t be for everyone. It has a few very raunchy moments some may not like. I was curious as I like to support indigenous films, and its core themes work well alongside other recent works I’ve seen, like The Great Salish Heist. Although life in the plains is no different from in other areas, thankfully, Lightning knows where this movie’s heart belongs.
3½ Stars out of 5
Hey Viktor! Movie Trailer
