“Dude, you need to stop dancing” is a spoof DVD about the friction within Boys Night Out, the well known Canadian punk rock band fronted by Jeff Davis, and if you didn’t know the band you’d almost buy into the mock fighting and intensity. It’s believable for about five minutes as Jeff and Connor act out a dislike for each other and the tension is slowly building before their last three shows ever. However up steps the portly drummer Brian and he ruins any hope that this video had of tricking people into believing that Boys Night Out were one big train wreck (anyone see what I’ve done there?). He can’t keep a straight face for even ten seconds and from that point onwards the documentary descends into a rather drawn out and tedious faux band break up – culminating in the death of bass played Dave Costa (who is practically non existent before this) and the rather empty and wasted lives the remaining band members go on to live.
Credit should be given to Jeff and Connor who act their parts well and keep the documentary together, but you know you’re struggling for entertainment when one of the highlights is Say Anything playing in the background in one scene. If proof is ever needed that bands should stick to making music, rather than acting, then Boy Night Out’s “Dude, you need to stop dancing” is the first piece of evidence you should call upon.
In addition to the documentary you are treated to a twelve track live set from Toronto in March 2006 which ends with crowd pleaser “I got punched in the nose for sticking my face in other people’s business”. It doesn’t portray BNO as an amazing live band though and as a result is unlikely to draw them a whole new audience. It has convinced me to check out their records a bit more and therefore you could argue that it’s done its job. This is a must for big fans of the band, but it’s not something a passer by is ever going to be interested in.
Tom