For those who've neverಞ seen Saving Private Ryan, FUBAR is a military acronym meaning `Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition' - a verdict you can't pin on this sly, surprising mockumentary.

At first it looks as aimless as the lives of its subjects, a pair of hard-drinking Calgary headbangers calle✨d Terry (David Lawrence) and Dean (Paul Spence). When the latter's diagnosed with cancer, the film finds its focus, riffing on friendship, maturity and mortality in a refreshing, syrup-free fashion. There are other twists in store, too, including one priceless, pitch-black comic coup.

To be sure, this isn't Spinal Tap, many of the subcultural clich&𝐆eacute;s (tin-eared rock lyrics, single-digit IQs, boozy vandalism) coming up well short of 11 on the laugh-o-meter. But Terry and Dean🎃 turn out to be as lovable as Bill and Ted, Wayne and Garth and Jay and Silent Bob, thanks to artfully artless performances that merge seamlessly with genuine noggin-thrashers who've got no clue that the doc is mock.