DVD Release Date:  July 31, 2007
Theatrical Release Date:  April 13, 2007
Rating:  R (for some language, sexual materials and drug content)
Genre:  Comedy
Run Time:  95 min.
Director:  Paul Fox
Actors:  Paulo Constanzo, Steph Song, J.R. Bourne, Auden Devine, Susan Hogan

In 1992, Canadian author Douglas Copeland coined the term “Generation X” with his novel about adults who were coming-of-age in an increasingly disillusioned and materialistic era.  He portrayed the generation born after 1964 as one who had watched their homes annihilated by divorce and who were now caught between the need to survive and a desperate, desolate search for meaning.

It is not surprising, therefore, that as the screenwriter for Everything’s Gone Green, Copeland explores the same theme.  Fortunately, his angst-ridden, insightful dialogue is one of the best things about this low budget but well-made independent film.  And, like his novels, Copeland certainly prompts us to ponder the deeper questions of life.

“Does anybody do anything real these days?” asks 29-year-old Ryan (Paulo Constanzo, of TV’s Joey).  “Everyone’s in on a scam or creating something nobody really needs to sell to people who are too stupid to care or notice.  Whatever happened to just being real?  Why aren’t we content to just be middle class?”

Another character answers, “Middle class?  It’s cute but unworkable—unless you’re using middle class pictures to sell things to people who still think there’s a middle class.  But it’s all just pictures.  And I mean the old suburbs we grew up in.  You show the kids playing road hockey and mom serving the four food groups on the table every night.  But the parents were always fighting and having key parties.  And the kids all ended up hooked on drugs and addicted to Play Station and nobody ever talked about anything real.  I mean, I don’t miss it, man. No way.  And now they’re not even sure whether it’s four food groups or three.  It really makes you think.”

Ryan certainly has time to do that.  After losing his girlfriend, job and apartment on the same day, he is seriously bumming.  His parents aren’t any help at all, his older brother thinks he’s a loser and his ten-year-old niece just wants to be “a trophy wife.”  When a whale gets stranded on one of Vancouver’s many beaches, Ryan meets the lovely Ming (Steph Song), who like him, has reached out to “touch something bigger than herself.” 

Unfortunately, Ming is dating Bryce (J.R. Bourne), a successful golf course designer.  But when Bryce pulls Ryan into a lucrative money laundering scheme, Ryan finds himself driving a new car and able to attract beautiful women.  Can it last?  Should it?  After all, Ryan has really started to see what money can do to people.