The "rowdyman" character in this film is Will Cole, a man in his mid-30s who never grew up. While his peers are starting families and becoming responsible members of society, Will takes a perverse pride in never changing, keeping on being that overgrown teenager who has only minimal responsibilities in life. Often seen acting crazy at parties, getting into scrapes with the police, and drinking far too much, Will is a well known character in a small Newfoundland town. He idolizes his close friend Stan, an elderly man, now disabled and frail, who lived life in the same reckless way as Will is living. Eventually, Will's irresponsibility causes tragedy (the death of his childhood friend Andrew), and then everything goes downhill for him. Yet, at the end of the film, Will is seen hopping merrily along, seemingly content with his life. I remember feeling, at the end, that I wish there were a sequel, so that I can see what eventually happens to Will. Then, I realized that I don't need a sequel. We've already seen Will's future in his elderly friend Stan. In their last conversations before Stan's death, Stan laments his own life, and especially that he didn't marry the woman who loved him. Then, as the movie proceeds, it becomes clear that Will's life in moving in the same direction as Stan's life did. This well-acted and well-written film is a masterful and authentic portrait of a wasted life in the making.
Review of The Rowdyman
