H2O (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Charles Binamé

Writers:

Paul Gross (co-writer)
John Krizanc (writer)

Release Date:

31 October 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A dead Prime Minister. A country in turmoil. A battle for Canada's most precious resource...

Plot:

When Canada's Prime Minister drowns in what appears to be a boating accident, his son takes office and is drawn into a deceptive world of power and corruption.

Plot Keywords:

Canada | Prime Minister | Conspiracy | Ottawa Ontario | Police

Awards:

3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Paul Gross	...	Thomas David McLaughlin
Leslie Hope	...	Sgt. Leah Collins
Guy Nadon	...	Marc Lavigne
Martha Henry	...	Julia McLaughlin
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Don Pritchard / Lt. Daniel Holt
Michael Murphy	...	U.S. Ambassador Conrad
Barry Flatman	...	Cam Ritchie
Louise Portal	...	Marie Lavigne
Philip Akin	...	U.S. President Monroe (as Phil Akin)
Macha Grenon	...	Lavigne's Aide
Peter MacNeill	...	Police Chief
Jeff Pustil	...	Deever
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Grand Chief Katie Blackfire
Diego Matamoros	...	Doug McKay
Jeff Seymour	...	Nate Morgan

Also Known As:

H2O: The Last Prime Minister (Canada: English title) (long title)

Runtime:

177 min | Canada:240 min (including commercials)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Greece:K-13 | Canada:14

Filming Locations:

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Whizbang Films Inc.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the Fort Rupert Royal Canadian Legion hall, the barkeep is wearing a ball cap. Legion protocol strictly forbids the wearing of hats within the building.

Quotes:

Thomas David McLaughlin: I'm the Prime Minister of Canada! You're just businessmen!

Movie Connections:

Followed by "The Trojan Horse" (2008)

Beyond the pale

Paul Gross learned many things while playing a Mountie on US TV, I will grant him that. That is all, however, that I will grant him. This 2-part mini-series looks slick, but that is as deep as it goes. The attempts to portray a kind of unrequited affair with the female lead were pathetic. The portrayal that either the First Nations or Quebec would present a serious threat with actual violence (as seen in this film) is laughable; sorry, but Paul Gross is too much a pretty-boy to be taken seriously in this role. Bottom line: the premise is flawed (you cannot possibly be elected in a by-election, then become Prime Minister within the time-frame presented); and the enactment of such a thing as the War Meaures Act could not possibly occur within the context of this movie. Given what went on within Quebec the last time it was used (I was there), an enactment of it under the circumstances presented in this movie is an incomprehensible thing to anyone who lived there at that time. You want to create the situation for a referendum on sovereignty? That would be it, and sovereignty would win, with my vote helping! Second bottom line:way too slick overall to be taken seriously as any kind of drama/commentary on the world we live in in reality! 2 thumbs DOWN! Not even worth a re-watch.