So. Many. Hawaiian. Shirts. You wouldn't think it would be possible for there to be that many Hawaiian shirts somewhere in Toronto in September, but the world premiere of "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" on the first night of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival was no ordinary night.
The playfully inventive movie stars Daniel Radcliffe in a fully committed, vividly silly performance as "Weird Al" Yankovic, who has made a career and a devoted fanbase out of parody songs such as "My Bologna," "Eat It," "Like a Surgeon" and "Jurassic Park." Evan Rachel Wood appears as Madonna, who begins an affair with Yankovic in hopes of convincing him to parody one of her songs. Rainn Wilson appears as Yankovic's mentor, radio host Doctor Demento, Quinta Brunson plays Oprah Winfrey and there is a slew of other cameos from the likes of Jack Black, Conan O'Brien and Patton Oswalt.
Screening as the opening night of the festival's Midnight Madness section, the event took place in the historic Royal Alexandra Theatre, built in 1907 and used this year for the first time as a venue by TIFF. Midnight Madness screenings had previously taken place at the Ryerson Theatre, an auditorium on a local college campus and the rowdy, school's out vibes of the screenings made sense there. Would the Alexandra's ornate proscenium and vintage flourishes fit a rowdy audience ready to clap along to the festival ads that screen before the feature?
