The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal is a Canadian television documentary series, slated to premiere on Prime Video in 2024.[1] Directed by filmmaker Mike Downie, the four-episode series profiles the history of the influential Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, including interviews with the band members and other cultural figures including musician Geddy Lee, comedians The Trailer Park Boys, actor Will Arnett and broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos.[2]
Production
Downie described the series as "the most fulfilling experience and rewarding experience I’ve ever had in making a film", but also the hardest thing he had ever done since working on the project sparked a lot of memories of the death of lead singer Gord Downie, his brother.[3]
According to Downie, the goal of the series was not just to document the band's history, but also to explore the question of how the band's music came to resonate so strongly with Canadians.[3]
Alex Hudson of Exclaim! rated the series 8 out of 10, writing that "At the heart of the story, of course, is Gord Downie — whose art and personality retain a certain enigma in spite of this deep dive. His tragic absence means that he's never able to offer the same level of career retrospection as his bandmates. The final episode, which covers the end of the Hip as well as his later solo works and activism, is a tear-jerker. And yet, even in its saddest moments, No Dress Rehearsal is about celebrating rather than wallowing."[7]