Beyond the Pole combines combines the best of Al Gore with the comedic timing of Better Off Ted. In mockumentary style, a la Paper Heart, Mark (Stephen Mangan) and Brian (Rhys Thomas), two Brits, band together and traipse their asses toward the North Pole. Mark, as the brains of the operation, wants to save the earth from environmental destruction, and he’s convinced his lovable, puppy dog-like bud Brian that this is the best way to do it.
The film opens up with one of the funniest parts: Mark and Brian explaining the why behind hiking, training, and ferrying (no planes here!) to the North Pole. They banter back and forth and finally show off what’s under their shirts: more shirts. The tees say, “Don’t be impotent. Be important.” Ah, boys. Tee hee hee.
But how will this trip save the world? And do they have to save the cheerleader first? (No to the latter.) The guys aim for the Guinness Book of World Records: to be the first carbon neutral, unsupported, organic, and vegetarian duo to trek on down (up?) to Santa’s homeland. Along the way, they fight freezing temperatures, polar bears, their internal demons, and Alexander Skarsg