“Michael Moore’s ready to bust loose from documentaries”

While director Michael Moore was up in Traverse City, MI to promote that city’s film festival, the Detroit News uncovered this nugget:

Michael Moore, by far the most successful documentary filmmaker of all time, is thinking of getting out of the business of making documentaries.

Not right away. He’s got the sure-to-be-controversial “Capitalism: A Love Story

“ due in theaters Oct. 2. But after that?

“While I’ve been making this film I’ve been thinking that maybe this will be my last documentary,” says the Flint native, who filmed and starred in such hits as “Sicko,” “Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11.” “Or maybe for a while.”

So if not documentaries, what then?

“I have been working on two screenplays over the last couple of years,” he says. “One’s a comedy, one’s a mystery, and I really want to do this.”

Lest you think this is a gargantuan leap for Moore, don’t forget that he wrote and directed Canadian Bacon (1995), a movie strewn with satirical slurs slung toward our neighbors to the North including:

“Canadians are always dreaming up a lotta ways to ruin our lives. The metric system, for the love of God! Celsius! Neil Young!”

“The Canadians. They walk among us. William Shatner. Michael J. Fox. Monty Hall. Mike Meyers. Alex Trebek. All of them Canadians. All of them here.”

“It is the height of six American football fields, or five Canadian football fields. As if Canadian football really counts.”

“When have you ever heard anyone say, ‘Honey, lets stay in and order Canadian food’?”

“Think of your children pledging allegiance to the maple leaf. Mayonnaise on everything. Winter 11 months of the year. Anne Murray — all day, every day.”

“Like maple syrup, Canada’s evil oozes over the United States.”

“[reading card] ‘Best wishes, Gordon Lightfoot.’ Eeew!”

And while we’re at it, here’s a cut from the flick featuring the late great John Candy:

What do you think? Michael Moore goes scripted: more (Moore) competition or you’re looking forward to seeing his movies?