ORIGINAL: spaniel
I'll let Taquamenon comment on this, but even as a Troll (I was from "under the bridge", ie the Lower Penninsula, and only lived in the UP for college) Escanaba in da moonlight really irritated me. It's a different culture up there but not like that. I rather enjoyed my time up there though 300+ inches of snow got old.
From the non-UP perspective I suppose the way things are done and traditionshereby yoopers would not only seem (Escanabe in Da Moonlight) but in some cases very much actually are. No different really from any other very rural and isolated region (both economically and socially)of the US where local lore and culture is allowed to flourish or be repressed. There are elements to the movie that are 100% accurate.
Since the Mackinac Bridge however, the UP of Michigan has changed considerably to much different that what life was. I suppose everywhere has that saga to some extent.
Progress you know. For me I don't care for it. But then I have my slice of heaven so it's easier for me to say "let's keep things the way they were/are".
Tahquamenon