Without A Paddle Movie Review:


Without a Paddle has a abundant moments that will call for you to chuckle or giggle, but uneven blending of numerous elements like physical comedy, angry gun toting bad guys, treasure hunting, and the bonds of friendship literally drench the film. This film has strong intentions and is more amusing than one would first presume, but there is nothing crisp at all about it.

The film follows a trio of thirty-year old childhood buddies who have all come back home to due to accidental death of the fourth friend of their circle. Dan (Seth Green) is the squirt of the group, who is a successful doctor that lacks confidence. Jerry (Matthew Lillard) is the bummed out marketing guru, who can not commit to his live in girlfriend (Bonnie Sommerville). Lastly, there is Tom (Dax Shepard), who is a continuos liar that has not amount to anything since high school.

After attending the funeral of their old friend, Billy, in a sense of reflection the three make their way to their childhood tree house. An old box is found that contains the group’s past oath to find a bank robber’s hidden treasure in the wilderness Northwest Mountains. In dedication to Billy, the three look to finish their promise through an adventure of a lifetime. Numerous obstacles arise through out their quest for the treasure, which include ravage water rapids and encounters with an enormous bear. After accidentally sending a field of homegrown marijuana up into flames, the three are chased by two pot growing mountain men (Ethan Suplee and Abraham Benrubi). The three also run into two beautiful tree loving women and a ragged old timer (Burt Reynolds) that holds a few of the film’s secrets. With all of these obscure occurrences risking each of their lives, a bond of friendship is still solidified in a comedic nature.

There are numerous references to the 1980’s throughout Without a Paddle, which include Star Wars among other film references. Though director Steven Brill specifically focuses on these 80’s references and really just let’s his three leads loose to do their usual comedic thing, it is the lame and uneven script that hampers the film. Without a Paddle strives to be a buddy comedy that has adventure and dramatic elements, but it is not meshed together that well. With the same blueprint as a classic film like The Goonies, Without a Paddle just comes up a little short to being recommendable. The one-liners at times work, but the relationship between the three friends is hardly felt. Another significant problem is with the sequencing, which has the three foolishly outsmarting a bear, to a scene straight out of a Cheech & Chong movie, to a shoot-em-up with two hefty mountain men chasing them with a vast supply of bullets. The pay-offs are also stiff, with the tossing of one’s own waste or the deliberate nature of three naked men having to cuddle against one another to stay warm yearning for numerous laughs.

However, Without a Paddle is not an unwatchable comedy or a painful trip to the theater as some of this year’s previous comedies (Envy). The likeness and pure silliness of the film’s three leads (Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard) make the film a lot better than it really is. Working with a debunked script, the director probably left it up to the three to perform an ample amount of improvisation. The criticizing Green, the goofy Lillard, and the out of touch Shepard really do what they always do in terms of comedy, but the though the mixing of elements in the film does not work, the combination of these three zany actors does work. The three work effectively off each other with their precise comedic deliveries and responses. In an attempt to poke a little fun at his past role in Deliverance, Burt Reynolds also arises as worn old man.

If you are looking for a pure escapism film full of stupidity and ridiculousness, Without a Paddle may be for you. The three leads work well together and garner numerous chuckles throughout. However, the film is weakly composed and strives too hard to be something of a classic buddy bonding comedy, rather than a just a crazy comedy or an endearing drama with some comedic moments.

Grade: C

Bailey Henderson

Childhood best friends Tom (Shepard), Jerry (Lillard) and Dan (Green) come together for the funeral of the other member of their gang, Billy. Now nearly thirty and living their lives, the trio return to their old tree house to find that Billy has left them something, a treasure map to the location of the missing money that was stolen by D.B. Cooper thirty years ago. Deciding to honour his memory they set out on the adventure of a lifetime, with only the wilderness between them and glory.

A group of friends coming together for one last adventure to look for a hidden treasure, sound familiar?

This is a movie that is trying to be a grown up version of ‘The Goonies’ but it just doesn’t have the style, magic or budget to compete with that cult classic. Instead we have an average story, with some pantomime villains that is only saved by the performances of the three leads.

Matthew Lillard, Seth Green and Dax Shepard are the only reason to watch the movie, as their performances are a lot better than the script deserves. Anyone who has watched the Scooby Doo films will know that Matthew Lillard is a fine comedic actor, when given the chance. As Jerry, he plays the one out of the trio who is scared of commitment and really starting his life. The role is far too lacking for Lillard’s proven talents but he manages to make the character endearing. Seth Green play the fear riddled Dan with ease. While he might be the most intelligent of the group, as he is a doctor, he is also the butt of all the jokes and the one who gets in the most scrapes. Dax Shepard makes his jump to the big screen with ease. Best know as one of Ashton Kutcher’s field agents in the MTV series Punk’d, Shepard shows that he is also a gifted comedic actor and he makes the unlucky and constantly lying Tom, the highlight of the film.

Supporting the three leads we have Ethan Suplee and Abraham Benrubi as stereotypical Southern American’s who are obsessed with guns and not too clever. These characters are well below the acting talents of theses two performers and they deserve a lot better than this. A fleeting cameo by a barely recognisable Burt Reynolds and fleeting appearances by Bonnie Somerville, Rachel Blanchard and Christina Moore add little to the story, as they don’t get enough time to shine.

Without a Paddle had the potential to be a grown up version of a classic Treasure flick, but what you have is a missed opportunity. A good cast is let down by an unimaginative script, that doesn’t push the material far enough, which is a shame as there was a lot of potential here.

Star Rating = * *

Jamie Kelwick

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