Netflix’s quirky survival comedy is the silliness you need in your life
Pa Robert Succi
| Published
I rented a copy when I was 15 Without a paddle from a local video store, and was accused of not returning the title. Since I was the last person to check out the movie and it wasn’t in their inventory and I wanted to continue renting movies, I reluctantly shelled out over $80 to keep my good standing with the owner. Years later, I discovered that the DVD case was wedged tightly between the sections of my entertainment center Without a paddle as a result, it remains the most expensive film in my collection.
Now this Without a paddle is broadcast NetflixI wonder if it was ever worth paying such a high fee for a critically acclaimed comedy starring Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard. After streaming title (I’ve lost the DVD again, but it’s floating around somewhere), I can be sure I have no regrets – as silly as Without a paddle it may be the best survival comedy of its early days, and just the kind of movie that critics will hate, but fans of low-key humor will eat up.
Best Buds Reconnecting
Without a paddle in the center – three adult childhood friends: Dan (Seth Green), Jerry (Matthew Lillard) and Tom (Dax Shepard). Succumbing to the hardships of adulthood, three friends reunite to celebrate the life of their recently deceased friend Billy (Anthony Starr). Billy was known as an avid traveler and died parasailing in Costa Rica during one of his many risky excursions.
Dan is a snooty doctor who has a successful private practice but has a hard time meeting women because he’s the kind of hypochondriac who’s afraid of things like plastic wrap. Jerry is an unenthusiastic but successful businessman who prefers to spend all his free time surfing, causing his girlfriend Denise (Bonnie Somerville) to question his commitment to their relationship. Rounding out the trio is Tom, an inveterate liar who is also the least successful but most confident member of the group.
In search of hidden treasure
Gathering in their childhood tree house, which was depicted in the opening sequence Without a paddleDan, Jerry and Tom reminisce about all the great times they had with Billy as children before going their separate ways. While rummaging through their old possessions, they are reminded of the blood pact they made with Billy to find a treasure hidden by a notorious con artist and adventurer named D. B. Cooper. Little did they know that Billy had spent most of his adult life obsessed with the legend of D. B. Cooper and his hidden riches, and continued to add his finds to their tree stash in hopes of one day following Cooper’s path.
Realizing that Billy had died before they could gather the gang and find the treasure, the three friends decided to head to Oregon in Billy’s honor so they could fulfill their contract.
Everything is getting worse
With little to no experience in the outdoors, Dan, Jerry, and Tom head into the middle of nowhere Without a paddle with just a rented kayak and a few cases of beer. Against the advice of the local sheriff (Ray Baker), they set out to find D’s treasure. B. Cooper, and things quickly go off the rails. Even the Native American river guide they rent the canoe from tells them the boat has a GPS tracker so he can get it back after they drown in the raging river they’re about to cross, but they’re so determined that they set out with his old compass and Billy’s map.
Without a paddle quickly and steadily escalates as the inexperienced group of friends repeatedly fend off a ravenous bear, plunge through waterfalls, strip and huddle together in the rain to keep each other warm, and accidentally stumble upon a massive drug operation run by two careless mountain men named Dennis (Abraham Benrubi) and Elwood (Ethan Supley) during manufacture Liberation links (watch out for a Burt Reynolds cameo in the third act). As the gang finds themselves in deeper water (literally and figuratively), their friendship and commitment to celebrating Billy’s life keeps them going, even as their mission shifts from treasure hunting to simply surviving the elements.
Goofball Energy and Chemistry
As awesome as Without a paddle maybe Seth GreenMatthew Lillard and Dax Shepard pull it off because they seem like people you’d want to go on adventures with. At least if I was going to get killed and never be found in the middle of nowhere, I’d want to go out singing Culture Club songs while being shot at by a drug dealer who also likes to sing his best rendition of “You Really Want to Hurt Me” between machine gun blasts.
At least a 15 percent critical score Rotten tomatoes against a Popcornmeter score of 68 percent is proof enough of that Without a paddle found his audience. Without a paddle it’s not a deep film that tries to explore the hubris of man while teaching the audience a lesson about the dangers of nature.
If you want to watch a bear literally maul someone to death, you can go watch it Backcountry.
If you want to sit back and laugh as three pals go on a scavenger hunt for hidden treasures, then you can stream Without a paddle on Netflix.
English