Post by StevePulaski on Nov 29, 2011 15:22:22 GMT -5
The crew in Strange Wilderness.
Rating: ★★
"Maximum antics, minimum laughter." - My review of Weekend at Bernie's II.
Adam Sandler's production company "Happy Madison" has been known to make other comedies starring many other different actors. It seems they gathered up a group of pretty well known actors for Strange Wilderness, just not all of them are there. This is the kind of comedy that will rank in its favor when it gets its debut on Comedy Central at midnight.
Steve Zahn is one of my favorite actors today simply because he can play as anyone. He was lovable as the idiot brother in Joy Ride, fantastic as the deadbeat in Riding in Cars With Boys, and here he does the best he can with the material he has to work with. Sadly, he doesn't do too much and neither does his character.
Zahn plays Peter Gaulke, a likable shulb who is struggling to keep the pace of his father's television show Strange Wilderness. The main problem is not only is he incompetent, but so is his crew (composed of Kevin Heffernan of "Broken Lizard," Jonah Hill, Justin Long, Allen Covert, and Ashley Scott).
After a stern warning from the Television executive Ed (played amusingly by Jeff Garlin), the gang schemes to buy a map that leads to the urban legend Bigfoot. Once they get the map, they run amok in every cliche possible.
For example, the Junior character (Justin Long) character is a heavy pothead, which is already disappointing seeing a great actor not all there. Once they find out they need $1,000 for the Bigfoot map, at the Dentist where Fred (Covert) and Peter are getting their teeth fixed, Junior decides to steal a heavy tank of laughing gas worth about, hmmm, $1,000. Most illogical or a mere coincidence?
Humor is present, but when it comes it's not strong enough to keep you laughing. Which is why Strange Wilderness is poor in the field is shouldn't be. Humor is subjective, and I believe some will be able to dive into Strange Wilderness and laugh the day away. This film greatly reminds me of Weekend at Bernie's II. There are constant crazy antics but only about a third of them are actually funny. The rest, well, aren't.
Strange Wilderness has a lively cast, but the script is below average and the directing sub-par. It's shocking that this actually had a limited run in theaters seeing as there is nothing remotely special about it. It's the perfect example of why more companies should start investing in crafty independent films rather than just dead-in-their-tracks comedies.
Starring: Steve Zahn, Jonah Hill, Justin Long, Peter Dante, Allen Covert, Kevin Heffernan, and Ashley Scott. Directed by: Fred Wolf.