Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
By Robert Scucci
| Published
When I was 15, I rented a copy of the Without Paddling from the local video store, and was charged with not returning the title. Since I was the last person on record to check out the movie and it wasn’t in their inventory, and I wanted to continue renting movies, I reluctantly forked over $80 to keep myself in good standing with the owner . Years later, I found the DVD case wedged tightly between parts of my entertainment centre, and Without Paddling is still the most expensive film in my collection as a result.
Now that Without Paddling is streaming on NetflixI wonder if it was ever worth paying such a hefty fee for a critical comedy with Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Dax Shepard. After streaming the title (I lost the DVD again but it’s floating around somewhere), I can rest assured that I have no regrets – as stupid as Without Paddling perhaps, this is the feel-good survival comedy of the early aughts, and just the kind of film that critics hate but follows a low-brow slapstick humor that eats up.
Best buds reconnect
Without Paddle focuses on three adult childhood friends: Dan (Green Seth), Jerry (Matthew Lillard), and Tom (Dax Shepard). After succumbing to the rigors of adulthood, the three friends reunite to celebrate the life of their recently deceased friend, Billy (Anthony Starr). Billy was known to be adventurous and well-travelled, and died parasailing in Costa Rica during one of his many dangerous trips.
Dan is a squeamish doctor who owns a successful private practice, but has trouble 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 would rather spend all his free time surfing, which makes his girlfriend, Denise (Bonnie Somerville), question his commitment to their relationship. Rounding out the trio is Tom, a compulsive liar who also happens to be the least successful but most confident member of the group.
In Search Of Hidden Treasure
Gathering in their childhood tree house depicted in the opening sequence of Without PaddlingDan, Jerry, and Tom reminisce about all the great times they had with Billy during their childhood before going their separate ways. Rummaging through their old property, they are reminded of the blood pact they made with Billy about finding a treasure hidden by a well-known artist and adventurer named DB Cooper. Little did they know, Billy spent most of his adult life obsessed with the legend of DB Cooper and his hidden fortune, and added his findings to their tree house stash in the hope of one day retracing Cooper’s steps.
Realizing that Billy died before getting the crew back together and finding the treasure, the three friends decide to go to Oregon in Billy’s honor so they can make good on their deal.
Things keep getting worse
With little to no outdoor experience, Dan, Jerry, and Tom head out into the remote wilderness Without Paddling with nothing more than a rented kayak and a few cases of beer. Against the advice of the local sheriff (Ray Baker), they set out to find DB Cooper’s treasure and things quickly went off the rails. Even the Native American river guide they rent the canoe from tells them the boat has a GPS tracker so he could recover it after they drown in the roaring river they’re about to cross, but they so determined that they set off. with their old compass and Billy’s map anyway.
Without Paddling quickly and steadily escalated as the inexperienced group of friends battled a raven bear on more than one occasion, were thrown over waterfalls, stripped bare and feathered together in the rain to keep their each other warmly, and accidentally come across a massive drug operation. two hillbillies named Dennis (Abraham Benrubi) and Elwood (Ethan Suplee) while doing Deliverance references (keep an eye out for a third act Burt Reynolds cameo). As the crew find themselves in increasingly deep waters (literally and figuratively), their friendship, and commitment to celebrating Billy’s life keeps them from turning back even as their mission shifts from treasure hunting to just survive the elements.
Goofball Energy And Chemistry
As remarkable as Without Paddling it can be Green SethMatthew Lillard, and Dax Shepard make it work because they come off as people you’d want to go into exactly that kind of adventure with. At the very least, if I was about to be killed and never found in the remote desert, I’d want to go out and sing Culture Club songs while being shot by a drug runner who also loves to record his best performance of “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” between machine gun blasts.
At least, a critical score of 15 percent onwards Rotten tomatoes against a Popcornmeter score of 68 percent is enough indication of that Without Paddling find his audience. Without Paddling It is not an intense film that tries to explore the hustle and bustle of man while teaching its audience a lesson about the dangers of the great outdoors.
If you want to watch someone get smartly mauled to death by a bear, you can go watch Hinterland.
If you want to sit back and laugh as three friends get way in over their heads looking for hidden treasure, then you can stream Without Paddling on Netflix.
