Review of Without a Paddle (2004) by Nick B — 23 Sep 2013

I have recently viewed the movie "Without A Paddle" and it was quite displeasing. Which is nothing new for the Director, Steven Brill. Steven has directed, "Drillbit Taylor," "Knocked Up," and "Joe Dirt." His movies are filled with cheesy humor that for anyone over the age of ten would think the jokes are unoriginal, childish, and sleazy. All his movies have the same concept. For example, one of the three men is thrown through a barn wall to make an escape. The same scene happens in a part of "Drillbit Taylor.".

"Without A Paddle" starts off giving the life story about four friends that over time went their separate ways. Dan (Seth Green), Jerry (Matthew Lillard), and Tom (Dax Shepard) are abruptly brought back together when their adventurous friend was killed in an accident. After the funeral they decided to start their $200,000 treasure hunt they wanted to go on when they were young children. They soon run into trouble on the river they were traveling on and come across a couple marijuana farmers that are not too fond of them being on their property. What treasure hunt movie wouldn't be complete without bad guys on there tail the whole time? These two guys are the classic bad guy duo. You have the brains that is not coordinated at all and the brawn that is as dumb as a box of rocks. Not to mention they have unrealistic aiming skills. After firing off about a thousand rounds with multiple guns at Dan, Jerry, and Tom, the worse injury is a little scrape from a bullet that grazed Tom's arm.

The three friends seem to never get a break from mindless things happening to them. Especially Dan, a 5'6" red haired man that fits the average stereotypical redhead doctor that has worked his butt off his entire life, but seems to always find trouble. Everything that could go wrong, goes wrong for Dan. After about twenty minutes of watching, you can start anticipating what pointless obstacle is going to happen next for these three goofballs. Tom is the typical loser that makes lies up about his entire life making it look like he is a successful man and is living great, when in reality is a homeless nobody living off of others. Matt is the only one that seems like a normal person, until you start getting deeper into the movie. He is stuck in a dead end job and in a troubled relationship with the girl of his dreams. In the end, just like all the other movies, everything turns out fine as expected.

All in all there are a few parts that make you chuckle, but nothing that will give you one of those gut aching laughs that bring a tear to your eye. If you are looking for a movie that will give you a few cheap laughs then I recommend trying out this movie. If you want a movie that will make your stomach sore from laughing and something you can talk to your friends about for weeks, then pass this one up folks.