Netflix Quirky Survival Comedy The Kind Of Silly You Need In Your Life

Written by Robert Scucci | Published 12 seconds ago

When I was 15, I rented a copy of the book Without a Paddle at a local video store, and was accused of not returning the title. Since I was the last person on record to check out the movie and it wasn’t on their list, and I wanted to continue renting movies, I reluctantly asked for $80 to keep myself on good terms with the owner. Years later, I found the DVD case firmly wedged between the parts of my entertainment center, too Without a Paddle it’s still the most expensive movie in my collection because of that.

Now that Without a Paddle is streaming on Netflix, I wonder if it was worth paying so much for a hard-hitting comedy starring Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Dax Shepard. After streaming the title (I lost the DVD again but it’s floating around somewhere), I can be sure that I don’t regret it at all– like an idiot Without a Paddle arguably, the ultimate feel-good comedy of the early aughts, and the kind of film critics hate but fans of slapstick comedy will devour.

Best Buds Reconnecting

Without a Paddle focuses on three old friends: Dan (Seth Green), Jerry (Matthew Lillard), and Tom (Dax Shepard). After succumbing to the tedium of adult life, the three friends reunite to celebrate the life of their recently deceased friend, Billy (Anthony Starr). Billy was known as an adventurer, and died while sailing in Costa Rica during one of his many perilous expeditions.

Dan is a massage therapist with a successful private practice, but he has trouble meeting women because he’s the kind of hypochondriac who’s afraid of things like plastic wrap. Jerry is a reluctant 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. Leading the trio is Tom, a compulsive liar and the least successful but confident member of the group.

Searching for Hidden Treasure

Gathering in their childhood tree house shown in the opening sequence of Without a PaddleDan, Jerry, and Tom remember all the good times they had with Billy in their childhood before going their separate ways. While going through their old belongings, they are reminded of the blood pact they made with Billy about finding a treasure hidden by a well-known con artist named DB Cooper. Unbeknownst to him, Billy had spent much of his adult life engrossed in the legend of DB Cooper and his hidden treasure, and he kept adding to his finds in their arboretum in hopes that one day he would retrace Cooper’s footsteps.

Realizing that Billy is dead before the gang can reunite and find the treasure, the three friends decide to go to Oregon to honor Billy and make good on their deal.

Things Keep Getting Worse

Not knowing anything outside, Dan, Jerry, and Tom head into the remote wilderness Without a Paddle except for 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 move quickly. Even the Native American river guide from whom they rented the boat tells them that the boat has a GPS tracker so that he can retrieve it after drowning in the roaring river they were about to cross, but they are determined until they leave. with their old compass and Billy’s map anyway.

Without a Paddle It quickly and steadily escalates as the group of clueless friends fight off a grizzly bear more than once, are thrown over waterfalls, strip naked and huddle in the rain to keep warm, and accidentally stumble upon a massive drug operation run by two unhinged hillbillies named Dennis (Abraham Benrubi) and Elwood (Ethan Suplee) while doing Liberation clues (keep your eye out for a third act cameo by Burt Reynolds). As the gang finds themselves in deep water (literally and figuratively), their friendship, and their commitment to celebrating Billy’s life keeps them going even as their mission shifts from treasure hunting to survival.

Goofball Energy and Chemistry

As outlandish as Without a Paddle maybe, Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Dax Shepard make it work because they come off as people you’d want to go on this kind of adventure with. At the very least, if I was going to be killed but not found in a remote desert, I would want to go out and sing Culture Club songs while being shot by a drug runner who also likes to belt out his best song “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” amidst a burst of machine guns.

At the very least, a critical score of 15% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to Popcornmeter’s 68% is sufficient indication that Without a Paddle it found its audience. Without a Paddle it’s not a serious film that tries to explore the human condition while teaching its audience a lesson about the dangers of the great outdoors.

If you want to watch someone get mauled to death by a bear, you can go watch it The back country.

If you want to sit back and laugh as three friends get in over their heads in search of hidden treasure, you can stream Without a Paddle on Netflix.