Movie Review

Without a Paddle

Without a Paddle comes out at the point of the summer when everyone is vacationing and thinking very little about movies, mostly because (excluding that independent hit that finally reaches mainstream theaters) they're all God-awful. If you plan on seeing Without a Paddle, though, use that information and you may be pleasantly surprised with how amiable it is, even if it doesn't exactly leave you rolling down the aisles.

The movie centers around three childhood friends, Dan (Seth Green), Jerry (Mathew Lillard), and Tom (Dax Shepard). Thrill-seekers in youth, the guys are now having their own respective problems in adulthood. Dan, who was always the most reluctant in all of their adventures, seems to be developing a different phobia every day; Jerry is fed up with his job and is struggling to keep his girlfriend; and Tom doesn't exactly know what he wants to do.

The three reunite for the funeral of the fourth member of their group, Billy, the only one who seemed to know where he was going. After the funeral the three return to the clubhouse of their boyhood and discover to their surprise that Billy left a map leading to D.B. Cooper's treasure. Realizing that this was the trip they were all meant to take, the guys go down the river in search of the gold but on the way, the guys encounter bears, cocaine harvesters, mountain men and so much more.

Without a Paddle offers a few easy but decent laughs. This movie is meant to be a joke on "Deliverance," so the jabs mostly center around hillbillies and homosexual eroticism ? some work, and others just fall flat, and the problem is that there is a long period of time in between the jokes.

Luckily the three guys have an easygoing buddy chemistry that saves the movie from being a complete bore. Dax Shepard, my favorite punk on MTV, has shown his ability as a comic actor very well over the years and I can only hope this movie gives him a wider range of movie roles. Mathew Lillard and Seth Green, on the other hand, are different stories; it took me a couple films to warm up to these guys but their performances show a free spirited charisma that is just right for comedy. Without a Paddle won't be known for being a great comedy or even a hilarious one, but has a few nice moments and a harmless air about itself; you could do a lot worse at this time of the year.

Craig's Grade: C+

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%