Movie Review

Without a Paddle (2004)

Reviewed by Scott Brown | Aug 25, 2004

Scott Brown

Scott Brown writes the Hit List for EW and is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio -- he has the tote bag to prove it

Comments
Add your comment

EW's GRADE

B-

Details Release Date: Aug 20, 2004; Rated: PG-13; Length: 99 Minutes; Genre: Comedy; With: Seth Green and Matthew Lillard

Image credit: Without a Paddle: Simon Cardwell

IS URSA MAJOR A PRISON NICKNAME? Three amigos (including Green, above) flounder when nature calls. Oh, the horror

Without a Paddle sets three childhood pals -- Jerry (Matthew Lillard), Dan (Seth Green), and Tom (Dax Shepard), each developmentally delayed in his own special way -- on a woodsy, ''Goonies''-esque treasure hunt to manhood. They make the usual pit stops (har-har homoeroticism, bears), but the boys' relaxed buddy dynamic lifts the charm quotient above average. There are some genuinely clever moments of physical comedy, and the inevitable crudeness is offset by winning whimsy. Without has all the freshness of moldering Playboys stashed under a mattress, but it evokes what few boys-will-be-boys larks can: chumminess.

Originally posted Aug 25, 2004 Published in issue #781 Sep 03, 2004 Order article reprints

Comments
Add your comment

Box Office Report ''Resident Evil'' claims the top spot from ''Hero''
Movie Review Without a Paddle
Box Office Preview The ''Resident Evil'' sequel will dominate
Box Office Report ''Hero'' easily holds on to No. 1
Movie Article Which products were spotted in this week's movies?

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.