'WITHOUT A PADDLE' HEADING UP THE RIGHT COMEDIC CREEK.Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic MORE TROUBLE on the rivers of Oregon. But unlike the nerve-racking ``Mean Creek,'' which also opens today, ``Without a Paddle'' is just for laughs. This warm-hearted ``Deliverance'' spoof (!) delivers a pleasing amount of them, too, thanks mainly to its three improv-gifted leads - Seth Green, Matthew Green, Matthew, 1696–1737, English poet. His one important poem, The Spleen (1737), marked by its wit, was in praise of the contemplative life. Lillard and Dax Shepard Dax Randall Shepard (January 2, 1975) is an American actor. Shepard was born in Milford, MI, and started as a car buff at Walled Lake Central High School. Later, he attended The Groundlings School and Groundlings Sunday Company. . Blander aspects of this unwise wilderness journey can probably be blamed on director Steven Brill, whose usual speed is ``Mighty Ducks'' movies and bad Adam Sandler comedies (``Little Nicky,'' ``Mr. Deeds''). Friends since childhood, timid doctor Dan (Green), distracted surfer Jerry (Lillard) and general screw-up Tom (Shepard) reunite at the funeral of a fourth buddy. He died pursuing one of his extreme adventure dreams and left behind a well-researched plan to find the lost fortune of parachuting hijacker D.B. Cooper. This inspires the survivors to recapture their receding youth by taking the dead guy's map and a canoe into remote white- water territory. Rapids, a too-friendly bear, two very unfriendly pot farmers (Ethan Suplee Ethan Suplee (born May 25, 1976) is an American actor featured in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl as Earl Hickey's dimwitted but supportive brother, Randy Hickey. Biography Early life and Abraham Benrubi Abraham Rubin Hercules Benrubi (born October 4, 1969 in Bloomington, Indiana, USA) is an actor best known for his regular appearances as Jerry Markovic on the long-running US TV drama ER , both funny and scary), tree-hugging babes and an unnervingly furry Burt Reynolds Burt Reynolds (born February 11, 1936) is an Oscar-nominated Emmy Award-winning American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Paul Crewe in the original version of The Longest Yard, Bo 'Bandit' Darville in all conspire con·spire v. con·spired, con·spir·ing, con·spires v.intr. 1. To plan together secretly to commit an illegal or wrongful act or accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action. 2. to make the trip the bonding experience of the guys' lives. That is, in the unlikely event that they live through it. Green (``Italian Job,'' Austin Powers), Lillard (``Scooby-Doo's'' franchise-saving Shaggy) and Shepard (from MTV's ``Punk'd'') keep a believable camaraderie going amid all of the frantic action. Their characters constantly bust one another's chops, but we never lose sight of their shared affection. Yes, Brill is trying to smooth out the survivalist sur·viv·al·ist n. One who has personal or group survival as a primary goal in the face of difficulty, opposition, and especially the threat of natural catastrophe, nuclear war, or societal collapse. Noun 1. shenanigans shenanigans Noun, pl Informal 1. mischief or nonsense 2. trickery or deception [origin unknown] with cheap sentimentality. But at least he applies it with a lighter touch than in most modern comedies that want to have a heart and bear-poo gags, too. All in all, this is a pleasant end-of-summer diversion that won't insult your intelligence. Too much, anyway. Bob Strauss, (818) 713-3670 bob.strauss(at)dailynews.com WITHOUT A PADDLE - Three stars (PG-13: violence, language, drug use) Starring: Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard, Ethan Suplee, Abraham Benrubi, Burt Reynolds. Director: Steven Brill. Running time: 1 hr. 33 min. Playing: Wide release. In a nutshell: Amiable action comedy in which three childhood buddies reunite to search the Oregon backwoods for stolen treasure. The three leads create a persuasive pals/stooges unit. |
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