Search - The Sasquatch Gang on DVD

Damian M. (ratchet)
Reviewed on 3/11/2009...

One of the funniest movies I have seen in a while. Its very refreshing for me to be able to watch a genuinely funny new comedy and recognize very few actors in it (beside Apollo Creed). A very Naploean Dynamite feel to this, with Jon Heder making cameo. A group of outcast kids find Bigfoot's foot prints (and crap), but the group starts to fall apart when a girl takes interest in one of them.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Rarest of all film genres....

Rev. E. Antonio Hernandez | 09/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Sasquatch Gang" has vital elements that must put it topmost, not only on children's and teen's lists, but those of other afficionados too. The film, while comprised mainly of teen slapstick, is incredibly funny but in an innocent way. The characters--including the adults--have an innocence that is refreshing.

I was struck by the almost timeless quality of the film. It takes place in the fictional Clackanoma County (a ribbing of Portland, Oregon's Clackamah County where the film was shot). It is an innocent world of VHS tapes copied right off the tv, "nickel-cades" with "Tron"-era video games, and no swearing.

There is absolutely no swearing: in an age when the four-letter-word barrage is common from gradeschoolers, in this film it adds to the hilarity to hear insults like "lame-wad" and "nerd". There is the use of one harsh and offensive word: "FAGGOT". And when it is uttered, it shocks us. Such is the skill the makers brought to this otherwise lovely world.

The acting is as noble as the directing. All the performers--two of them, Jeremy Sumpter and Justin Long, have a sort of dual-lead--perform to perfection. Dustin Hoffman could learn from them.

Most hilarious is the appearance of Carl Weathers as Dr. Artimus Snodgrass, a spot-on mixture of phony Bigfoot expert and David Attenborough. Though Weathers could have played the role as "himself" and been perfect, adding the Attenborough touch--complete with a British accent and snooty academic manner--was PURE GENIUS!! If you blink you'll miss this: Weathers also performs a brief scene that is a homage to one of Paul Hogan's early TV characters, a mean-spirited naturalist.

The very fun ribbing of "Sasquatch"-loving culture, naturists who know nothing about nature, and the sheer joy of seeing simple kids enjoying themselves: it's all here. The perpetually angelic but typical teen-boy Gavin Gore (Jeremy Sumpter in one of the two leads) is a delight with his ever-present tic of flipping his hair out of his eyes. One moment he can appear to be a teen sex symbol... and the next moment he's falling on his face. With a Keatonesque skill. Pure cinematic genius.

The others, who are simply too numerous to describe here, are cast/played to perfection. One could say the ensemble of "kids" consists of the usual outcasts: the angelic but eternally dorky boy; the fat boy; the little boy; the mean, bitter but well-meaning older boy; the butch-acting androgynous bully... there is too much that is rich and real in this film to restrict it to typecasting or labeling. This director proves beyond any doubt that there can be no such thing as typecasting with excellent direction, script, cast and crew.

"Napoleon Dynamite" has little to do with this particular film other than sharing its creator, and its broad-but-unusual appeal: the Unlikely Teen Heroes who triumph over all. John Hughes may have created the genre in the mid-1980s, but "The Sasquatch Gang" (which is properly titled "The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang") is something Hughes could never achieve: true and natural youthful innocence, appealing, hilarious... and apparently far beyond some people's grasp.

Do not miss this film, and do not dismiss it if you don't cotton to it at first viewing. It can take time to grow on a viewer, and there is much to miss in the first viewing that becomes clear at 2nd and 3rd viewings. The lovely Portland, Oregon location is worth it as well. But I, for one, rate this one of the best films I've ever seen... and I'm not really a great fan of "Napoleon Dynamite"."

QUIRKY, FUNNY AND VERY ENTERTAINING!

! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b | TRI STATE AREA | 08/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Every so often you come across a film that completely takes you by surprise! 'The Sasquatch Gang' is just such a film! While watching this film I could not help but think of 'Napoleon Dynamite'. It's got that kind of quirky charm and several cast members from "Napoleon" are in this film in small roles or cameos. This is definitely a winner and should not be overlooked! I caught this on a HD cable channel, so I'm not sure of any of the DVD features or quality."