Animal enthusiast Peter Gaulke (Steve Zahn) and his sidekick Fred Wolf (Allen Covert) host an ailing wildlife TV show "Strange Wilderness," which is in a steep ratings decline. Desperate to save the show, Peter hatches a H... more »ail Mary scheme to find the one animal that could truly turn the show around and change the nature-show landscape forever ? Bigfoot.« less
Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL Reviewed on 4/11/2023...
This is pretty much one of those movies that you either love or hate. It's slap-stick comedy at its best.
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Movie Reviews
Great movie
Jessalyn | Arizona | 05/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I just think all of these reviews are from people that dont like this style anyway. I guarantee that most of these people didn't like other sandler style movies even Grandma's Boy. If you liked Grandma's Boy you will like this. Thats all there is to it."
Funniest movie in a long time!
Lori A. Armintrout | Brainerd, MN | 05/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I think these people giving this bad reviews are nuts! This is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a VERY long time!! I laughed the whole way through...and I didn't expect much and was more then surprised. You have to appreciate these actors for what they are, it's simple as that. You can tell there is some improv, and it works well. If you take this movie serious and can't let your hair down, then you might not like it. Otherwise, keep your ears open because there are some great one-liners!"
Inspired silliness
Roland E. Zwick | Valencia, Ca USA | 08/21/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"***1/2
"Strange Wilderness" is a good-natured, frequently hilarious takeoff on all those nature documentaries that play on the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, and whose pedigree stretches all the way back to the granddaddy of them all, "Mutual of Omaha`s Wild Kingdom." Peter and Fred are the producers of a wildlife series entitled "Strange Wilderness" that has been foundering in the ratings ever since Peter's father, a Steve Irwin-type naturist and the original host of the show, passed away, leaving his less-than-stellar son to carry on his legacy. The sheer scientific illiteracy of much of the commentary that Peter provides for his footage probably hasn't helped matters much in this regard. Now faced with the prospect of series cancellation, Peter and his crew of incompetent dweebs head off to the wilds of South America to file an exclusive report on the famed Bigfoot who has recently been spotted there.
Though adolescent in the extreme, "Strange Wilderness" turns out to be a zany, endearingly random and unflaggingly energetic little comedy whose likable cast is obviously dialed into what the moviemakers are trying to do here. Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Covert, Ernest Borgnine, Jeff Garlin, Kevin Heffernan, Justin Long and Harry Hamlin seem to be having the time of their lives here and their enjoyment rubs off on us as well.
Is it dumb? Of course it is. Is it lowbrow, inane and hopelessly juvenile? You betcha'. But unlike so many other films that fall into those categories, "Strange Wilderness" has a shrewd mind for parody and a liveliness of spirit that actually make the movie funny. Credit scenarist Peter Gaulke and co-author/director Fred Wolf (who first developed this concept as sketches on "Saturday Night Live") for some excellent joke-writing and pacing and for their willingness to pull out all the stops in their effort to get the laugh. In fact, the crew's ill-fated encounter with Bigfoot is alone worth the price of admission."
A movie that's short length makes it better.
Joshua Glowzinski | Earth | 08/26/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I have my theory on movies. Most of the time, if a film is under 90 minutes. It is going to lack quality. Now don't get me wrong. This is not true 100 percent of the time. But 9 our of 10 times it is for me. So even though I saw that the time was only 84 minutes I still decided to buy it. I paid like 20 dollars for this and I feel that I got ripped off. 20 dollars for a good movie that is about and hour and 40 minutes is a lot. But for a movie that after the previews is about 82 minutes is a complete rip off.
The movie has some good actors. Some are more well known than others. The cast includes Steve Zahn who has been in films like That Thing You Do 1996 and Saving Silverman 2001. Allen Covert who you have seen in films like The Waterboy and Mr. Deeds and Jonah Hill whom you have seen in movies like Knocked up and Superbad. My favorite of these is Steve Zahn. If you have never seen him in Rescue Dawn I would say buy or rent it. It is a different part than I am used to seeing him in and he does an amazing job.
Now for the plot. This shouldn't take long because it is a pretty weak plot. The movie is about some guys who have a nature show. They don't do a very good job making the show nor do they know about anything they are talking about. They get canceled and decide to go find big foot. They all think this will make them famous and there show will be back. That is the entire story folks. Along the way some low grade comedy will happen. Think of Adam Sandlers first few movies. I didn't really laugh at any of it. Perhaps if I watched it a second time I would understand it more. But as of this moment I think it was unfunny. I do think it's cool though that the actors chose to be in a movie like this. There are some great actors in this movie and they still chose to be in a movie that wasn't guaranteed to make millions and millions of dollars. It's cool when great actors still play parts in lower cost movies like this. Maybe that is why I still have mine and haven't sold it yet.
I wanted to take a second to talk about my rating. I gave this movie a 3 out of 5. What I think that means is the movie a alright to watch once. I would not watch it over and over again. Maybe if there was nothing great on and that was on TV I would watch it. A 1 and 2 would be movies that I couldn't watch all the way through or ever again. A 4 is a movie that I can see watching more than once. A movie that really did well at everything it tried to do and finally a 5 is a movie that is perfection. Everything about it is great. Anytime it was on I would more than likely watch it. So with all that in mind, that this review as you will and thanks for taking time to read it. "