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STRANGE WILDERNESS: The funniest movie of 2008 (and I say that with utmost certainty)
By Hubbs Kowalski I did it again. I missed one of the best comedies of the year at the theater. After not taking a chance on GRANDMA’S BOY, another Happy Madison release sans Sandler, and finding it to be one of the best comedies of the year, I did the same stupid frigging thing with STRANGE WILDERNESS. MovieWeb - Movie Photos, Videos & More And it even had Joe Don Baker and Ernest Borgnine and Robert Patrick in it. I knew this and I still didn’t go. It’s not because I didn’t want to see it. It’s just that I get burned so much at the theater and I get so heartsick and down and think that, fuck, do they make any good movies anymore, that I kind of throw in the towel and give up. And then when a remotely interesting film comes to town, I talk myself out of it. But I knew, I KNEW, this was a Happy Madison film and it was going to be completely puerile and scrape the bottom of the barrel and I still didn’t go. And now it’s on DVD and I watch it and not only is the best fucking comedy of 2008, it’s right up there in the top 5. So far, the best movies of the year are RAMBO, REDBELT, NEVER BACK DOWN, DOOMSDAY and STRANGE WILDERNESS. MovieWeb - Movie Photos, Videos & More Steve Zahn plays the son of a late Marlon Perkins type personality who made famous a television show titled STRANGE WILDERNESS. After his father’s untimely death, Zahn and his band of wacky co-horts, including cinematographer Borgnine, continue the low-rated show without the charm of his father or the brains either. One of the best parts about STRANGE WILDERNESS is that Borgnine shoots all the footage with a rickety old movie camera just so the movie can incorporate decades old animal stock footage that Zahn can say fuck and shit over. The faked alligator attack and man on fire scenes from FACES OF DEATH are actually used mined for humor here and it works. By that alone, you know you’re in good hands. Unfortunately, the new STRANGE WILDERNESS is set for cancellation but in swoops Joe Don Baker as Bill, an old friend of Zahn’s dad with pictures of Bigfoot in Ecuador. Zahn decides that the crew is heading to Ecuador to find Bigfoot and that by doing so, the show will be saved. MovieWeb - Movie Photos, Videos & More That’s the plot. But a film like STRANGE WILDERNESS isn’t about the plot. It’s about the turkey blow job scene. It’s about the running joy buzzer to Kevin Heffernan’s balls gag. It’s about Robert Patrick’s mangled penis. It’s about Zahn making fun of the way Mexicans talk not once, but twice. MovieWeb - Movie Photos, Videos & More It’s about a tracker named Dick. That’s it, no last name, just Dick. So the movie takes the opportunity to have everyone in the cast giggle and ask “When your name goes into cold water, does it shrivel up?’ It’s about footage of lions fucking. Let’s face it, this is not James L. Brooks’ BROADCAST NEWS. The film itself feels improvised, much like the horrible TALLADEGA NIGHTS. Fortunately, the cast here does a better job. I laughed from beginning to end. Why anyone not in the mood for a real, laugh out loud comedy wouldn’t find this movie funny, I have no idea. Granted now, it’s got a few groaners, but it hits the mark more than it misses, that’s for sure. With every yahoo calling themselves a film critic out there blowing Judd Apatow over his newest raunchy-comedy-with-a-heart, it’s no wonder the lot of these jokers missed out on the brilliance of STRANGE WILDERNESS. It’s hard to concentrate on brilliance when your mouth is full of cock. At least that’s what your mom tells me. Hee Hee!
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