Strange Wilderness (2008)

O Masterpiece
O Excellent
O Rental
X OK
O Mediocrity
O Avoid

Review by Jason Pyles / February 2, 2008

“Strange Wilderness” shows promise and potential for hilarity (yes, that’s a word). In fact, this movie has brief, fleeting strokes of brilliance, probably similar to what Benjamin Franklin experienced before inventing the light bulb (yes, that’s a joke).

I know it was supposedly Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb, or more accurately, one of his cronies whom he never gave credit to. Film history suggests as much.

And just as I have unwisely strayed from the matter at hand, as seen with the above demonstration, “Strange Wilderness” strays from the strength of its inspired concept: a group of ignorant goofballs wing producing a nature show.

“Strange Wilderness” unfolds mostly through a flashback. As it opens, Peter (Steve Zahn) is on the phone explaining his failed attempts at filling his father’s big shoes. You see, Peter’s dad was a famous nature show host with his own television program called “Strange Wilderness.” After his father’s death, Peter inherited the show and tried to carry the torch.

Next we see flashbacks of Peter and his idiotic, moronic and degenerate friends filming the show, while obviously knowing nothing about animals. The best parts of “Strange Wilderness” are those that show footage of wildlife with Peter completely fabricating his narration, making it up as he goes along. Here is an example of Peter’s voice-over during a clip that shows monkeys gamboling about: “Monkeys make up over 80 percent of the world’s monkey population.” Or, consider the narration while we’re shown a clip of innumerable sea lions: “No matter how many sea lions are eaten by sharks each year, it never seems like enough.”

As you can tell, these parts are laugh-out-loud funny. But they are few and far between. Had “Strange Wilderness” stuck with its concept, it could have been exceptional. But what does it do, instead?

Well, we get a story line where “Strange Wilderness” is about to be taken off the air. Peter’s competitor’s show is stomping his into the ground. But when Bigfoot’s cave is found, yes, Bigfoot, the two nature shows race to see who can film the Sasquatch first. This also sounds like it has potential to be funny; and though it has its moments, it’s not.

I will admit that if you watched “Strange Wilderness” in a slaphappy mood, you would probably have a good time. It’s easily far funnier than this year’s silly comedies thus far, such as “Meet the Spartans” and “First Sunday.” But just know that “Strange Wilderness” earns its R rating, and is outlandishly crude with its sexual humor, including nudity and sexuality, though these aren’t mentioned in the MPAA warning. It is no “Superbad” or “Knocked Up,” but “Strange Wilderness” approaches the former.

And considering that the point of “Strange Wilderness” is to make people laugh, it’s a moderately successful movie. I laughed a number of times. But the reason I ranked it “OK” (rather than “Mediocrity”) is one scene that is nothing short of hilarious: If you see “Strange Wilderness,” watch for the repetitive clip of the toothy shark. It’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

Directed by Fred Wolf
Steve Zahn / Allen Covert / Jonah Hill
Comedy 87 min.
MPAA: R (for nonstop language, drug use, crude and sexual humor)

U.S. Release Date: February 1, 2008
Copyright 2008: 231