Movie Review: Without a Paddle (2004) – Lost in the Woods and in the Script

Movie Review: Without a Paddle (2004) – Lost in the Woods and in the Script 

Tags Without a Paddle review, Dax Shepard movies, Seth Green comedy, Matthew Lillard film, 2000s buddy comedies, Steven Brill, Burt Reynolds cameo, D.B. Cooper movies, road trip comedies, Hollywood formula films 

 

 Overview

*Without a Paddle* (2004) is a road trip comedy that leans heavily on formula and familiarity. Directed by Steven Brill (of *Little Nicky* and *Mr. Deeds* infamy), it stars Matthew Lillard, Dax Shepard, and Seth Green as three childhood friends reunited by tragedy and launched into a backwoods misadventure that borrows liberally from better films like *City Slickers*, *Road Trip*, and *Deliverance*. The result is a forgettable comedy that coasts on clichés and cameos rather than clever writing.

Plot Summary

Following the death of their adventurous childhood friend Billy, Jerry (Matthew Lillard), Tom (Dax Shepard), and Dan (Seth Green) reunite to fulfill a long-abandoned dream: a canoe trip in search of D.B. Cooper’s lost fortune. What starts as a tribute to friendship and youthful dreams quickly devolves into chaos as the trio gets lost in the Oregon wilderness. Along the way, they face off with an angry bear, a pair of cartoonish redneck drug dealers (played by Ethan Suplee and Abraham Benrubi), a crooked sheriff, and nature itself. Helping—or possibly hindering—them is a grizzled backwoods recluse played by Burt Reynolds, whose appearance seems to serve more as a pop culture wink than an acting choice.

Highlights

• D.B. Cooper premise: A great idea buried beneath lazy gags and flat execution. The legend of Cooper deserved a better movie.
• Comedy trio chemistry: While the characters are written as caricatures, Lillard, Shepard, and Green do their best with what little they’re given.
• Nature scenes: Some of the outdoor cinematography is pleasant—when it’s not being used for slapstick bear chases.

What Doesn’t Work

• Generic script: The film follows a strict comedy formula, with little originality and no risk-taking.
• Unseen backstories: The more intriguing lives of the characters—especially the deceased Billy and wild-child Tom—are told, not shown.
• Burt Reynolds cameo: Played for laughs, but the movie gives him nothing to do except remind you of better films.
• Lazy writing: Characters are broad stereotypes (the neurotic nerd, the slacker ladies' man, the directionless nice guy) used in place of real development or clever dialogue.

Final Thoughts

While *Without a Paddle* isn’t offensively bad, it’s the kind of comedy that feels engineered by committee rather than inspired by creativity. Screenwriters Mitch Rouse and Jay Leggett crib elements from more successful films without adding anything original to the mix. It’s mildly amusing at times—mostly thanks to reflexive laughs from remembering better movies—but ultimately forgettable. This is the cinematic equivalent of fast food: easy to consume, completely disposable, and barely satisfying.

Rating

⭐ Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

 Call to Action

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Do you think *Without a Paddle* deserves cult status or should it stay forgotten? Leave your thoughts below!

Check out our reviews of early 2000s comedies right here.

Movie Review: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002) – A Celibacy Challenge Rom-Com That Falls Short

Movie Review: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002) – A Celibacy Challenge Rom-Com That Falls Short 

Tags 40 Days and 40 Nights review, Josh Hartnett, romantic comedy, Shannyn Sossamon, 2000s movies, Michael Lehmann, sex comedies, movie reviews, celibacy in movies, raunchy comedies 

  

 Overview

40 Days and 40 Nights is a 2002 romantic comedy directed by Michael Lehmann. It stars Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, and Vinessa Shaw, and centers on a young man who takes a vow of celibacy for Lent — only to meet the perfect girl the moment he swears off sex.

Plot Summary

Matt (Josh Hartnett) is a San Francisco web designer heartbroken from a recent breakup. Tired of meaningless hookups, he decides to give up sex — and all forms of intimacy — for 40 days during Lent. Naturally, right as he embarks on this personal detox, he meets Erica (Shannyn Sossamon), a witty and charming woman who might be exactly what he’s been looking for. Complicating matters, Matt's roommate Ryan discovers the vow and turns it into a public spectacle by launching a betting site on whether Matt can last the full 40 days. As temptations escalate and misunderstandings pile up, Matt’s challenge quickly becomes more about emotional honesty than just abstinence.

What Works

• Performance: Josh Hartnett is affable and occasionally funny in the lead, and Shannyn Sossamon brings a low-key charm to a thinly written love interest.
• Direction: Michael Lehmann (known for Heathers) keeps the film briskly paced and visually polished, even if the story struggles to maintain momentum.
• Concept: The inversion of the usual “guy trying to get laid” trope is refreshing in theory, giving the film a unique starting point in the raunch-com genre.

What Doesn’t Work

• The plot relies heavily on contrivances and avoids real emotional stakes, opting instead for sitcom-level misunderstandings.
• Most supporting characters, especially Matt’s roommate, veer into caricature territory, and the film uses gross-out gags as filler rather than real humor.

Final Thoughts

40 Days and 40 Nights is a watchable but forgettable entry in the early 2000s rom-com scene. While it starts with a clever premise, the execution leans too heavily on clichés and easy laughs. Fans of Josh Hartnett or early-2000s nostalgia may find it mildly entertaining, but for most viewers, it’s a middling experience.

Rating

⭐ Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

What did you think of 40 Days and 40 Nights? Leave a comment below or share your favorite (or most cringeworthy) moment from the film!

If you enjoyed this review, check out my takes on other romantic comedies here.

Movie Review: The Rocker

The Rocker (2008) 

Directed by Peter Cattaneo 

Written by Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky 

Starring Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jeff Garlin, Josh Gad, Teddy Geiger, Emma Stone 

Release Date August 20th, 2008 

Published August 19th, 2008 

The premise of The Rocker sounds like a movie Jack Black turned down. A 40 something former drummer for an 80's hair band ends up broke, living in his sister's attic before ending up playing drums for his nephews band. It reads like a sequel to School of Rock, with a few minor tweaks. The Rocker doesn't star Jack Black however but Rainn Wilson, from TV's The Office. Even though the premise sets him up for failure, Wilson acquits himself well in the shadow of JB, and gives  a good time rocking performance.

22 years ago Vesuvius was a heavy metal band on the verge of major record label success and their drummer, Robert 'Fish' Fishman was about live his rock star dream. The success came but not for Robert who the band dropped in favor of the label owners nephew. After losing out on rock stardom,  Robert spent the next 22 years a bitter mess, working as an office drone, longing to recapture the glory of rock. 

After losing his job Robert is forced to move in with his sister (Jane Lynch), her husband (Jeff Garlin) and his nephew Matt (Josh Gad). Matt is in a band and in a not so surprising twist of plot, the band just lost their drummer, two days before their first gig, playing the prom. Matt's bandmates, brooding singer Curtis (Teddy Geiger), and female bassist Amelia (Emma Stone, Superbad), want to find a more age appropriate drummer but Matt pushes for uncle Fish.

Though he nearly blows the prom gig, Fish turns out to be a great drummer and a strong positive influence on the band. When a YouTube video of Fish playing drums naked gets the band's music heard by millions, stardom comes knocking for a second time and Fish has the kind of second chance that doesn't come around very often.

The Rocker has a strict adherence to convention that is really the antithesis of rock n' roll. The film proceeds from one plot point to the next like clockwork. If you can't predict every step of this movie from beginning to end you are not trying. Director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), directing a script by former Simpsons scribe Wallace Wolodarsky and Maya Forbes; moves the undistinguished screenplay from paper to screen with little innovation or invention.

All of the success of The Rocker lies in the performance of Rainn Wilson and lucky we are that he is up to the challenge. Wilson's Rocker is sloppy and dull witted, obtuse and self-involved, but he's also sweet, funny and earnestly committed to the life and love of being a rock star. Fish seems to genuinely care about the kids in the band and despite his excesses, he eventually proves himself as a positive force.

Wilson's performance plays well with the overall familiarity of the plot, making the predictability easier to take because the vibe is so congenial. The Rocker is so gentle and feather light that it floats by. 88 minutes is really all this plot could sustain and the filmmakers were smart not to let the movie linger. As much as we like Wilson's performance, by the end we are ready to say goodbye. 

Another smart decision by the makers of The Rocker was hiring Chad Fischer to write the music for the film. Often a movie about musicians will skimp on the music. The pop tunes of The Rocker, sung by star Teddy Geiger, are really good pop tunes, songs you can believe would become top ten radio hits. If the film is a hit don't be surprised to hear a song like 'Tomorrow Never Comes' or 'Bitter' make a radio splash.

The Rocker is annoyingly formulaic but star Rainn Wilson and the music of Teddy Geiger and Chad Fischer keep it from becoming tedious. Wilson is a star on the rise and he appears to have a bright future as a goofball leading man. See The Rocker for Rainn Wilson and stay for the surprisingly strong pop tunes of Geiger and Fischer. Yes, you will see every turn of plot coming, but Rainn Wilson, at the very least, will keeping you smiling through the predictability.