BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
When I saw the trailer for this movie I really wanted to see it. Patton Oswalt plays a Scoutmaster of a troop of kids who just aren’t into it. They’re more into their phones, video games, and all of that normal stuff. Oswalt’s brother, Johnny Knoxville, is the exact opposite. He’s successful, obnoxious, and is more into devices and playing than the kids. The kids side with Knoxville and decide to not go on a camping trip. Oswalt freaks out and pretty much kidnaps the kids and takes them into the woods for an unapproved camping adventure. How bad can it be? Patton Oswalt is proving to be a really solid actor with “Big Fan” and “Young Adult”. He was already a funny stand up and had some good stuff in his random TV spots. It’s just cool to see him kick ass in the independent film world. He is a very likeable guy and isn’t afraid to be vulnerable on screen. That can result in some good honest stuff, and it does in this movie too. This isn’t as “gritty” as the other two movies I already mentioned, but it’s just as entertaining. Johnny Knoxville does really well as the obnoxious brother. He’s always a likeable guy in interviews and a lot of other things, but here he’s just an overbearing douchebag. All movies like this need one of those and he does well with it. His cohorts are fun too. Rob Riggle is always hilarious and if it had to be his last, Patrice O’Neal had a great spot showing off the natural charisma that’s going to be missed. Maura Tierny is there, but her role doesn’t call for too much. Darrell Hammond too. He’s there and you think he’s going to have a bigger part, but outside of a good line or two it’s not much. A little more from both would have gone a long way. The kids were all fine. I’m sure a couple of them will end up being familiar faces in time. The cast wasn’t huge, but it was well put together. It was such a short movie though at around 80 minutes. In a lot of the reviews and previews I’ve read it is compared to “Meatballs” and “The Bad News Bears”. I kind of/sort of get “Meatballs” because of the nature tie-in, but it’s still kind of pushing it. Is it because the rag-tag group is vulgar? That’s lazy. It reminds me of that Daniel Stern movie “Bushwacked” from the 90’s, with a little Shelly Long “Troop Beverly Hills”, mixed with a little bit of “The Passion of the Christ”. All respectively, of course. If you get a chance to see this movie I think you should. It’s a good balance of silly vulgar, over the top devices, and indie-riffic fun. B+
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