Without A Paddle: Nature's Calling Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
An unusual quest reunites two best friends from high school and takes them deep into the Oregon woods, where they encounter whitewater rapids, nymph-like ecoterrorists, and crotch-biting animated squirrels.
| Danny Belrose | Local #1 |
| Robert Blanche | Massey |
| Will Cuddy | Lyle |
| Oliver James | Ben |
| Jerry Rice | Hal Gore |
| Todd Robinson | Overton |
| Kristopher Turner | Zach |
| Rik Young | Nigel |
| Ellen Albertini Dow | Mrs. Bessler |
| Madison Bontempo | Young Heather |
| Amber McDonald | Thunderstorm |
| Madison Riley | Earthchild, Heather |
| Ellory Elkayem |
4.10 out of 10 (729 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Its a good thing I only paid 98cents for this movie
posted on 31 Aug 2009The only good thing about this movie was Oliver James. He's hot and a good actor, thats the only way I made it through the whole movie. Although his use of an American accent was well done, I prefer his cockney-english accent (His natural accent). The movie left so many questions unanswered the scenes seemed scattered and unfinished. Most of the acting was awful (Except Oliver James, he was good)and the lines were poorly delivered. It sounded like they were reading lines directly from the script in a monotone voice. I can see why it went directly to DVD. The only thing I recommend watching this movie for is "Man Candy" Oliver James; other than that it may make a good coffee coaster
Without a Paddle - Blu-ray Info
posted on 31 Aug 2009Version: U.S.A / Paramount / Region Free
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / AACS / High Profile 4.1
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Running time: 1:38:51
Movie size: 32,54 GB
Disc size: 37,12 GB
Total bit rate: 43.89 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 31.51 Mbps
Dolby TrueHD Audio English 3551 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3551 kbps / 24-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / Dolby Surround
DTS Express English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Number of chapters: 14
#Audio Commentary By Director Steven Brill
#Video Commentary By The Cast And Director (BonusView)
#13 Additional Scenes
#MTV's Making The Movie
#6 MTV Interstitials
#Theatrical Trailer
Yuck
posted on 31 Aug 2009Get this over with right away, this is a bad film. It's not even drive in worthy really. The story line makes no sense after 30 minutes. This is expensive huge production with really bad acting (everyone, including Jerry Rice is awful in this film). The squirrel animation is really pointless. Nothing here to recommend this film.
Oh, excuse me there is a decent point in the first 15 minutes. Zach is the slacker and Ben is the serious hard worker. Zach is super happy working in a retirement home, while Ben is miserable working as a seemingly successful lawyer. Money isn't everything when measuring success. Yeah, film director, stick it to the man!
The soundtrack is actually good, songs by Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms, and Del Amitri.
I have to gush over blu-ray. It's brutally good. You could see the pimples under Madison Riley's (Heather) heavy makeup. The guys eyes turn red while they are hung upside down, and you can see every blood vessel. The detail is amazing. The sound is another level up. I really didn't imagine Dolby Digital could get better than on DVD. No, Blu-Ray takes it up another notch. There were times during the river scenes where I thought water was running in the house; and crickets had gotten loose. I had to pause the film to be certain.
The video quality is just stellar. Too bad it's wasted on such a stinker.
It confuses me too with the target audience here. It's not really a "guy" film. It's not really PG-13, it's very mild. It's not a date movie. It's not a mystery, or action adventure, or comedy.... it's just sort of there. Dragging on and on until the predictible end.
Extra features on the Blu-Ray disc, deleted scenes (really stupid), making of featurettes (classic, tell the story over again), a gag reel, and some nut thing. Nothing there to stop and watch.
With a bigger budget, it could've been a lot better
posted on 31 Aug 2009
If you don't read anything else read this... Around the 00:45 minute mark this film gets interesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Like most of you, I was attracted to this title because of the previous film "Without a Paddle."
I first saw "Without a Paddle" when I was about 16. I felt pretty high on life at the end of that movie. But then fast forward about 6 years, when I saw "without a Paddle" again and this time the three guys in the movie seemed like a bunch of dorks. I was like "C'mon, these guys are like 30 and still can't talk to girls or their lives are filled with crap you'd expect to read about in "Maxim magazine." (i.e. Jerry can't commit to his fiance and Tom just drinks, gambles, and chases women.) Lame.
But with this sequel, you get two guys who've have been friends since high school and have kept in loose touch. Kind of like the "friendship" theme in the first movie, except this movie doesn't get as mushy about closing the cap and takes a more practical and intelligent way of bridging the gap that's been created between the two main characters. (You'll see at the end of the movie...)
Also, the third character, sort of a supporting character in the beginning of the film that helps get the plot of the movie rolling, Nigel, has a purpose in this film and just isn't there because there were three guys in the original. His purpose in the film becomes more clear as time goes on. The actor that played Nigel did a great job.
As for the rest of the characters, the tree huggers in the film are beautiful and feminine and the baddies are believable for the threat they pose in the film. Great job casting director!!!
NOTE: You aren't going to find the dialogue from "Arty Lange's Beer League," "Half-Baked," or "Deuce Bigelow in this movie. This movie's dialogue isn't just a bunch of guys busting on each other for an hour and a half like the first movie. I was a little let down, but the dialogue gets the job done and is fine without comparing it to other movies.
To bring it home, the story itself stands on it's own and isn't just a bunch of loose sub-plots pieced together. (As other reviews, have said online.) The story does entertain that's for sure and this film does have some memorable, and well known, songs thrown in throughout the film. It goes together rather well.
I gave this film four stars because there were some scenes in the film that could've been better. The case, some of the scenes in the film were pieced together using snapshot pictures of the characters doing things in place of actual filmed scenes. (I know they were on a budget, but it seemed kind of like I was watching something on Sesame Street versus a movie.)
Also, the ending was too abrupt. The whole culmination of the journey is spelled out in ...photographs. (...let down...)
Overall, this was a decent movie to see and does provide some pretty practical life advice at the end of the movie. You see the characters grow and move on, which is what good movies need, closure for the characters.
Buy or Rent? You'd be cheating yourself to not watch this film at least once. I'd completely recommend renting it and then waiting for it to end up in the Blockbuster bargain bin. That doesn't mean it's a bad movie, a lot of great movies end up in that bin for a cheap price. [...]
Watch this and you'll be happy. This is a movie you don't watch once and say to yourself,"Okay, I got it out of the way. I got around to watching that...now it can go back on the shelf forever." Best wishes for 2009!
Nuttier than the original, has killer squirrels and football legend Jerry Rice...Oh my!
posted on 31 Aug 2009Nuttier than the original!
Truly an accurate description of the film "WITHOUT A PADDLE: NATURE'S CALLING", the second film based on the original 2004 movie "WITHOUT A PADDLE". This time around, featuring a new story and a new cast starring Oliver James (What A Girl Wants) and Kristopher Turner (Instant Star).
The film is also the first comedy for director Ellory Elkayem (known for a few horror films which include the 2005 "Return of the Living Dead" films) and a screenplay by Stephen Mazur ("Liar Liar", "Little Rascals").
The story begins with a young Ben and Zach, freshman in high school. Ben is somewhat a good, clean cut, nerdy teen. While his friend Zach is more cool and mischievous. At the first day of school, Ben instantly falls for the school activist Heather who is a vegan and against the cruelty of animals. After signing a petition to join her cause, for Ben, it's love at first sight.
While trying to impress her the following day sporting a "Meat is Murder" t-shirt, Ben is ambushed by two bullies but thankfully for Zach, the two get into a fistfight with the bullies. While recuperating in the nurse's office, Ben sees Heather and she blows a kiss to him and from that point, Ben falls in love. Despite Heather being expelled from high school for trying to free the lab animals.
Fast forward nearly a decade later and Zach is working at a nursing home and Ben is now a busy lawyer. Ben and Zach have not really spoken with each other. Zach continues to be a cool, playboy but cares about the people in his life, while Ben is more into working as a lawyer and never has time for anything. Zach has always tried to get in contact with Ben but Ben is too busy to talk.
One day, one of the women that Zach takes care of is dying and she has one last wish, to see her granddaughter one last time. She begs Zach to find her in Oregon. Of course, Zach is a bit reluctant but when he sees the picture of the granddaughter, he realizes it's Heather, the girl that Ben was obsessed with in high school.
Zachary finds a way to get Ben to leave his workplace when he shows him the picture of Heather and Ben figures maybe this time, as an adult, he will have the guts to tell Heather how he feels after all these years.
So, Ben, Zachary and Nigel (the grandson of the woman looking for Heather) go on a trip to Oregon and learn that Heather is a hippie named Earthchild and went to the wilderness with her friend Thunderstorm. But they never came back and have not been seen since. Thus are assumed as dead by the locals.
Having come this far, Ben and Zachary decide to not heed the warnings from the locals to not go into the wilderness and eventually get caught up in an adventure that takes them through beautiful lush terrain, with the immense trees in the wilderness, riding a raft through the rapids with nothing but two kegs, matches and Nigel's darts and not packing any food or anything else, it's definitely, an adventure that the three will not forget.
Adding some chaos to their adventure are killer squirrels, Hal Gore (football legend, Jerry Rice) and mysterious guys who have their eyes on the Ben, Zach and Nigel. Who are they? Despite their obstacles of trying to survive in the wilderness, will they find Heather in time?
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"WITHOUT A PADDLE: NATURE'S CALLING" is presented in 1080P Hi-Definition. Definitely one of the major positives of the film is that this movie was shot in location in the wilderness. The vibrant colors of the blue sky, the green and fall colors of the trees really look quite beautiful. So, watching this film on Blu-ray was quite nice because the majority of the film is shot outdoors. With that being said, there is quite a bit of grain present (which is expected since this is a film afterall). But not too distracting.
As for the audio, the audio features an English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD track. Although the film is primarily dialogue driven, there are some instances where the music and the action scenes does utilize your rear surround speakers. Although recorded outdoors, I don't recall hearing the wilderness ambiance but when the music comes on, it's well presented. During the gunfire scenes, you hear that clearly and quite pronounced as well. But otherwise, the film is primarily dialogue-driven.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Another plus is that the majority of the featurettes are presented in HD. The special features on Blu-ray are as follows:
* Featurette: Up The Creek: The Making of Without A Paddle: Nature's Calling HD - Interviews with the cast, producers and the director. A fun featurette and it's interesting to hear Oliver James speaking with his British accent and even talks about how he is able to shut it off (courtesy of watching many American cartoons, TV shows and films in the UK).
* Featurette: Furious Nuts HD - An interesting featurette that plays on the squirrels. More of a humor-based featurette for viewers who want to know how the squirrels were cast for the film and how the squirrels were so demanding.
* Featurette: Treehouse Tales HD - During the film, the treehouse becomes a major part of the film and you get to see how the treehouse was created.
* Bloopers - A gag reel of several bloopers throughout the film. If anything, this gag reel gives an idea of how Jerry Rice was in his first major speaking role in a film.
* Deleted Scenes - Featuring four additional scenes that didn't make it to the final cut: How'd He Do That?, Attack the River, Let It Go and Treehouse Fight
As most direct-to-video films that are based on major Hollywood films, "WITHOUT A PADDLE: NATURE'S CALLING" is one of those films that will appeal to fans of the original film or the actors that are on it.
I found "WITHOUT A PADDLE: NATURE'S CALLING" definitely much more nuttier than the first. Reason being, is that with the first, I had more higher expectations (given the talent on that film) but with this film, all I was expecting was to be entertained for 90 minutes.
And I had a few laughs during the film, especially during the scenes that stars legendary wide-receiver, Jerry Rice who plays the part as Hal Gore.
Jerry Rice has his first major speaking role in this film and as a beginning actor, because of that, I think the delivery of his lines made things a bit more humorous. His character has lived in the wilderness for so many years studying how squirrel farts have damaged the atmosphere, wearing nothing but squirrel fur and a bit long black beard, of course it's campy and his delivery of his lines are just awful but somehow it worked and made me laugh.
And of course, quite a bit of adult humor, especially when the guys reunite with Heather (Earthchild) and her friend Thunderstorm. Good playoff of humor between Ben, Zack and the two women.
Again, a major plus was that the film was shot outdoors, so seeing the lush surroundings of the wilderness and the group having to ride their raft through the river was fun to watch and it looked good on Blu-ray. And it was also good to see that the featurettes were also featured in HD.
On the negative side, there were a few plot holes in the actual screenplay, some of the acting was so-so and the squirrels, they looked a bit too CGI for a film like this but nevertheless, it worked OK.
But in the end of the day, if I was asked the question, "were you entertained?" and the answer would be yes, I was entertained. Did I love the movie, not really. But I was entertained and definitely had a few laughs.
So, if you were a fan of the original "WITHOUT A PADDLE", a fan of any of the talents of the film or just want to check out a comedy that takes place in the outdoors, then definitely give "WITHOUT A PADDLE: NATURE'S CALLING" a try.
Unwatchable garbage
posted on 27 May 2009My little sister accidentally rented this movie thinking it would be as funny as the original Without a Paddle film. However, its only use is as a Frisbee, and even then it doesn't fly straight. Avoid. The acting was abysmal, a total joke to be honest. The plot was non- existent, and the movie was simply made up of lame joke after lame, stinking joke. Oliver James used to be good, in 'What a Girl Wants,' he is a half decent actor and is rather hot too, but this film is simply a great disappointment if you were watching it only for him. And really, that seems like the only reason anyone would watch this movie, because honestly, you would be better off cleaning the bathroom or writing a ten-page essay as this would be both more entertaining, and a better use of your time. Sure, if you're bored out of your mind, it is vaguely possible you might gain some slight entertainment value from this film, but you would have to be an immensely sad, lame-humoured person for such an impossibility to occur.
Boring and lifeless
posted on 27 May 2009While the first movie wasn't all that entertaining - it was passable, this doesn't come close to it what-so ever.Dialoge is poor, setting is not to full effect, story is lame, casting is all wrong, nothing in this is memorable.The squirrel sequence is just retarded and it's subplots are just as stupid.I saw this free and was glad that I didn't pay for it.It saved me the cost of a rental, but regardless is was still lifeless and bring.Not even the two eco-chicks were from the first movie - which I guess is a good thing...Who thought of this story as something to produce is severely looking to get fired.Soundtrack didn't offer anything either.If you liked the first Without A Paddle, you should leave it at that and forget about this one, because you will enjoy this.Nothing really works in this. It's just a mess of sub-stories that were mishmash-ed together to put together a sub par script that is not funny or entertaining.There is a reason that this went straight to video...because it would not have lasted 2 weeks in a theater.It's poorly developed - even the sound nature effects are over done.The continuity is atrociously horrible as is the timing and looping.Save your money, save your time...go to sleep instead.
A Rating of One Because There's Nothing Lower
posted on 17 Apr 2009Even a bad comedy can be good sometimes. Not this one though - not even close.Terrible story, terrible cinematography, terrible continuity, terrible casting. This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen.Oh - and please - was there not one Canadian any where near the shooting of this film to teach the director that Canadians do not talk as though they were portrayed in this movie. The use of the sound "eh" and the 'sayings' (like "Holy Halifax") were contrived and - well, okay, I'm going to use a bad word: stupid. It was so annoying and so ridiculous, it was hard to even get close to the end without eye rolling and chucking popcorn at the screen. Is it really so challenging to portray a Canadian? After all, we are America's closest and largest neighbour and have thousands of Canadians working in Hollywood alone. This wasn't funny, it was lazy writing and unacceptable.I'll be sure to avoid anything with these actors and directors in the future.
because CGI rodents biting people in the crotch is the height of hilarity, right?
posted on 24 Feb 2009The best part of having a girlfriend is, of course, the copious amounts of sex. On the flip-side, the worst part of having a steady girlfriend is having to sit through many MANY crappy movies, this brings me to the topic at hand "Without A Paddle 2" which has nothing at all to do with the first one (which ironically I also was conned into watching when it came out, different girl though, but I digress) This one revolves around a guy who meets a vegetarian animal-rights crusader while on the first day of high school, she gets expelled the second day before she can so his 'cool' homemade 'Meat is Murder' T-shirt (I guess the Che shirts were all sold out) Anyways years little his friend, who works in a nursing home, accepts the dying wish of an ancient old lady to find her grand-daughter, whom winds up being, yup you guessed it, little Mizz Feminist crusader. So he, his friend, and a snotty English guy with ulterior motives travel to her last known whereabouts deep in the rain-forests.This film was atrocious, the joke aren't just easily telegraphed, they're also massively unfunny, the acting is sub-standard and I didn't give a toss about any of the characters involved in the least. Also Jerry Rice was a great football player, and as an actor he was a great football player. That was seriously painful to watch. The only good thing that came from this film is the sex I got for being forced to deal with this major eye sore of a 'movie'. It's all about reparations people.My Grade: F DVD Extras: A 10 minute Making-of; 'Furious Nuts' featurette which is 7 minutes about the CGI-squirrels; 'Treehouse Tales' three minutes about the treehouse sets; a gag reel; 4 very short deleted scenes; and Tralers for "Van Wilder: Freshman year", "American Teen", "Stoned Age", " 'Kenny Vs. Spenny' Volume 1, 'TV Funhouse Uncensored'
Decent movie - not as good as first - some fun laughs
posted on 22 Feb 2009When I heard a a sequel had been made to "Without a Paddle," I was kind of excited. Dax, Matt Lillard & Seth Green were pretty fun in the first movie, so I expected a decent flick. With a cast of relative no names, this movie seems to be a more straight to DVD type of movie. The biggest name had to be Hall of fame football player Jerry Rice, playing crazy woodsman "Hal Gore." Two lifelong friends (a laid back nurse and a stressed lawyer) and a Limey-Brit must take raft down river, in search of a beautiful hippie girl, who lives deep in the Oregon woods. Adventures unfold with white rapids, crazy squirrels and angry mobsters making things tough on the guys.All in all, the movie is pretty entertaining throughout. Very simple and kind of silly plot, with a fair amount of laughs. This is a movie that kids will enjoy a lot more than adults and overall I found the first movie in this series to be better than this one.
A fun, quirky little flick
posted on 29 Jan 2009I have to admit, I did not like the original Without a Paddle movie. I watched it with my brother and our friends, and I just wasn't impressed. I'm not a Seth Green fan, really. Anyway - I saw the commercial for this, and I just had to watch it. I absolutely adore Kristopher Turner and Oliver James, and seeing them together? Sounded great! I laughed a lot, it was good to see Oliver away from chick flicks and Kristopher away from Instant Star. If you're expecting a remake or something building upon the original, you're going to be disappointed, but if you go into this looking for a laugh, you're going to get it. It's not going to be named movie of the year, but it's certainly not a waste of time or money.
Not good at all
posted on 17 Jan 2009Being a teen I thought this movie would be hilarious but I was wrong.Like others have said I enjoyed the first movie but this has to be the worse sequel I have ever seen.... I guess I have to say that no other movies are as funny as Superbad but there are still funny movies but this is clearly not one of them Do not waste your time! I usually sit through movies and do not complain but there was nothing good in this movie at all. The acting was not horrible but the plot had nothing and there was no excitement! Ido not think I laughed during this film once.I would have turned it off but paying $5 to rent it I was finishing it!
Wout A Paddle Natures Calling
posted on 31 Aug 2009This sucks so bad especially if your expecting one like the first one! I got it because it was filmed a couple miles from my house, so I was curious, especially because there was so much talk about "low budget." Yup, definately low budget!!!