'Strange Wilderness' lost in sick, perverse humor

by Tom Hill, staff writer

“Strange Wilderness” is a movie with so many low points the writer’s must have been high.

This groundbreaker wasn’t more than a string of perverted and gory jokes strung together. It was one of those movies that you need get yourself into a ninth-grade state of mind to really “appreciate.”

“Strange Wilderness” tells the tale of the son of a wildlife TV host and his trials and tribulations of keeping his show on the air. Peter Gaulke, played by the hilarious Steve Zahn, is the son of a wildlife legend similar to the late Steve Irwin. He and his “interesting” friends/camera crew have driven the show, aptly named “Strange Wilderness,” into the ground. To be more specific, they have driven it into a 3 a.m. time slot.

Among his less-than-sober friends are Cooker, played by Jonah Hill, and Junior, played by Justin Long. Since the death of Gaulke’s father, he and his friends have been more worried about getting stoned and having fun than making a quality wildlife show. After putting topless girls from Long Island and a burning man at a peace rally on the show, the network finally decides to pull the plug. They are told they have three weeks before they are taken completely off the air.

When it seems all hope is lost, an old friend of Gaulke’s father shows up claiming to possess a map leading to Bigfoot’s cave in South America. The crew comes up with the gem of an idea to go to South America and be the first to capture Bigfoot on camera and save “Strange Wilderness” from extinction.

However, they have to compete with the wealthier, trendier wildlife show that has a prime time slot. This show’s crew also has a three-day head start on the “S.W.” crew, since they are having trouble raising money to set out on this exhibition. The way they end up earning $5,000 for the trip is somewhat unorthodox. While relieving himself in the woods, Gaulke manages to get his “member” caught in the throat of a mother turkey that happens to come with a $5,000 finder’s fee.

Upon raising the funds to set out on this epic adventure, the gang ends up having their RV confiscated while crossing the border into Mexico. After somehow finally making it to South America and meeting up with their legendary guide, the “S.W.” group is once again set back when their guide steals all their supplies and camera equipment during the night.

Luckily, they stumble onto the other show’s crew who have all been murdered, and some, such as the show’s host, dismembered. Seeing that they no longer have any use for their equipment and supplies, the “S.W.” crew takes it all and continues their quest for Bigfoot’s cave.

It’s hard to believe, but the ending to this piece of “Hollywood gold’ is the most absurd part. Watching people vomit into a shark’s mouth never gets old. This movie is a melting pot of funny, sick, twisted, perverse, and gory humor. I award it two shining stars out of five, and I recommend it to stoners and junior high kids alike.