Bushwhacked

Daniel Stern plays Max Grabelski, a cheap delivery-guy who is framed for murder. He tries to find the man who framed him in Devil's Peak. Although there is a catch; in order to avoid trouble, he has to pretend to be a scout leader who leads kids to Devil's Peak. As he leads the kids into the woods, the laughs begin as Stern is attacked by a bear, plays with a beehive, discusses the birds and the bees and other wild adventures that make this movie an A+!

Upon watching this, one has to ask themselves how this film compares to other standard Hollywood comedies. How does it compare? Very well indeed. The average comedy these days isn't as funny as this movie is. This movie is very creative and witty. This movie was so well cast and the characters are perfect for the film. Daniel Stern was hilarious as Max Grebelski and the scout troop was brilliant.

Aside from Stern, the scout troop makes the film a remarkable comedy. They work well together and have great chemistry. Ari Greenberg and Janna Michaels were my favorite scout troop characters. Ari played his role perfectly and Janna lights up the screen-she's a fantastic actress and should be in more films.

All in all, this film is a feel good comedy with great mountain scenery and is worth taking a look at.

Max Grabelski (Daniel Stern in full-on Home Alone mode) is a sleazy delivery man perpetually stuck in a 1970's time-warp (puh-lease tell me where I can get one of those shirts). He struts his way down the street to Bee Gees tunes and behaves like Disco Stu from The Simpsons. He's got a little con going on after working hours in which he delivers clandestine packages to some rich guy (a weak Anthony Heald) for big tips. He needs escapism and the mystery of the con makes him feel like a spy. Until that is, when Max is framed for murder and has to run for his life.

While trying to intercept the last in the series of suspicious packages (located in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest) in order to clear his name, Max is mistaken for a world famous Scout Leader and has to lead a bunch of adventure-hungry kids into the wilderness and shake off the pursuing FBI.

Daniel Stern's physical comedy is just plain hilarious and his comic timing is perfect. For anyone who liked him in Home Alone 1 and 2 you'll love him in this also. The kids are surprisingly not that annoying. Usually I hate kids in movies (Jurassic Park, Hook, The awful Von Trapp children) but they had enough character and laughs among them to make it okay.

I only ever had a problem with the ending. It was just too tame for a PG-13 rated movie. Instead of Gordy's far-fetched fall into the ravine I would have preferred that the entire balcony of the cabin to collapse and the bad guy fall to his death. Plus the bad guy is kind of weak, his accent is just plain odd and he has this strange sort of campness and not scariness about him. Too bad since Anthony Heald has played some true scumbags in his time.

These 2 complains aside Bushwhacked is great adventure movie with a lively score by Bill Conti (why is there no soundtrack CD?). It's probably best enjoyed in Spring/Summer and is perfect for the whole family. An admirable amount of laughs indeed.

The DVD is a godsend for anyone who had to suffer the terrible pan-and-scan video (like me), which half the picture missing. Now Bushwhacked is presented in full 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and it looks just fine. The sound is simple Dolby 2.0 but it's more than adequate. Extras are thin, consisting of just a Bushwhacked trailer (quite good) and couple of other Fox family movie trailers.

But for the price, Bushwhacked is a must, regardless of extras or not. Though this time I would I liked to have seen some.