Strange Wilderness

Tastelessness has long been a staple of movie comedy, and when put to good use—as in the infamous “campfire” scene from Blazing Saddles or the “hair gel” scene from There's Something About Mary—does indeed provoke gales of laughter. But employed poorly—such as in the sublimely witless Strange Wilderness, which tries to mine laughs from shark attacks, accidental shootings, and dismemberment by savages—it smacks of desperation. Reportedly, filmmaker Fred Wolf's Strange Wilderness languished on a shelf for nearly two years before being released, so it's likely that the recent popularity of supporting players Justin Long (the Apple guy in TV commercials) and Jonah Hill (Superbad) persuaded Paramount to give this turkey a shot theatrically. The ostensible star is Steve Zahn, playing Peter Gaulke, the second-generation host of a long-running wildlife program with ratings in the toilet. Convinced that he needs to air something sensational, Peter takes his hapless crew on an ill-advised expedition to the Andes, where the legendary Bigfoot has just been sighted. The ensuing unrelenting tedium should embarrass everyone connected with this project, especially guest stars Ernest Borgnine (!), Harry Hamlin, Robert Patrick, and Joe Don Baker. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include 22 minutes of deleted scenes, a 21-minute episode of “Reel Comedy” dedicated to the film, “The Turkey” featurette on the fake turkey prop (7 min.), a “Cooker's Song” outtake featuring costar Jonah Hill (6 min.), six minutes of “What Do We Do?” outtakes, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a cinematic turkey.] (E. Hulse)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 14, 2009—Paramount, 87 min., R, $29.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2008's Strange Wilderness boasts a crisp transfer and a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous standard DVD release, including 22 minutes of deleted scenes, a 21-minute episode of “Reel Comedy” on the film, “The Turkey” featurette on the prop (7 min.), a “Cooker's Song” outtake featuring costar Jonah Hill (6 min.), six minutes of “What Do We Do?” outtakes, and trailers. Bottom line: Blu or not, this is still a gobbler.]