Without a Paddle

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Without a Paddle Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Even a paddle can't keep this movie from sinking.

PG-13 2004 95 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 19 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie has a lot of very strong material, including a lot of action violence (lots of shooting with very powerful weapons but hardly any blood and no one seriously hurt), comic peril (including a bear attack and many dangerous encounters on the river), and some graphic images (sewing up a bloody wound, a skeleton, lots of poop). There are many sexual references and situations, including references to peeking at a girl's "downstairs," a pierced "downstairs," and a lot of homophobic and misogynistic humor. A woman's unshaven leg is supposed to be as scary as Sasquatch. Characters use strong language. Characters smoke and drink beer, other characters are drug dealers, and getting stoned is played for humor.

Community Reviews

SenseiYert
SenseiYert Adult
February 22, 2020
age 12+

Pure enjoyment

Has a great sound track funny and unforgettable and personally very nostalgic
Plague
Plague Adult
May 7, 2010
age 12+

Without a Paddle

Produced a lot of laughs. Loved it.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

WITHOUT A PADDLE begins with faux home movies of four boys up to all kinds of faux hi-jinks. Only three of them survive to adulthood -- one of them has died and the other three decide to salute his memory by taking the treasure map he left behind for them in the old tree house, so they can go off in search of treasure and find themselves, the meaning of life, and maybe some money, too. The trio includes successful but repressed and phobic Dr. Dan Mott (Seth Green), substance-abusing, fun-loving ladies man Tom (Dax Shepard), and Jerry (Matthew Lillard), who is unhappy in his boring job and unable to commit to his beautiful girlfriend because he just can't grow up. Their journey includes life lessons, poop humor, beautiful hippie chicks who live in a tree and eating bark, and various perils.

Is It Any Good?

Without a Paddle is also without a lot of other things, including humor, talent, originality, or brains. There is not one joke that hasn't been seen before and done much better. Most of them are just silly or gross rather than funny anyway. The purportedly heartwarming moments are cheesy and insincere.

Director Steven Brill is responsible for directing atrocities Mr. Deeds and Little Nicky and writing the terrible Ready to Rumble. He deserves to be put in a canoe without a paddle for this one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Tom, Jerry, and Dan learned from the trip. How did each of them decide what was really important?

Movie Details

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