Manifest Destiny: The Lewis & Clark Musical Adventure

This film was conceived by two friends/former students of mine: Jeremy Hoffman (who plays William Clark) and Kev Abrams (who plays Merriwether Lewis). It began as a 3-part web series created, written, shot, edited and scored (more or less in their own backyard of my home state of Oregon) by the two of them in 2011. It was certainly rough around the edges but it had a lot of intelligence, creativity and passion. I loved it... and not just because they asked me to provide the voice of one of the characters: a wise, old Eagle (played on screen by a puppet). I thought it showed a lot of promise and that it would make an excellent feature film.

Years later, as both Jeremy and Kevin pursued their individual careers in L.A. and New York respectively, Jer hooked up with an independent production company called New Renaissance Pictures and in particular with a young writer/director named Anthony Parisi. Parisi wanted to make MANIFEST DESTINY his next film and so the process of raising funding began. Through Kickstarter they were able to bring in over $10,000: an amount that wouldn't even cover the catering of a major Hollywood movie, but, because they were shrewd in stretching their dollar, allowed them to fashion a feature that, with a few notable exceptions, looked/sounded epic and had that professional polish that the original lacked. Fortunately, the cleverness, enthusiasm and ambition of the web series carried over. Since I personally have a lot invested in this film (both as a donor to the Kickstarter campaign that funded it and as a participant since I contributed some storybook-style ink drawings for the prologue and epilogue), I am not even going to pretend to be objective about it. I will just say that I unequivocally love this film (even more than I loved the web series). Jer, Kev, Anthony and a whole crew of generous volunteers have produced a wonderful, bright, colorful, joyous, hilarious, smart and unique finished product.

It tells the story of the famous expedition Lewis and Clark undertook to explore America's West in the early 1800's (an event that will, incidentally, also be the subject of an upcoming mini-series produced by Tom Hanks/Brad Pitt and starring Casey Affleck). That is about the beginning and the end of the connection to reality this film has. Though they play actual historical figures, there is about as much history in MANIFEST DESTINY as there is in ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER. Besides being a big, Disney-style musical with some incredibly catchy songs written by Jer and Kev (the most signature of which is probably "Fording the River" from which the attached photo was taken), the film is primarily a comedy. The characters of Lewis and Clark bear no similarity whatsoever to their real- life counterparts. Jeremy's Clark is a bitter, rugged little spitfire whose sole interest in undertaking the enterprise is to create a legacy for himself. By contrast, Kevin's lanky Lewis is a kind, gentle, nature-loving soul who believes in the nobility of their task. They are an unlikely pair with competing visions of their mission and, although their friendship does grow and deepen over the course of the story, they often bicker and argue along the way, behaving more like 12-year-old boys than grown-up explorers. They are also, as is evidenced by their occasional bad decision-making and general ignorance of how the world works, not the brightest men to ever ride a horse. On their journey they are helped by the young, lovely and very pregnant Native American Sacagawea (whose name they keep mispronouncing) played by Kristen Terry. At one point, in a sequence reminiscent of POCAHONTAS' "Colors of the Wind", she sings a song called "A Different Story" in which she tries to get Lewis and Clark to see the rare, untouched beauty of the land around them and in another hysterical scene, they assist her as she gives birth to her child during a massive snowstorm in what must be the most dramatic birthing song ever recorded ("This Baby Must Be Born").

Further illustrating the disparity between this work of fiction and the actual events upon which they are based, Jesse GrothOlson plays President Thomas Jefferson -- who commissioned the expedition in the first place -- as a petty, vindictive, insecure, power-hungry, narcissistic madman intent upon taking the credit for Lewis and Clark's hard work (Gee, America could never elect a president like that, could it?). In his hilarious self-titled song, he dances around his home and yells at portraits of Washington and Adams, calling them names and declaring himself the "one true great President." He is, in other words, the villain! Making Jefferson a bad guy, Lewis and Clark a couple of barely competent losers and even calling the film "Manifest Destiny" (let alone showing an opening number with a whole crowd of 17th century townspeople -- all white -- singing in praise of it) could potentially be considered a bold, provocative and politically incorrect move in a more serious film, but here the tone of the piece is so absurd, so silly, so far removed from anything resembling historical reality (there are, after all, talking animals/puppets in it), that I don't think it could be more inoffensive. In fact, even though the whole thing is incredibly nice and lighthearted, there is a subversive and satirical bent to MANIFEST DESTINY (not perhaps quite as pointed or edgy as something done by the two SOUTH PARK guys Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but similar and interesting nonetheless) that makes it relevant as well as fun. It's one of the many reasons I love the movie.

Funny, unserious, marginally historical and beautifully filmed. This ambitious musical film makes no effort to hide the fact that it was made on a shoestring budget. The result is a singular piece of work which simultaneously spoofs hollywood cliches yet manages to be artistic and maybe even poignant.

The filmmakers have indulged themselves with lush green scenery and big skies. My only criticisms are the fact that the last 15 minutes are the slowest of the film. And the fact that this movie has very little to do with history. A viewer might potentially be confused on that point. But that's really all the richer for this enjoyable little musical. Watch it.

Manifest Destiny: The adventures of Lewis and Clark. 2016

Cast: Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Thomas Jefferson, and Sacajawea.

Director: Anthony Parisi

Summary: The Manifest Destiny: The adventures of Lewis and Clark was the worst movies ever. This was a poor attempt of a movie about history. This movie was more like me watching barney the dinosaur on PBS kids. The songs in this movie was like me listening to barney singing the "Clean up song". The only thing that I want to clean up is me from ever watching or listening to this movie. Looking at the props made me think of a 7-eleven toy that cost 2$. All in all this movie had the utmost disrespect for our country and of how history happens. Lewis and Clark are stumbling out west to the sea through mountains and forests for the evil Thomas Jefferson that they later defeat.

Review: The movie was fun and exciting. Two scenes in the the movie that I enjoyed was how much Clark cared for Sacajawea's baby. Also I like when Clark carried Lewis to the western sea when he still had the poison in his body. The actor who played Clark did an amazing job because he really captured how warrior like Clark was. I also like Lewis because the actor showed how Lewis was the one who was mapping most of the territory. Next I like Sacajawea's character because in history she lead them and in the movie she led them. Also i like that because she kept her character description. The scenes in this movie made them good because it was funny and it also captured how some of the expedition really happens. This movie runs for 92 minutes. The scenes in this movie were fast paced and funny while also sticking sorta to history. Then I would describe this movie as suspenseful and amazing. Finally I would recommend this to a friend.