Bushwhacked

Daniel Stern as Max is the main character in this movie, and he's hilarious. One of the best acting performances I've ever seen.

There's also a very good storyline which is surprising for a movie of this type, and the scenery is great. The casting of characters has been well done - and the characters in this movie fit their roles as good as can be.

This movie is a classic in my mind, but after reading some of the other reviews, I see that unless you like Daniel Stern's act you're not going to like the movie either.

Anyway, I deeply recommend you see the movie. If you're like me, you'll love it, and if not, just turn it off after 5 minutes cause it's not gonna take more than that for you to make up your mind.

Daniel Stern is a courier who winds up in a bad spot, and has to make an escape,, problem is he needs to get away really quick,, and all there is around him is a bus and kids,, well he proceeds to grab a uniform,, drive the bus, and pretend to be the kids scout leader, he takes them on a trek through the wilderness. while trying to keep up with his original job of courier,, he needs to find an address and uses the kid's trip as a guise to get there,, along the way though he seems to bond with the kids,, even though he really doesn't like kids all that much , very touching and predictable,, but funny nonetheless,, overall not a bad picture,, with tons of gags and laughs.

Pretty enjoyable and wacky film. Daniel Stern as always puts on a first class performance and has the natural comedic presence to add. The kids don't faulter in their roles, they can be the make or break in a family movie for the big 'uns watching. I've seen this film loads of times and I still laughed out loud a dozen times, always a fun revisit. Not the greatest but fun, safe and simple.

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.

When I first saw this movie I kept thinking of it as seeing Marv moving forward and becoming a good guy. I think if you like Stern and you like Home alone movies you will like this and will most likely think of it as Marv from Home Alone as a good guy.