Strange Wilderness 2008

The film opens with a series of bloopers from a wildlife show hosted by an elderly man, who we later learn is none other than Peter Gaulke’s deceased father. Inheriting the show named “Strange Wilderness”, Peter acknowledges that he lacks his father’s talent as he reflects on recent events. The story unfolds a few months prior, highlighting Peter’s struggles as the host. It quickly becomes clear that both he and his crew, which includes Fred (a boom operator), Milas (the cameraman), Junior (Milas’s stoner nephew), and Cooker (a lazy laborer), are far from professional, and Peter possesses only a basic understanding of wildlife. This concocts a series of inappropriate scenarios paired with wildly inaccurate animal facts.

In a pivotal meeting, Peter and Fred confront their executive, Ed Lawson, who reveals that the show will be canceled in two weeks. Lawson is now promoting a new show featuring the well-known wildlife host, Sky Pierson. In a dash against time to save his show, Peter connects with an old family friend, Bill Calhoun, who unbelievably claims to have discovered Bigfoot in South America. Desperate, Peter agrees to pay Bill one thousand dollars for the map to Bigfoot, coaxing Bill into holding onto the map while he gathers the funds.

Milas, however, backs out of the journey, citing his age, but suggests that Junior could take his place. They hire a dubious “wildlife handler” named Whitaker, who is more of an alcoholic mechanic than a professional. As they embark on their adventure in an RV, Peter’s friend Danny and their new public relations agent Cheryl join the chaotic crew. Their misadventures take a wild turn when they stumble upon sea lions, prompting Danny to don a giant sea lion costume. However, his antics lead to a shark attack that leaves him severely injured, forcing the crew to spend their remaining funds on his treatment.

After an unfortunate encounter with some local gangsters, Peter and Fred find themselves at a dentist’s office following a brawl that knocks out their teeth. In a desperate attempt to recover their finances, Junior steals a tank of nitrous from the dentist, resulting in a hilariously chaotic two-day bender. Arriving at Bill’s cabin, they find that he has sold the map to Pierson, as he was unable to reach Peter. Bill’s paranoia is evident as he reveals his torment with multiple cameras around his home. He then agrees to help Peter by introducing him to Gus Haden, a successful tracker to assist them in their quest.

In a bizarre twist, while urinating outside, Peter encounters a baby turkey, only to be attacked by its mother, leaving him in a very compromising position. This unexpected incident leads to a valuable reward from the government due to the turkey’s involvement in a study. Their journey at the Mexican border goes south when they infuriate the border agents, resulting in a humiliating body search for Peter. Eventually, the team resorts to a flight to continue their pursuit, leading them to Dick, who introduces them to Gus Haden.

However, their troubles intensify when Gus robs them of their possessions and vanishes with Cheryl. With their journey thwarted, the crew is left reeling when Dick is gruesomely taken by piranhas. Though Cheryl returns with a stolen map, it is only after dubious dealings with Gus. The plot thickens when they find Sky Pierson and his entourage dead, a grim sign of danger in the jungle.

They ultimately arrive at Bigfoot’s lair, where Peter prepares for a climactic moment. In an unexpected twist, Bigfoot emerges, utterly confused, only to be shot down by the frightened crew. In a scramble to save their reputation, they attempt to stage the scene as a suicide, despite the visible bullet wounds. Wasted opportunities lead to conflict among the crew as they disband after Ed rejects Peter’s efforts.

Just as everything appears lost, a familiar face visits Peter in his apartment, not allowing him to forfeit his dream. Milas convinces him of the need to regroup, and in a heartwarming return to their show, they confront the great white shark once more. The tale wraps up with Ed finally approving the revival of “Strange Wilderness”, to Peter and Fred’s utter astonishment. The adventure culminates in both chaos and camaraderie, celebrating their unlikely success against the odds.