There Is A Seth Green Movie With An A+ Cast From 2004 That Doesn’t Deserve Its 15% Rotten Tomatoes Score

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Let’s be real, Without a Paddle, the 2004 Seth Green movie with Dax Shepard, Matthew Lillard, and others, isn’t a cinematic masterpiece like The Godfather or Citizen Kane. But I think it’s genuinely funny and definitely better than its current 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes suggests. The movie’s based on a fascinating 20th-century mystery, which I find really interesting, and it’s a lot of fun seeing the late Burt Reynolds in a more than just a quick appearance. So, let’s dive in and enjoy the ride!

The Plot Is Built Around The D.B. Cooper Hijacking

On November 24, 1971, a man known only as Dan Cooper (likely an alias) hijacked a flight between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. He claimed he had a bomb and demanded $200,000 (roughly $1.6 million today) and four parachutes. After landing in Seattle, authorities met his demands. The plane then took off again with Cooper aboard, after he let the other passengers go and the aircraft was refueled. He later became known as D.B. Cooper.

D.B. Cooper hijacked a plane and demanded a ransom, then parachuted out over Oregon, disappearing into the night. Neither he nor most of the money was ever found, making it a long-standing mystery that has fascinated many, including me. Surprisingly, this incredible true story hasn’t been told often in movies, with Without a Paddle being a notable exception.

The film follows three friends – portrayed by Green, Shepard, and Lillard – as they try to uncover the truth about a man named Cooper and get back some money. It quickly turns into a comedic take on the movie Deliverance, which makes Burt Reynolds’ cameo as Cooper’s accomplice even more enjoyable. As a big fan of Burt Reynolds, particularly his films from the 1970s, I have a soft spot for this movie, even if it’s not the most hilarious one I’ve seen.

My Weird History With The Movie Also Helps

Let me share how I first discovered Without a Paddle, because it explains why I enjoy it more than most people do. I stumbled across it on cable TV – I was just channel surfing, like you used to do – about 15 or 20 minutes into the film. I didn’t know what was happening at first, but I quickly realized the story revolved around a group of friends searching for D.B. Cooper’s hidden treasure while canoeing down a river.

I started to think Reynolds might be the character Cooper when he appeared, and I had a feeling it was a clever reveal the script hadn’t explicitly set up. It turned out that was actually the plan all along, but I didn’t know it at the time, and I immediately fell in love with the movie. I still feel the same way after rewatching it a few times. It’s not as brilliant as comedies like Caddyshack or Animal House – it’s a bit cheesy, honestly – but it’s consistently entertaining. That deserves at least a 25% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I’m sticking to that opinion! Feel free to prove me wrong, though – you can stream it with the FuelTV add-on for Amazon Prime and tell me what you think.

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2025-11-21 20:10