Critics are taking a paddle to the makers of Without a Paddle, giving the movie, a spoof of 1972's Deliverance, arguably the worst reviews of the summer. Stephen Holden in the New York Times calls it "loathsome." Ty Burr in the Boston Globe describes it as "moronic." Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post comments: "When it's not actively offending or annoying, it does have a few laughs of the God-am-I-really-laughing-at-this? variety." Sid Smith in the Chicago Tribune suggests that the film ought to be called "Without a Brain Cell." Megan Lehmann's review in the New York Post is headed "Without a Clue," and it concludes with the comment that the movie "never rises above the level of harmless video fare." Bob Strauss in the Los Angeles Daily News is the only major-market newspaper critic who gives the film a positive review, calling it "warm-hearted" and a pleasant end-of-summer diversion that won't insult your intelligence." He then adds: "Too much, anyway." |