Main Cast: Chris Farley, Matthew Perry, Eugene Levy, Kevin Dunn, Lisa Barbuscia
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Christopher Guest (Waiting for Guffman) directed this comedy about two hapless explorers -- hard-drinking trapper Bartholomew Hunt (the late Chris Farley in his last major role) and foppish Leslie Edwards (Matthew Perry) -- who lead an ill-fated 1804 expedition through the Pacific Northwest in a hopeless, doomed effort to reach the Pacific Ocean before Lewis and Clark. Others joining their trek are French linguist Guy Fontenot (Eugene Levy), who is unable to decipher dialects of any Native American tribes; Spanish conquistador Hidalgo (Kevin Dunn), who seeks the Fountain of Youth; Fontenot's Indian mistress Shaquinna (Lisa Barbuscia); Bidwell (David Packer), who keeps losing parts of his body; oddball Pratt (Hamilton Camp); and Edwards' manservant Jonah (Bokeem Woodbine). Filmed on location in Northern California and the Big Bear region. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Pat Tagliaferro - Art Director, Mary Gail Artz - Casting, Barbara Cohen - Casting, Mary Kane - Co-producer, Dorinda Rice Wood - Costume Designer, Christian P. Della Penna - First Assistant Director, Christopher Guest - Director, Ronald Roose - Editor, Jeffery Vanston - Composer (Music Score), Joseph T. Garrity - Production Designer, Kenneth MacMillan - Cinematographer, Adam Kimmel - Cinematographer, Denise Di Novi - Producer, Linda Allen - Set Designer, Mark Weingarten - Sound/Sound Designer, Peter Antico - Stunts, Boyd Hale - Screenwriter, Mark Nutter - Screenwriter, Tom Wolfe - Screenwriter
The film was Farley's last major film role and was released five months after his death; he later had a cameo in the Norm Macdonald comedy Dirty Work, which was released later in the year.
In 1804, Lewis & Clark have set out to discover America's western frontier. Unbeknownst to them, another expedition has been commissioned and is led by the stuffily aristocratic Leslie Edwards (Matthew Perry). Knowing he needs a man familiar with the territory to lead the way, Leslie hires Bartholomew Hunt (Chris Farley), a slovenly tracker, along with a rag tag crew of misfits, including Guy Fontenot (Eugene Levy), an interpreter who doesn't speak any other languages. Heading off toward the Pacific Ocean, they encounter many obstacles such as wild bears, Native tribes, and a group of Spanish conquistadors led by Hidalgo (Kevin Dunn), as they try to beat the other expedition team to the west coast.
The troupe make it at last when Bartholomew is dragged into the ocean by a great eagle. We are told in the narration, this is not known by many, and Lewis and Clark were eventually credited with the discovery.
