Bushwhacked is a 1995 film starring Daniel Stern, Jon Polito, Anthony Heald and Brad Sullivan.
Synopsis
Max Grabelski (Daniel Stern) is involved with delivering packages to a millionaire named Reinhart Bragden (Anthony Heald) for a $50 tip for each package delivered. He shows up one night, delivering the package at 10 PM instead of 10 AM (which the company he works for, Freedom Express, guarantees as the delivery time for all packages). Inside he finds a fire and Agent Palmer (Jon Polito) tries to arrest him for starting it and killing Bragden, but Grabelski grabs a gun and escapes.
On the news, Palmer falsely names Grabelski as the suspect in Bragden's murder. He also claims that Grabelski was trying to take money that was scheduled to be taken out of circulation (which was being delivered to Bragden to be taken care of).
Grabelski then finds out from his boss that another package for Bragden is to be delivered to a place called Devil's Peak. He drives up there while, at the same time, Troop 12 of the Ranger Scouts are planning an overnight near Devil's Peak. Grabelski steals a car and drives to a gas station and meets Scout Leader Erickson (Brad Sullivan), who was going to meet Troop 12 at Devil's Peak whose Jeep he then steals at gunpoint when the gas station attendant figures out Grabelski is the wanted man. He switches places with Erickson, gluing his hands and chin to the steering wheel (who he calls "Sergeant Doofus" for putting an obscene sticker on his car window) who takes his stolen station wagon.
Grabelski heads to Devil's Peak but an officer informs him he is "late" for the kids. Grabelski is mistaken for the Scout Leader and finds himself in the midst of an overnight. FBI agents then swarm the base of Devil's Peak and Palmer and Erickson go after Grabelski and the kids he takes with him (who are now considered hostages). Grabelski begins acting weird around the kids, who see it as brilliance rather than crazy and they decide to scale the mountain rather than just have an overnight. Milton Fishman, played by Ari Greenberg, almost falls off a rope bridge but is saved by his own mantra, "I am Milton Fishman, Superstud!" He survives and is able to go on to become a Jewish farmer. He escapes from Palmer and Erickson long enough before the kids realize he is "Mad Max" Grabelski rather than the Scout Leader originally sent to help Troop 12. They send out smoke signals for help, which Palmer and Erickson see.
Palmer, however, shows up alone and then the kids realize Max is innocent when Bragden arrives alive and explains the situation to Grabelski. Bragden and Palmer are in on the scheme and try to frame Grabelski because "no one gives a damn about him". Bragden and Palmer will then get away with the money once and for all. It is then revealed Palmer tied up Erickson to a tree nearby. When attempting to kill Grabelski and then the kids, they fail and Grabelski and the kids end up getting away after surviving a near-death experience on a waterfall. They throw their bags in the river to make them think they are dead. Palmer and Bragden believe it and leave.
The gang then heads towards Devil's Peak while the Troop Leader (Ann Dowd) discovers a note left by Grabelski that has an address written on it (where Grabelski was headed) and she drives up there only to be tied up by Bragden. The kids make it to the top and Erickson shows up just before Palmer can kill Grabelski and super-glues him to a tree. Grabelski foils Bragden's scheme and the kids receive Eagle Scout honors and Grabelski is proven innocent and receives Scout Leader honors.
The movie ends with Grabelski being swarmed by a giant group of kids that are heading to Yosemite with Grabelski.
Trivia
- The tagline was They wanted a great adventure. What they got was "Mad Max" Grabelski. The film was also known as Tenderfoots or The Tenderfoot.
- The film was originally rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America. It was edited so it could be re-rated PG before its release.
Reception
The movie currently has a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, receiving 9 rotten reviews and 0 positive. Users on the Internet Movie Database, however, gave the film more positive reviews.
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