Wild America (1997): Dir: William Dear / Cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Devon Sawa, Scott Bairstow, Tracey Walter, Frances Fisher: Idiotic contraption regarding the enthusiasm these kids have towards American wildlife where they foolishly put their lives on the line due to contrived plot details. They purchase a camera and are granted the rest of the summer to shoot wildlife. They are nearly eaten by an alligator, encounter sleeping bears in a cave for which they sing back to sleep after a near tragedy, one of them rides the antlers of a moose in a totally stupid sequence. One of them injures his leg during a squabble. Yet this is suppose to be family entertainment. Director William Dear displays more skill than the cast, and he does deliver on great shots of wildlife. Jonathan Taylor Thomas is the film's star who, in opening scenes, allows himself to be part of stupid stunts that no kid needs to be encouraged to participate in. He is joined by Devon Sawa and Scott Bairstow and together they prove to have more guts than brains. Tracy Walter is featured among the locals as well as the stereotypical strict father who learns to lighten up and encourage his children to get eaten by animals. Parents like this really need to be educated on the dangers of wild animals and the potential for curios kids to wind up as lunch. Its wildlife message is side tracked by idiocy leaving it as nothing to go wild over. Score: 3 / 10
Review of Wild America
