Get ready for a wild ride thanks to the fun, friendship, and quirkiness of WILD BOYS!
Marking the feature directorial debut of Morten Forland with a script by Patrick J. Andersen, Vincent Catalina, and Kate Frampton (who also stars as our reclusive protagonist Kate), WILD BOYS is a comedic charmer from beginning to end as Kate is tasked with fulfilling a final request from her father as set forth in the terms of his Will – go on a treasure hunt. But this isn’t any ordinary treasure hunt. Should Kate not find the treasure within a specified number of days, the house will be sold and and Kate evicted, forced to fend for herself in the cold, cruel world. And as with any good treasure hunt, it’s not about reaching the destination; it’s about the journey to get there and what a journey this is.
Harkening to the fun and adventure of a film like “The Goonies”, 20-something-year-old Kate who doesn’t leave her house and spends her days playing retro video games and taking online Ninja classes, is pushed out of her self-imposed comfort zone with this final request of her father. Starting with a childhood treasure map, he has a bevy of well-placed clues to follow, each relating to significant moments in their father-daughter life.
Ill-equipped for an outdoor adventure, with much trepidation and false bravura, Kate gamely sets forth hiking up into the forested mountains. But it doesn’t take long before she encounters two loincloth-clad, wooden spear-toting WILD BOYS. With each afraid of the other, Kate ultimately befriends the pair with cans of beans and promises of more if they will help her find the treasure. A strange group to be sure, what unfolds with this triumvirate is beautiful to watch as heart and humor become the watchwords of the film.
Facing their fears, finding courage, and having fun, all seamlessly meld thanks to some crazy encounters along the way, not the least of which is a renegade ICE agent intent on capturing the WILD BOYS as he believes them to be terrorists, along with some mountain rednecks hired to help him in their capture.
The plot points of WILD BOYS open the door for some well-executed and entertaining slapstick humor thanks to the comedic talents of not only Frampton, but WILD BOYS Vincent Catalina as Red, and Jordan Laemmlen as Jondeer. There is a spontaneity to their performances that is refreshing and engaging. The primal physicality that Catalina and Laemmlen bring to the boys is beyond enjoyable to watch and in the case of Catalina’s Red is infused with palpable heartfelt emotion. Catalina’s performance belies this being his first feature film. Frampton also makes her feature acting debut here with skilled comedy chops making her “fish out of water aka out of the house” hilarity effortless fun. But beyond the comedic notes each brings to the table are the more serious dramatic tones. Catalina soars in these moments with Laemmlen right behind him, but there’s an uncomfortableness from Frampton when things take a more serious tone that detracts from her overall performance.
Adding much appreciated texture and laughter to WILD BOYS is the quirkiness of supporting characters and the supporting cast who bring them to life, most notably Vince Major who is a scream as ICE Agent Axel, a perfect blend of arrogance, pomposity, and ineptitude. Also a standout is Patrick J. Anderson’s “Drunk Dan”. As “Sheriff Maggie”, Alyssa Padia grounds the film and provides a somewhat maternal touch given the childlike naivete of Kate, Red, and Jondeer.
Piggybacking on the performances of his three leads is Forland’s adeptness at pacing and knowing when to hold a shot and when to let go. Working with editor Wilhelm Jacobsen, the two deliver an emotionally balanced film in its tone, celebrating Kate’s journey and her emotional milestones, and the burgeoning friendships of Kate, Red, and Jondeer. Having said that, there are quite a few moments in the third act that feel rushed and unbalanced as if the clock is ticking, pushing for a shorter runtime and even lending to the idea they didn’t know how to wrap up the story.
The real standout of WILD BOYS, however, is the location and the fact that 90% of the film is shot outdoors amidst the beauty of Mother Nature with blue skies, the vibrant greens of a forest, and some of the most beautiful panoramic mountaintop vistas you’ve ever seen. The aerial photography is outstanding. Thanks to cinematographer Vincent Valentin we are treated to widescreen images not only atop a mountain but throughout the trek in the forest. Contrasting that are exquisite moments of intimacy huddled around a fire during the night. Of particular interest is the difference in blocking and framing between the exteriors and the claustrophobic interiors of Kate’s world, and how the frame incrementally widens on Kate as the film progresses, metaphorically speaking to her ever-expanding heart and mind. So beautifully done.
Alexander Arntzen’s scoring punctuated with needledrops is a pure 90s electronic and synth vibe that musically dovetails, but is perfectly pitched to the ebb and flow of emotion in the story. Even the forest has its own motif while fun mini-montages are upbeat. Not to be overlooked are the tonal musical shifts when the stakes get higher or trouble is brewing, but those shifts never feel out of place in the overall musical soundscape.
Although with a few forks in the road, in the end, WILD BOYS delivers a treasure more wonderful than any pot of gold you can ever imagine.
Directed by Morten Forland
Written by Patrick J. Andersen, Vincent Catalina, and Kate Frampton
Cast: Kate Frampton, Vincent Catalina, Jordan Laemmlen, Vince Major, Patrick J. Anderson, Alyssa Padia
by debbie elias, 11/24/2023
WILD BOYS is now streaming on Tubi and on YouTube on December 2nd.
