SHORT SYNOPSIS:

The “Men’s Movement” of the 90’s has given birth to “Men’s Sensitivity and Business Bonding Weekends” of the Y2K’s. The “New” New Age has become a world of Natural Health and Healing complete with Naturopathic Lawyers, Awareness Cable Channels, Bio Degradable Mutual Funds and Hemp as an industry with an exit strategy. Into this New Millennium stumble — The Wild Guys.

Randall, Andy and Robin — all modern men for whom “hunting and gathering” means looking in the produce section of a grocery store — head north from Seattle to Lone Pine, B.C. for a “soul exploring” weekend in the woods. Each brings his own, vastly different, expectations and agendas. When their guide, Stewart, turns out to be in need of some guidance himself, the guys find themselves lost deep in the woods. Without food or shelter, their hike takes on deeper meaning as they argue, cope with life-threatening dangers, are stalked by man and beast and start to come to terms with their blind spots, bald spots and deeply hidden fears.
The film is a comedy that finds its humour in the absolute sincerity of each of the characters. They are middle-aged men who are confused about where life has taken them. They need some answers… any answers.

LONG SYNOPSIS:

A non-stop two-day misadventure begins when Andy (Kenneth Welsh) invites Robin (Hrothgar Mathews), from his men’s group, and Randall (Lochlyn Munro), his corporate lawyer, to join him on a weekend outing in the wilds. Andy, a middle-aged grocery executive, is trying to find meaning in his life. Robin, a self-styled “seeker,” is anxious to share a soul-awakening weekend. Randall just sees a way to please a major client and get out of a triathlon he has been dreading.

Andy asks the manager of his grocery store in remote Lone Pine, B.C. to find them a location in his area. Stewart (Jackson Davies) agrees, imagining nothing more complex than some fishing and beer, and entertaining visions of a promotion in his future.
As the group assembles, their differences become apparent. Sincere, sensitive, vegetarian Robin is the ultimate “New Age Man.” Andy is practical and highly analytical but touchingly willing to open his mind and heart to a new way of life. Randall is a determinedly no-nonsense young man on the rise. Stewart is a happy, hopeful bumbler whose tastes in fun are as simple as they are old-fashioned. This unlikely group of adventurers faces potential dangers. A grizzly bear has been seen near their destination. The bear has attracted two well-armed poachers.

In the morning, the group parks Robin’s prized van on a remote road and begins hiking to a lakeside cabin. After a few hours, the visitors wonder if Stewart knows where he’s going. With Randall getting testy and Stewart getting defensive, Robin cheerfully suggests some meditation to prepare for the wilderness experience. Randall and Stewart are incredulous. Then Robin springs another surprise. He left all their food behind so they could have the life-affirming experience of gathering their own.
They hike on until it becomes clear that they are “thoroughly and precisely” lost. Then they arrive at a narrow ledge where Randall’s fear of heights threatens to bring them to a complete halt. Suddenly, Stewart slips and vanishes over the edge. The panicked group is astonished to spot him clinging to a tree on a lower ledge. While he dangles, they engage in an ethical debate about the issues surrounding a possible rescue.
As night approaches, they spot claw marks and realize the grizzly is nearby. Then a rifle shot rings out. Someone is hunting out of season. While the others pick berries for dinner, Robin tries to make the hunt for food into a meaningful ritual and nearly frightens his companions to death. Exhausted, they make camp.

The second day brings more complications. Still lost, they face a new crisis when Robin’s fear of water halts them at a river. They reluctantly join in his attempt to visualize himself out of his phobia. Suddenly, his van appears, floating downriver, and they have to hold him back from the fast-running water. Later, they recognize the serious danger they could be in when they find the poachers’ bait.

By the second night, everyone is on edge. Randall confronts Robin and gets a reaction he didn’t expect. Taken aback, he begins to talk about some of his own fears and feelings. The group reaches a level of understanding as they admit that men today feel guilty about… well, about everything. Only Andy remains apart. He offers analysis of everything but reveals nothing. When the others accuse him of making them his ant farm, he admits to the problems that haunt him as a husband and father.

In the morning, Randall is alarmed when he sees Andy’s empty sleeping bag. The three break camp and set out to find Andy. Eventually, they have to split up. Stewart takes one trail alone while Robin joins Randall on the other. Stewart spots Andy in the distance and hurries after him. Suddenly, he slips and falls down a steep bank, landing in the poachers’ camp. Before he can get to his feet, a gun is pointed at him. What happens when his three friends find each other and see this desperate situation is as gratifying as it is surprising.

The weekend where nothing goes right becomes the weekend that changes everything — for all of them.

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