Movie Overview
Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain is a 2023 action-adventure comedy that brings the distinct humor of the Saturday Night Live trio to the big screen. Directed by Paul Briganti, the film stars Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall as fictionalized versions of themselves. The story kicks off when the three friends, dissatisfied with their current life trajectories and feeling stuck in a rut, decide to chase a local legend. Rumors of a gold statuette buried deep in the nearby forest lure them into the wilderness for what they hope will be a life-changing expedition.
As the friends trek through Foggy Mountain, their adventure quickly devolves into chaos. They are dogged by outlandish troubles at every step, ranging from eccentric forest dwellers to their own escalating incompetence. The narrative relies on the chemistry between the leads, whose dynamic oscillates between genuine camaraderie and absurd bickering. While the premise echoes classic adventure movies, the execution is filtered through the group's unique brand of cringe and surrealism, making for a viewing experience that is as unpredictable as it is humorous.
For viewers looking to watch online, this Netflix exclusive offers a fast-paced runtime of 92 minutes. The production serves as an extension of the Please Don't Destroy digital shorts, expanding their sketch-style humor into a cohesive narrative structure. Despite mixed critical reception, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 42% and a Metacritic rating of 49/100, the film has found its audience among fans of the troupe’s specific comedic style. It holds an R rating for language and content, aligning with the edgier tone found in their previous work.
Critics have noted that while the plot may be secondary to the gags, the movie succeeds as a showcase for the trio's writing and performance talents. If you enjoy lo-fi comedy, bizarre set-pieces, and watching friends endure mild peril for the sake of treasure, Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain is worth adding to your queue. It is a testament to the group's ability to carry a feature-length film, proving that their chaotic energy can sustain a narrative far beyond the constraints of a three-minute sketch.
