Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain knows exactly what it’s offering viewers: an unabashedly goofy comedy with little concern for logic and plenty of attention to laughs. Boasting John Goodman, Conan O’Brien, Bowen Yang, and Cedric Yarbrough on the cast list, this movie feels like a spiritual sibling to other SNL-affiliated movies like Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and Hot Rod. The Treasure of Foggy Mountain doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is exactly what fans of Please Don’t Destroy, the comedy group brought on to produce digital shorts for SNL in 2021, will be used to.
Starring the “Destroy Boys” themselves—Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy—The Treasure of Foggy Mountain features three best friends who haven’t fully caught on to adulthood. While Marshall and Herlihy’s characters try to solidify themselves as Men with Plans, Higgins grapples with his place in the world, realizing the most important people in his life are beginning to have other priorities. Recalling a memorable childhood camping trip, Higgins encourages his pals to search for treasure with him in the Appalachian wilderness. Of course, hijinks ensue.
True, Herlihy and Higgins fall into the much-maligned category of “nepo babies,” but it’s their easy chemistry with Marshall, not their fathers’ experiences at SNL, that makes the group’s antics fun to watch. Where Marshall often attempts to be the voice of reason, Herlihy delivers off-kilter earnestness and Higgins fulfills the role of “man-child with impossible dreams.” In this case, the dreams are male bonding, treasure, and a boys’ trip to London. Lofty, right?
Despite plenty of risks along the way—honorary mention goes to a hairless bear created with CGI so bad it actually becomes frightening—the group manages to gain the greatest gift of all during this 90-minute fever dream: cold hard cash. They wind up cherishing their friendship along the way, too, if that’s something you care about.
Produced by Judd Apatow and starring one of the consistent high points of recent SNL seasons, Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain seems destined for success amongst people who like to sit back, pop an edible, and laugh at something stupid.
Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
2023
dir. Paul Briganti
91 min.
Available to stream Friday, 11/17, exclusively on Peacock
