THE SASQUATCH GANG — * 1/2 — Jeremy Sumpter, Justin Long, Hubbel Palmer; rated PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, slurs)

"The Sasquatch Gang" comes from several of the people responsible for "Napoleon Dynamite," which explains some similarities.

This is yet another low-key comedy, albeit with decidedly cruder sensibilities than "Napoleon," such as a noxious doo-doo joke that is continually referenced throughout the entire movie.

Actually, the rather limited outcast-comedy premise is already tapped out. So this painfully unfunny film seems considerably longer than its scant 90-minute running time.

The title "The Sasquatch Gang" refers to a group of fantasy nerds led by Gavin Gore (Jeremy Sumpter). He and his pals Maynard (Rob Pinkston) and Hobie (Hubbel Palmer) regularly "duel" in his mom's front yard.

Gavin is also obsessed with Bigfoot and is excited when, at a local park, they find what appears to be a series of Sasquatch tracks, as well as some of the creature's ... ahem ... droppings.

However, it turns out that both are actually part of a hoax perpetuated by a pair of metal-heads, Zerk (Justin Long) and Shirts (Joey Kern), who hope to cash in on any resulting publicity.

In addition to its lowbrow tendencies, screenwriter/director Tim Skousen's film is a little mean-spirited and unpleasant. And some dumb bits of business with Long's and Kern's characters are excruciating.

There's virtually nothing for talented people like Sumpter ("Peter Pan") and Pinkston (TV's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide") to do except clown around.

You have to wonder how they got such "name" actors as Long, Stephen Tobolowsky (TV's "Heroes") and Carl Weathers to take part (Weathers plays a dung-obsessed Bigfoot expert).

Oh, and "Napoleon Dynamite" star Jon Heder shows up in a brief cameo — and even he seems to be in a hurry to get it over with.

"The Sasquatch Gang" is rated PG-13 for crude humor and references (mostly scatological), violence (bullying, paintball shenanigans, vehicular mayhem and violence against women), and slurs based on sexual preference. Running time: 88 minutes.

---

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com