Released theatrically by Buena Vista Pictures in the United States on March 27, 1998, the film received largely bad reviews from critics.

Arriving on the mainland, they learn that the bootcamp has been shuttered due to lawsuits and the former owner, Major Flowers, intends to give them survival training on his own.

The brothers awaken in the hospital and assume the identities they had been given, learning that Mel and Mo were expected by the station as two highly-touted naturalist recruits to the National Park Service.

As they adjust to life at Yellowstone, they struggle to adopt Mel and Mo’s apparent foraging lifestyle, while also feebly attempting to accomplish their job as best as they can.

The film also features cameos from former Oingo Boingo members Steve Bartek, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, Carl Graves, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps as the band at the luau.

[7][8][9] Areas of the film that drew the most criticism were its two-dimensional characters, overuse of surfer slang, ludicrous plot, and questionable morals.

The site's consensus states: "Audiences will be eager to lose The Deedles' number after suffering through this obnoxiously unfunny surfer comedy".

Notably, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo's band Homie had their only officially released song "American Girls" on the soundtrack.