‘Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain’ is an instant classic

By Lia Klug

Real comedy is back with the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy’s new movie “Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain.”

Courtesy of Peacock

You may know Please Don’t Destroy from their weekly shorts on “Saturday Night Live” or their videos on TikTok, which blew up during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group comprises comedians Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall. Their weekly SNL sketches are often highly regarded by fans of the show and are filled with absurdist comedy and sharp wit. 

The comedic talent of the group comes as no surprise considering members Martin Herlihy and John Higgins’s parentage. Herlihy’s father, Tim Herlihy, is a frequent collaborator with Adam Sandler, and Higgins’s father is Steve Higgins, the announcer of “The Tonight Show” and a producer for SNL. While some may say this is the only reason for their success, this movie cements that they deserve the hype. 

“The Treasure of Foggy Mountain” is a triumph. The work of sketch comedians doesn’t always translate well to a full-length film, but this is not the case. At the start of the movie, you may think, “Well, this is hilarious, but certainly it can not stay this funny for the next two hours,” but you would be wrong. The absurdity and laugh-out-loud jokes continue consistently throughout the entire film.  

The cast showcases modern comedic talent. Megan Stalter specifically shines in this role. Her comedic timing is unmatched as she keeps up with the leads in a way uncommon in a supporting role. At one point, she and John play a game where they each have to earnestly sing a song they make up, followed by a montage of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” This is played so perfectly by Higgins and Stalter – the film’s most subtly absurd moment is just above the line of unbelieveability, a line the movie walks through. 

“Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain” is incredibly quotable and endlessly entertaining and will most likely be put in the same category as comedic classics such as Zoolander, Super Bad, and Step Brothers. The movie is available for streaming on Peacock on Nov. 17.