After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.
Richard Dreyfuss
as Prof. Krippendorf
Jenna Elfman
as Veronica
Zakes Mokae
as Sulukim
Siobhan Fallon Hogan
as Lori
Natasha Lyonne
as Shelly
Gregory Smith
as Mickey
Lily Tomlin
as Ruth Allen
Stephen Root
as Gerald Adams
Elaine Stritch
as Irene Hargrove
Mila Kunis
as Abbey Tournquist
David Ogden Stiers
as Henry Spivey
Doris Belack
as President Porter
