The stage curtains open ...
Roman: "These are the biggest worms I've ever encountered." Chet: "They're not worms, they're leeches."
"The Great Outdoors" (1988) starring John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Annette Bening (in her first film role), and Stephanie Faracy is a fun slice of 80's comedy, and although it didn't review well, I felt it was one of John Candy's funnier films. I remember seeing this movie poster in the theaters when it first came out, but I never did get to see it until it hit the video stores. Yes ... back when we actually used to have them and you had to watch your movie rentals on VCR's. I loved it then, and I love it still.
Chet Ripley (Candy) and his family are on a vacation at a mountain resort nestled among the trees, a place that holds great sentimentality for Chet, since that is where his father took him when he was a kid. Wanting to create the same memories for his two sons that he had as a boy, he is looking forward to some quality time on the lake. Everything goes sideways though, when his brother-in-law, a hot shot investment broker named Roman Craig (Aykroyd), shows up uninvited with his wife and two creepy, twin daughters. What Chet had imagined would be a fun family vacation turns into a conflict of interests and a difference of opinion on just about everything he had planned - leading to an inevitable clash of wills.
I know that a lot of critics at the time did not really favor this movie, and it received less than favorable reviews. I personally really loved watching this, and each repeat viewing is just as fun. The family predicaments and situations that come up are very funny, the wildlife including a pack of conniving racoons and a bald bear were hilarious, and the character, Reg, a man who has been struck by lightning 66 times in the head just adds more laughs. We even have young love when Chet's oldest son falls for a local girl.
This really is a good movie. It gets a high recommend from me with a strong 8 stars out of 10. The final scene involving the bear alone is worth the price of admission. I never laughed so hard. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching either John Candy or Dan Aykroyd, this is a great place to start. Candy and Aykroyd together are a great combination with a guaranteed good time. This is time well spent.
Roman: "These are the biggest worms I've ever encountered." Chet: "They're not worms, they're leeches."
"The Great Outdoors" (1988) starring John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Annette Bening (in her first film role), and Stephanie Faracy is a fun slice of 80's comedy, and although it didn't review well, I felt it was one of John Candy's funnier films. I remember seeing this movie poster in the theaters when it first came out, but I never did get to see it until it hit the video stores. Yes ... back when we actually used to have them and you had to watch your movie rentals on VCR's. I loved it then, and I love it still.
Chet Ripley (Candy) and his family are on a vacation at a mountain resort nestled among the trees, a place that holds great sentimentality for Chet, since that is where his father took him when he was a kid. Wanting to create the same memories for his two sons that he had as a boy, he is looking forward to some quality time on the lake. Everything goes sideways though, when his brother-in-law, a hot shot investment broker named Roman Craig (Aykroyd), shows up uninvited with his wife and two creepy, twin daughters. What Chet had imagined would be a fun family vacation turns into a conflict of interests and a difference of opinion on just about everything he had planned - leading to an inevitable clash of wills.
I know that a lot of critics at the time did not really favor this movie, and it received less than favorable reviews. I personally really loved watching this, and each repeat viewing is just as fun. The family predicaments and situations that come up are very funny, the wildlife including a pack of conniving racoons and a bald bear were hilarious, and the character, Reg, a man who has been struck by lightning 66 times in the head just adds more laughs. We even have young love when Chet's oldest son falls for a local girl.
This really is a good movie. It gets a high recommend from me with a strong 8 stars out of 10. The final scene involving the bear alone is worth the price of admission. I never laughed so hard. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching either John Candy or Dan Aykroyd, this is a great place to start. Candy and Aykroyd together are a great combination with a guaranteed good time. This is time well spent.