Review of The Great Outdoors (1988) by Frode H — 19 Nov 2009
From John Hughes, still at this time famous for his films on teen growing pains, made a film closer in tone to the National Lampoon's Vacation films he wrote, although heavily watered down to be suitable for a family audience.
It would also herald the tone of films to come from Hughes, with it's slapstick comedy. But, it is very funny, and it has some good genuine laughs. It has Chicago family man Chester "Chet" Ripley (John Candy), his wife Connie (Stephanie Faracy), and their two sons Buck (Chris Young) and Benny (Ian Giatti) going on a week-long holiday to the picturesque lake resort of Pechoggin, Wisconsin.
They have high-hopes for their break away, and then Connie's sister Kate (Annette Benning) and her know-it-all accountant husband Roman Craig (Dan Aykroyd) and their two daughters turn up as a surprise, and Roman get's on Chet's nerves alot, and everything seems to go wrong, especially when animals turn up.
It's a good timepiece of 1980's family fun, maybe a little sagging in parts, but Aykroyd and Candy make a good pairing, and it's entertaining while it lasts, but it was a warning of things to come from Hughes, like with Home Alone and all.
..
This review of The Great Outdoors (1988) was written by Frode H on 19 Nov 2009.
The Great Outdoors has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
