Review of The Great Outdoors (1988) by The Basilgrey B — 29 Jul 2007

Let's get real, for a second, people. John Candy was the funniest of funny fat guys. Chris Farley aint got shit on him. John Belushi couldn't keep himself alive for long enough to get shit on him. Kevin James is destined for a synidicated life with fat one day / skinny the next day wunderkind, Leah Remini. John Candy be Uncle Buckin' his way through all this two-bit riff raff with a fat sack of funny...

This is a pretty decent film. Highlights include the bald bear story, and the improvised arguing of Candy and Akroyd. The raccoon kinda looks like the fat fucker my dog recently mauled. Its kind of a lazy story, best enjoyed on tv when yer hung over some day. The old 96er scene is classic. As a kid, it made me throw up when they send him after the gristle.

On a completely unnecessary deeper level, this story is an adept metaphor for the changing of the US dad archetype. It is a cautionary tale of the dangers of men becoming forward thinking shallow yuppies, at the cost of the older "greatest generation" 1950's type guy. Camping may or may not still be relevant. It was THE summer trip when I grew up. John Candy's old school persona is contrasted well to Akroyd's new age yuppie type fucker. Wouldn't you know it, they compromise and there is a happy ending.

Whatever, fuck yuppies and fat raccoons...