The Great Outdoors
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Movie Reviews of The Great Outdoors
Movie Review: Good movie, but another phony widescreen DVD
Summary: 4 Stars
Granted this is not Dan Akroyd nor John Candy's best work, but it is still highly entertaining and I enjoyed it very much. This film also reminded me what a shame it is that Lucy Deakins doesn't act in movies anymore. When I came across a DVD copy in my local department store at a good price I snapped it up to replace my old VHS version.
My objective in writing this review is to beef about the phony "widescreen" DVD (ISBN 0-7832-2788-4 on the UPC bar). This is a letterboxed DVD. This wouldn't be so bad if the packaging actually stated the truth (in which case I would have not bought it - I would have waited a bit longer for the inevitable anamorphic widescreen which always seems to come out after they drop the price and sell the old inventory out to the suckers). The package bears a 2006 copyright date for this 1988 movie and says "Widescreen 1.85:1" for the disk format. No mention of letterboxing. That really stinks.
The Amazon product description has been amended and now states "Letterboxed". Take note if this is not a format you will be happy with.
Movie Review: Candy, Aykroyd & Hughs = a few laughs, but overall enjoyable
Summary: 4 Stars
This film has been critically loathed because it's not funny. I remember seeing this as a kid, and I thought it was very funny. As an adult, I have somewhat of a sentimental feel for it, but it's not as funny. It has some laughs, but nowhere near as big as the Hughs/Candy film from the previous year (1987), 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles'. Not that Dan Aykroyd isn't as funny as Steve Martin because they are talented comedic actor/performers in their own right, but Hughs reverts back to 'Vacation' material only watered down for the kids, which is okay but isn't as funny as 'Planes...' or "NL's Vacation'. Even though it's not fall down, laugh out loud funny, it's still enjoyable to watch. John Candy and Dan Aykroyd are a big part of why it's enjoyable. John Candy has a good contrast from his character from 'Planes...'. I recommend it as mild, lighthearted family fun, but if you're looking for 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' or 'National Lampoon's Vacation' type humor, look elsewhere.Movie Review: The Great Outdoors is a blast!
Summary: 4 Stars
I've seen this movie I don't know how many times and there is still a scene missing from the DVD version. The scene that is missing is when John Candy and sons are attempting to squeeze the speed boat with trailer between two upright (vertical) canoes. A ranger played by Jerry Maren, (who is also seen in Leap of Faith as Officer Lowell) is frequently uncredited in films and is missing from this DVD version. I wonder why because the scene is as funny as the rest of the movie.Aside from this small omission, the movie is a great deal of fun (especially if you like John Candy and Dan Ackroid). Annette Bening also stars which adds to the flavor of the movie. In addition, if you have seen this movie on free TV, you haven't seen (or heard) some of the racoon subtitles (among other things). Also, the version I bought has Dolby Digital /5.1 channels of discrete audio as well as Dolby Surround/4 channels of encoded audio. What a great movie!
Movie Review: Downright hilarious!
Summary: 4 Stars
I love this movie, John Candy at his best with Dan Akroyd playing the uptight rich guy that we all love to hate. These two characters clash throughout the movie, displaying a great chemistry between the two actors. Watching this movie makes me sad that Candy is no longer with us, as he was just fun to watch.
The reason that I give this 4 stars is that I could not stand the forced summer teen romance that was a part of the formula for most movies in the 80's. They could have cut those bits out altogeher and it would have been better.
The physical comedy between John Candy and an eleven foot grizzly make this a classic and a must-have.
Movie Review: Great Comedy
Summary: 4 Stars
This is not Academy Award material....it is not PC, not an epic, not a critically aclaimed educational biography, not an "uppercrust" movie.
It is.....totally funny, entertaining and has great scenery. It is what the "All American" person goes to see to be entertained, laugh, forget their problems (for the moment) and just be emersed in a wonderful movie.
It is John Candy and Dan Aykroyd at their best. Between the actors, the raccoons, the Big Bear, it has the whole enchilda. Believe me....this is one you can watch over and over again and not be bored.