The Great Outdoors
Being a kid is great when it comes to films. Everything is so exciting. Especially when you were born in the eighties and cinema made leaps and bounds, movies over-saturated our every orifice and we were over coming by goodness. That feeling of swash-buckling adventures, magical daring escapes and talking animals truly made us feel alive. And then you grow up. Worse? You grow up to end up working in the industry. Even the best of movies that you adored come with plot holes, hammy acting and a feeling less than colourful leaves you feeling a little cold.
Well, that’s certainly how I feel about re-watching The Great Outdoors.
Yes. Not even the late John Candy could truly keep this a golden nugget in my mind and that comes from someone who regularly sings “YAKKETY YAK DON’T GO BACK” and adores the racoons. Don’t get me wrong, I love it - just not like I used to.
Also staring Dan Akkroyd and Annette Benning, and written by John Hughs, The Great Outdoors revolves around a Chicago man (hey, it’s Hughs) who heads to a lovely shack in the middle of the countryside to enjoy a bright and relaxing summer location. Which all goes a bit pear shaped when his insufferable in-laws drop by. Cue the mayhem, the hair-brained antics they get up too and a crazy stalking bear with a vengeance…
Why is it Bad?
The Great Outdoors is one of those eighties movies that tried too hard to monopolise on the “vacation goes wrong” comedies that were so fervently popular. And it didn’t work. The writing is sub-par, giving John Candy the silly over-bearing but actually really nice role again that had been seen before. At times the obscene and somewhat tasteless jokes hit you like a bear punch as the sloppy plot landslides down the hill. It’s all a jumble of re-hashed slapstick comedy that goes for the “Oh hey, we actually really get along in times of danger,” finale that is so over-used it’s just boring here.
Why is it Good?
Talking raccoons. Sorry, I should be more specific - racoons that chitter and chatter but have subtitles. And I am totally serious. They cause a lot of havoc in the garbage and they are flippin’ adorable. In fact, I think I could easily trace back my obsession with the furry animals to this film that has gone on through and developed to near obsession. On top of that beneath the clichés and the crass humour there is somewhat of a heart with a dash of nostalgic humour held together by John Candy’s goofy green.
Looking back, The Great Outdoors has its fault but it’s the product of a wide range of family films that’ll probably be good for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Though the sardonic money hungry character backlashing against the simple fun filled family has been tried and tested, and though the product is a little bit dated, it still as a rambunctious spirit to enjoy. Certainly, there are some enjoyable moments and I wish it wasn’t plighted by the many years. However, that’s not to stop you from lounging around in your pyjamas and enjoying it so.