Sing ye praises for thy bounty of mirth and joy bestowed upon us wretches. Blessed are we who receive thy gifts of Candy and Aykroyd. Amen.
The Great Outdoors came out in 1988 as a product of one of the great 80’s comedic triumvirates: John Hughes (writer, rest in peace), Dan Aykroyd, and the late John Candy. Watching a movie with any one of those three involved is an experience that will forever transport you to a simpler, more carefree time. If you want to be happy, watch any of their movies, except My Girl; that will ruin your week.
In a reversal from Plains, Trains & Automobiles, John Candy is the one having his life turned upside down here, thanks to Aykroyd. Candy is a simple, good-natured family man trying to relive the positive experiences of his youth by revisiting a favorite Northwoods wilderness resort. The film sets up a “never going to be as good as you remember” scenario as the resort and the family’s cabin immediately fails to meet expectations. Then Aykroyd, playing Candy’s brother-in-law as a precursor character to his future Gus Zalinsky role, surprises Candy and family under the pretense of seeking quality time together. This sets up a non-stop series of unfortunate events that culminate in hard truths and fortified bonds.
The Great Outdoors is part goofball, part slapstick, and part improv. The comedic genius of Candy and Aykroyd is clearly allowed the latitude to grow a scene. Sometimes, it feels like the other characters are just holding on for dear life. This creates volatility scene-by-scene that you cannot manufacture, even with good writing. Consequently, the film feels less polished because of it, but the trade-off is worth it to create unexpected comedy around staged events. It feels very organic and very 80’s.
While Candy and Aykroyd shepherd The Great Outdoors from one face-palming moment to the next, this would not be a John Hughes product without some teen angst, because at the end of the day, his movies always feel like it is important to make sure the kids are alright. Here, there’s shades of teenage awkwardness, sibling friction, and summer love condensed in the pressure cooker of a week-long vacation. These tertiary storylines are expected; they feel like they should be in the movie, but there does not seem to be much depending on their presence. It is essentially garnish for what the rest of the film has to offer, though the awkward moments brought me back to similar uncomfortable moments from my youth.
If you are a fan of 80’s comedic cinema, The Great Outdoors feels made of that standard mold. Memorable characters get caught in outlandish situations, and those scenarios ricochet from one chaotic moment to another. This is an easy film to sit down and watch, and for a comfortable, easy going Saturday morning, it is perfect. Dan Aykroyd was in his prime, and even though John Candy was taken from the world far too early, he remains immortalized in the lovable, goofy characters he brought to our screens. They fit wonderfully in the John Hughes’ formula, something else we will never have again. While The Great Outdoors is not in the pantheon of classics, it has timeless qualities of its own that make it worth watching when you just need to smile.
Featured Image: IMDB
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