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The Great Outdoors



The Great Outdoors (1988)
Director: Howard Deutch
Writer: John Hughes
Cast: Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Stephanie Faracy, Annette Bening
Genre: Comedy


John Candy is a hard working family man from Chicago. Who heads to the great outdoors for an old fashion family vacation. But wouldn't you know it, his rich loudmouth in-law Dan Aykroyd drops in with his family and the two mismatched families then have to get along and share the vacation.



OK so it's not an original movie idea...and sure it sounds a lot like Christmas Vacation (1989)...but it's got a comedy powerhouse duo in John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. Written and produced by John Hughes, The Great Outdoors shares a lot in common with his other films...This one can be more over the top and slap stick...and yet it still works if you don't look for logic...and why would you in this type of film?

Both the wives are as funny as their more famous husbands. I liked Stephanie Farcy as John Candy's sweet and done to earth wife. She has real charm on the screen and helps to balance the mad cap comedy. Annette Bening in her first movie role plays Dan Aykroyd's wife and they're both well to do snobs, very funny too. The kids however were through away characters but ah they made good bear bait!



Some great scenes in this one! From the bat in the face, to the bald giant bear, to the water skiing and lets not forget the 96 ounce steak that John Candy has to eat if he wants his dinner free.

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