Summer Rental (1985)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Carl Reiner

Writers:

Jeremy Stevens (writer) and
Mark Reisman (writer)

Release Date:

9 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Life's A Beach

Plot:

Jack Chester, an overworked air traffic controller, takes his family on vacation to the beach. Things immediately start to go wrong for the Chesters...

Plot Keywords:

Vacation | Air Traffic Controller | Beach | Mother Daughter Relationship | Power Tool

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Karen Austin	...	Sandy Chester
John Candy	...	Jack Chester
Kerri Green	...	Jennifer Chester
Joseph Lawrence	...	Bobby Chester (as Joey Lawrence)
Aubrey Jene	...	Laurie Chester
Richard Crenna	...	Al Pellet
Rip Torn	...	Scully
John Larroquette	...	Don Moore
Richard Herd	...	Angus MacLachlan
Santos Morales	...	Cortez
Lois Hamilton	...	Vicki Sanders
Carmine Caridi	...	Ed Sanders
Francis X. McCarthy	...	Hal (as Frank McCarthy)
Pierrino Mascarino	...	Maitre D'
Harry Yorku	...	Yorku, Pirate Musician

Runtime:

87 min | Argentina:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 | USA:PG (edited for re-rating) | Australia:PG | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG-13 (original rating) | Argentina:Atp | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

A poster for the movie Footloose (1984) is seen in the movie theater lobby, while at the same time Jennifer (Kerri Green') is listening to the song "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins on her radio.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the end of the boat race, the Barnacle is supposedly last. Yet, when they pick up speed from the unexpected wind, you can clearly see a boat behind them with a rainbow-colored spinnaker. This may or may not have been the Incisor from "future" scenes in the film.

Quotes:

Jack Chester: Where's Angus with that sail? There's only two more shopping days left.
Scully: He's searching the entire coast for it. I'm sure he'll find it.
Jack Chester: How can you be so sure?
Scully: If he don't, I'll kill him.

Movie Connections:

References Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)

Soundtrack:

FOOTLOOSE

A Good John Candy Film

Though this film could easily be classified as a slob comedy, similar to so many that were made during that time, and Candy was prolific as an actor in many of those films, there's one moment in this film where it rises high above the typical slob comedies of it's era. John Candy is despondent about his chances in a yacht race, and tells his daughter "You can't win them all". Daughter responds, "But winning one would be nice, huh Dad?". Candy responds with perfect timing "Yes, (perfect pause) winning one would be nice". At this moment in the film you feel all the pain ever felt by anyone who ever wanted to win just one time and show the world they could. He knows his limits and accepts them, but this one time wants to rise above them and prove his worth.

Candy is an overstressed air traffic controller who takes an enforced vacation with his family, and has a summer of things go wrong. The filmmakers resisted the temptation to engage in an overly cute family, and just allowed the actors to play a fairly typical family. Candy, who rarely played a family man, handles the role very well, bringing a realism to the role of the father. Though not on anyone's Oscar list, this movie is worth the time it takes to see it.