Club Paradise (1986)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Harold Ramis

Writers:

Brian Doyle-Murray (screenplay)
Tom Leopold (story)

Release Date:

11 July 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The vacation you'll never forget -- no matter how hard you try.

Plot:

Injured while risking his life to save an angry German shepard, Chicago Firefighter Jack Moniker retires...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Beach | Paradise | Firefighter | Retirement

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Jack Moniker
Peter O'Toole	...	Governor Anthony Cloyden Hayes
Rick Moranis	...	Barry Nye
Jimmy Cliff	...	Ernest Reed
Twiggy	...	Phillipa Lloyd
Adolph Caesar	...	Prime Minister Solomon Gundy
Eugene Levy	...	Barry Steinberg
Joanna Cassidy	...	Terry Hamlin
Andrea Martin	...	Linda White
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Voit Zerbe
Joe Flaherty	...	Pilot
Steven Kampmann	...	Randy White
Robin Duke	...	Mary Lou
Mary Gross	...	Jackie
Simon Jones	...	Toby Prooth

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-8 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 (f)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Mary Gross' film debut.

Quotes:

Jack Moniker: I once met a proud, black man such as yourself, and I gave him a small piece of advise: wear one glove, just one glove. Do you know who that was?
Ernest Reed: No.
Jack Moniker: Willie Mays.

Movie Connections:

References The Harder They Come (1972)

Soundtrack:

Pipeline

An enjoyable rental, if not a Great Movie

This is a very enjoyable film, even if it doesn't always deliver the gut-laughs that you might expect. While I can only give it a six or a seven, I always think of it with a smile; it's definitely just as funny or funnier than the average comedy coming out today.

Part of my affinity for this movie is the cast. Robin Williams, as you would only expect, is his manic self here, a fish-out-of-water ex-Chicago fireman, struggling to open a low rent tourist resort in a banana republic. He's got some funny bits, and his throwaway ad lib's are better than most other actors' scripted lines.

The real bonus, though, is the rest of the cast. Jimmy Cliff, the original reggae superstar, stars as Williams'musician business partner (how's _that_ for authenticity?). Peter O'Toole swills drinks and purses his lips around his extra long cigarette holder,while spitting out his cynical, glib observations regarding the tropical paradise/hellhole.

But some of the funniest moments here are provided by several veterans of SCTV. Andrea Martin plays a pampered wife, most definitely out of her element in Williams' accomodations, while Rick Moranis and Eugene Levy are hilarious playing two slaughterhouse workers trying to score, in more ways than one. Some of the drug humor connected with their characters is every bit as funny as anything Cheech & Chong attempted.

Additionally, Brian Doyle-Murray, Twiggy, and Adolph Caesar round out a very busy cast. The story moves along quickly, the music is great, and the whole thing makes a great accompaniment for your favorite bag of microwave popcorn.

6-7 stars.