The Stupids (1996)

Director:

John Landis

Writers (WGA):

James Marshall (characters) and
Harry Allard (characters) ...

Release Date:

30 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Adventure

Tagline:

Tom Arnold is Stupid - (Stanley Stupid)

Plot:

An incredibly dull-witted family unknowingly stumble upon an illegal weapons deal while on the trail of their "stolen" garbage.

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationships | Own Grandpa | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Tom Arnold	...	Stanley Stupid
Jessica Lundy	...	Joan Stupid
Bug Hall	...	Buster Stupid
Alex McKenna	...	Petunia Stupid
Mark Metcalf	...	Colonel Neidermeyer
Matt Keeslar	...	Lieutenant Neal
Scott Kraft	...	Policeman
Victor Ertmanis	...	Garbageman #1
Earl Williams	...	Garbageman #2
George Chiang	...	Chinese Waiter #1
Max Landis	...	Graffiti Artist
Carol Ng	...	Jade Palace Hostess
Arthur Eng	...	Chinese Waiter #2
Jennifer Dean	...	Meter Maid
Garry Robbins	...	Extremely Tall Guy

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Spain:T | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Trivia:

Mark Metcalf's character, Colonel Neidermeyer, is a reprise of his role in Animal House, despite the end of that movie stating that Neidermeyer was killed by his own troops in Vietnam. However, this can be explained as just a subtle nod at Metcalf's earlier role (the only way you can even see what name is on the name tag is if you freeze the movie when the tag is close to the camera).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Stupids set off to Warehouse 21, they leave when the sun is up. You see their car pass under a bridge with a sign reading "Warehouse 21 5 Miles" but when they arrive at the warehouse, it is the dead of night.

Quotes:

Policeman: This postal ploy of yours is the most evil caper of our age, Mr. Sender. How will you ever top yourself?
Evil Sender: With a crime so unthinkable that no-one has ever dared to attempt to attempt it: to rob an entire nation of its garbage.
Policeman: The one resource no-one ever thinks to protect!
Evil Sender: Yet without it, every Hefty bag, every trash compactor, every rubbish bin in America will be useless. Desperate men will roam the streets with empty wastebaskets, panic and chaos will rule the land. The precious balance of civilization will be destroyed, and then the world will come begging for mercy... to me.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Animal House (1978)

Soundtrack:

I'm My Own Grandpaw

Really not THAT bad!

I happened to catch THE STUPIDS on cable once and found myself laughing....and I really tryed NOT to! Yes its silly and stupid, but really its quite an enjoyable mess of silliness. If you are looking for a movie parents can watch with thier kids THE STUPIDS really isnt a bad choice. It may not win Tom Arnold any Oscars, but as far as his movies go this and NINE MONTHS are the best ones.