The Stupids (1996)

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

Director:

John Landis

Writers:

James Marshall (characters), Harry Allard (characters),

Stars:

Tom Arnold, Jessica Lundy, Bug Hall

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

When average suburban America family, Stanley and Joan Stupids, discover that their garbage is "stolen" out of the can, they begin the investigation of that "conspiracy".

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | own grandpa | independent film

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Taglines:

The Fate Of The World Is In Their Hands... Oops!

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Genres:

Comedy | Adventure

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some violence

Details

Country:

UK Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eine Familie zum Kotzen

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,593,929 (USA) (30 August 1996)

Gross:

$2,415,593 (USA) (13 September 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, Rank Organisation, The, Savoy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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).

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

[Stanley's car has exploded right when he swatted a bee on it with his shoe]
Stanley Stupid: Now that's a well-made shoe.

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Crazy Credits

The persons and events in this motion picture are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, events or space aliens is unintentional. No space aliens were harmed in any way during the making of this film.

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Connections

Referenced in The Pool Boys (2011)

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Soundtracks

"I'm My Own Grandpaw"
Produced and Arranged by Michael Skloff
Published by Colgens - EMI Music Inc. (ASCAP)
Performed by Tom Arnold and Rolanda Watts

User Reviews

Stupid it may be....stupid its SUPPOSED to be!

Well guys, sorry to disappoint so many of you, but I thought this was one funny movie. I agree totally with a couple of reviewers who commented that you need to have on the right "mind-set" at the time. You need to have also a sense of the absurd here, if not the insane!

Landis is having a go at everyone and everyTHING in this ode to cinematic oafishness. He gets away with murder here, whereas Brian Levant who persists in trying to offer disastrously unfunny "family comedy" like THE FLINTSTONES simply falls over his own Director's chair.

I just about wet myself the first time I heard Arnold break out into his musical monologue "I AM MY OWN GRANDPA" That has to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen on the big screen. If you can't laugh at that - you're dead...or terminal!

Sure, its not for everyone - neither was SIGNS though!