When a hypochondriac learns that he is dying, he accepts an offer to throw himself in a volcano at a tropical island, and along the way there, learns to truly live.
Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out, Lawrence escapes his angry debtors by jumping on a Peace Corp flight to Southeast Asia, ... See full summary »
A highly successful advertising executive decides to put his job on hold after getting an update from his father that he and his wife are divorced and decides to extend his break after revealing that his father is a diabetic.
Walter Fielding and Anna Crowley have to start looking for a new house- but there's not much they can afford! This soon changes when they meet a lonely old con artist who sells them a beautiful mansion at a ridiculously low price. Only there's a catch. The second they move into the house it falls apart, starting with the stairway collapsing to the bathtub falling through the floor to eventually the chimney falling into the house! Finally, they have to renovate the house before the frame collapses but the renovations also prove to be a disaster.Written by
Michael Feller <reb@magna.com.au>
The key location issue during development and pre-production that faced producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy was to find a real life gigantic mansion that its owners would consent to allow to be partially demolished. See more »
Goofs
When Walter is filling up the bathtub with water, he and Anna put the pots beside the bathtub. When Walter then leaves the scene to go get more water, he leaves them behind. See more »
Quotes
Walter:
It's a big house, we'll divide it up! You stay in your half, I'll stay in mine!
Anna:
That is such a dumb idea. Sometimes it amazes me you ever passed the bar.
Walter:
I'm sure it does, you've never passed a bar in you life.
Anna:
You are so much less attractive when I'm sober.
Walter:
Thank goodness it's not that often.
Anna:
[yelling]
All right, that's it! I've had it with you, and the house, and Max, and the orchestra and everything! How long will it take to put this house together?
Curly:
Two weeks.
[...] See more »
Alternate Versions
Several scenes are different or added to the television version. The TV version offers an extended scene when Walter tries to carve his name and Anna's on the tree. More than one tree falls, explaining why Walter comes in the house and says they have weak trees, instead of just one tree. In between the shots of the realtor stamping the house sheet with a "SOLD", and Walter and Anna moving in, there is a scene with Walter and Anna in the house discussing how drunk they were on a trip to Puerto Rico. See more »
This film when it first came out was not given credit, it fell into the categories with the "Ghostbusters sequel" and other silly 80's movies. But, if you watch it again, it may have you laughing.
Shelley Long, while not a favorite, is good, and Tom Hanks, as a young couple finally buying that country mansion dream house every American should want. Maureen Stapleton is selling it; she is classic.
Joe Mantegna as Art Shirk, one of the many contractors and plumbers who take the young couple for a ride. Richard Benjamin has done a good job directing (You may want to watch "Goodbye, Columbus" again; he was excellent in that film).
The story is predictable, but will lighten your mood; it is not just a romantic comedy with a ridiculous premise. Anyone who has ever had to deal with house repairs and contractors will find this to be a good tonic. 8/10.
14 of 18 people found this review helpful.
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This film when it first came out was not given credit, it fell into the categories with the "Ghostbusters sequel" and other silly 80's movies. But, if you watch it again, it may have you laughing.
Shelley Long, while not a favorite, is good, and Tom Hanks, as a young couple finally buying that country mansion dream house every American should want. Maureen Stapleton is selling it; she is classic.
Joe Mantegna as Art Shirk, one of the many contractors and plumbers who take the young couple for a ride. Richard Benjamin has done a good job directing (You may want to watch "Goodbye, Columbus" again; he was excellent in that film).
The story is predictable, but will lighten your mood; it is not just a romantic comedy with a ridiculous premise. Anyone who has ever had to deal with house repairs and contractors will find this to be a good tonic. 8/10.