Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

Two losers try to pretend that their murdered employer is really alive, leading the hitman to attempt to track him down to finish him off.

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writer:

Robert Klane

Stars:

Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Catherine Mary Stewart

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew McCarthy	...	Larry Wilson
Jonathan Silverman	...	Richard Parker
Catherine Mary Stewart	...	Gwen Saunders
Terry Kiser	...	Bernie Lomax
Don Calfa	...	Paulie, Vito's Hit Man
Catherine Parks	...	Tina, Vito's Girl
Eloise DeJoria	...	Tawny (as Eloise Broady)
Gregory Salata	...	Marty, Vito's Assistant
Louis Giambalvo	...	Vito
Ted Kotcheff	...	Jack Parker, Richard's Dad
Margaret Hall	...	Lomax's Secretary
Timothy Perez	...	Central Park Mugger
Mark Kenneth Smaltz	...	Harris, Security Oficer
Anthony Mannino	...	Superintendant
Polly Segal	...	Woman in Elevator

Storyline

Two young men are trying to make their way in a corporation. One on charm, the other on hard work. When they go to the president (Bernie) with a serious financial error on a printout, he pretends to be thrilled and invites them to his beach house for the weekend. He actually plans on having them killed. Bernie is also fooling around with the girlfriend of his mafia partner. When the partner has Bernie killed, the boys end up having to pretend Bernie is still alive as the frustrated hit man tries time and time again to complete the job.

---

Plot Keywords:

character name in title | boss | weekend | beach | beach house | 

---

Taglines:

The drop dead comedy of the year!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 July 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hot and Cold

Filming Locations:

Figure Eight Island, Harnett, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$30,218,387

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gladden Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This 1989 movie was inspired by a very low budget 1983 Hindi movie Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro.

---

Goofs

When Gwen and Richard are lying on the beach kissing, a wave washes up and wets Gwen's hair. When she sits up, her hair and clothes are dry.

---

Quotes

Larry Wilson: [after Bernie's body flies over the balcony, looking like a high diver] I give it an 8.3!

---

Connections

Referenced in Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

---

Soundtracks

Vissi D'Arte, Vissi D'Amore
by Giacomo Puccini
Éva Marton with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester (as Munich Radio Orchestra),
Giuseppe Patanè (as Giuseppe Patane), Director
From the Album "PUCCINI ARIAS" (IMT 42167)
Appears Courtesy of CBS MASTERWORKS, Under license from CBS SPECIAL PRODUCTS

User Reviews

A film which contains humour that will never decompose... unlike Bernie!!

I first saw this film at about 2:00am one morning and knew that I had to have it. Okay, so it's a one joke movie, but hey it is still incredibly funny. It is a film that encapsulates the eighties and the two lead roles are perfect. The actor who played Bernie's corpse deserves an oscar as although he doesn't say a single word it honestly seems he is dead!! Classic moments include Bernie waterskiing and Bernie making love to his girlfriend (he is of course dead in both scenes.) A must for anyone who wants a good laugh.