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Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Stephanie Faracy, Annette Bening, Chris Young ... see more see more... , Ian Giatti , Lucy Deakins , Hilary Gordon , Rebecca Gordon , Robert Prosky , Lewis Arquette , Bart the Bear , Cliff Bemis , Raleigh Bond , Paul Hansen , Zoaunne Le Roy , Britt Leach , Nancy Lenehan , Chris Bass , Shirley Jane Harris , Brian Healy , Christopher Kinsman , Debra Lee Ortega , Andy Prosky , Sierra Somerville , Christine Spiotta , Barry Thompson , John Bloom (III)

In the John Hughes-scripted The Great Outdoors, John Candy stars as Chet Ripley, an oafish paterfamilias who takes his family on a vacation at a lakeside resort. Their enjoyment is seriously compromis... read more read more...ed when brother-in-law Roman Craig (Dan Aykroyd) shows up with his wife and kiddies. The rest of the film is an ongoing war between Ripley's carefree aggregation and Craig's obnoxiously prissy brood, and making things worse, a driving rainstorm forces both families to remain under one roof well-past their threshold of patience. Annette Bening makes her film debut as Aykroyd's ill-tempered wife. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

46,493 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

15 critics

PG, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Howard Deutch

Release Date: June 17, 1988

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DVD Release Date: June 30, 1998

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Stats: 1,741 reviews

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The Great Outdoors John Candy The Great Outdoors (1988) 67 times in the HEAD!!! John Candy at the lake The Great Outdoors The Great Outdoors
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Flixster Reviews (1,741)

  • phubbs1
    August 9, 2011
    phubbs1
    Bit of a classic comedy that was watched by the whole family over the years whenever it would be show on TV, like many old Candy films it was a bit of a ritual to view these type of 80's comedies.

    The family holiday that hits disaster is a common theme with the likes of National... read more Lampoons Vacation series being another classic and a much loved film when I was growing up, 'The Great Outdoors' isn't quite as good as 'Lampoon' to be honest, its a fun ride with some good moments but nothing outrageously funny.

    Candy is actually slightly upstaged here by the always good Aykroyd as the slimy 80's yuppie haha the rest of the cast including Annette Bening is rather weak like the whole film really, its simply Candy and Akyroyd that make it decent. Its cheesy and full of those obvious dated sets hehe plenty of silly stunts with doubles and the usual animal attack phobias by your typical terrified of nature yanks lol!
  • CloudStrife84
    April 27, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    This movie sure makes me long for the summer. A fun family-on-vacation flick, with John Candy and Dan Akroyd at the top of their comedic abilities. The story is quite simple and nothing extraordinary, but one that's easy to like and be entertained by. Even more so if you're the t... read moreype of person who enjoy camping in the woods. A solid 3 out of 5.
  • FilmFanatik
    January 15, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    A fun John Candy vehicle.
  • deano
    November 25, 2009
    deano
    This John Candy and Dan Aykroyd movie is completely goofy, but funny nonetheless. The two stars make up for any deficiencies with their great comic abilities.
    My favourite parts are the raccoons and the bear because these make me laugh.
  • SirPant
    September 18, 2009
    SirPant
    A childhood favourite and an 80's comedy classic!
  • stormyweather980
    September 11, 2009
    stormyweather980
    You can never go wrong with some good ol' John Candy!
  • cancercapricorn2002
    August 10, 2009
    cancercapricorn2002
    "The Great Outdoors" is a fun late 80s comedy that includes the talents of John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. Now I will say that most of the film is incredibly predictable and the plot is almost entirely formulaic, yet despite it all, it's hard to truly hate this film. It's nothing mor... read moree than average, but still enjoyable.

    John Candy stars as Chet Ripley, yet another likable protagonist who is always getting screwed over by his jerk of a co-star, in this case Dan Akyroyd as his brother-in-law, Roman Craig. Chet wants peace and quiet in a small Canadian lakefront town with his family when the Craigs drop in uninvited. It's so overdone and overused, but a few of the scenes are quite funny and somewhat unique.

    What makes this film different is that it feels more family-oriented. Not in the sense that it's appropriate for all ages, but in the sense that the film offers something for every member of the family. Whether it's the adult dialogue, the films troublesome kids, or the teenage fling/romance subplot, "Great Outdoors" tries to make a reason for every demographic to see this movie. It seems really contrived, but other than the National Lampoon's "Vacation" movies, this is honestly one of the most family-oriented comedies of that era.

    "Great Outdoors" is a solid 80s comedy and is one that can be called "fun for all ages."
  • matertenebraum
    August 8, 2009
    matertenebraum
    And I mean no-brainer in the best possible sense! It seems whenever I'm down, Dad shoots out to HMV and picks me up a nice, cheesy 80s movie out of the £5 section - this time it was The Great Outdoors and boy, did it cheer me up! A major reason to love this movie is, of course, d... read moreearly departed John Candy who is impossible to dislike. In this film he plays Chet Ripley, a wholesome family man who has his vacation ruined by the in-laws crashing in uninvited. It is not just Candy who puts in a fine performance. Dan Ackroyd is great as sleazy, posing, Roman Craig - a semi yuppy with a penchant for barbecued lobster tails and trimming his nostrils! Annette Bening is also convincing as Kate Craig, Roman's spoiled but lonely wife. Yes, she is also the mum from American Beauty - I squawked this rather loudly while watching. Her role here is far simpler, but she is still on top form with some hilarious lines - spin cycle, anyone?! Stephanie Faracy comes across as pleasant and extremely likable in the role of Connie Ripley, and the kids in the movie are great - I thought the youngest boy Benny was especially funny, especially in the 'bear dump' scene. The film starts and continues brilliantly - not having a plot as such - but this is actually a good thing. Rather than bogging us down in a story we're rather presented with a series of highly amusing set - pieces: the hysterical water ski scene. The bear dump. The old man's birthday. Chet's 'Bear Story'. The bat swatting. The leech scene. I could go on but I simply wouldn't have time. This film works fabulously as this series of 'short stories' - it's almost like a character study, and the effect is great, so one wonders why John Hughes had to write in the tacky subplot of older boy Buck's dalliance with local tart-with-a-heart Cammie. It's dull fare, all in all, and Buck would be a perfectly likable character without the teen angst bit to go with it. The boredom of Buck mooching around with his sweetheart to the strains of cheese-guitar could have been cut down - or preferably cut out all together, leaving more room for developing other, shorter scenes - like the go-kart racing at the fun centre, or the pony trek through the woods. I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing these parts of the film had been made longer. The film also flags a bit towards the end when the 'moral' of the tale comes out, and Roman and Chet have to do a silly death-dash through the woods after Roman's daughters. This again seems like John Hughes feeling he has to do his duty in giving us a bit of all-American schmaltz but it would've been great without it. All in all, a very funny, light movie to pick you up when you feel down. Oh, and the raccoons are a nice touch!
  • superclerk25
    February 27, 2009
    superclerk25
    A good one for some classic John Candy and Aykroyd. It's a normal family vacation goes bad comedy but these two make the flick stand out.
    It's funny to see Annette Bening in this minor role as she is one of the bigger names in the movie.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 14, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A competent comedy like Uncle Buck and National Lampoon's Vacation films. There are great Bear and Raccoon jokes in here, as John Candy and Dan Aykroyd take their families camping. I laughed for enough of the jokes, but didn't love it.

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Critic Reviews

Matthew Sorrento
November 7, 2011
Matthew Sorrento, IdentityTheory

At the onset it seems that Candy, as in Uncle, plays the lower class half. Yet, by [Outdoors'] end we learn that the in-law is actually broke, essentially Cousin Eddie in disguise. Full Review

Tim Brayton
November 3, 2011
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

Charming when it works, when it is based primarily in the interplay between characters or in the writer's unabashed nostalgia for a kind of cozy Americana. Full Review

Bill Clark
June 20, 2005
Bill Clark, FromTheBalcony

Candy & Aykroyd make for a hilarious duo in an otherwise routine comedy.

Steve Crum
October 30, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Zany, over the top klutz comedy with Aykroyd and Candy.

Gerry Shamray
October 24, 2003
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

Awful.

Ken Hanke
August 13, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Harmless, pointless time-killer

Kevin Fiddler
February 19, 2003
Kevin Fiddler, Henderson Home News (Henderson, NV)

Classic John Candy and Dan Akroyd

Scott Weinberg
July 29, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Two funny guys delivering very few laughs.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Great Outdoors Trivia

  • Which family comedy starring Dan Ackroyd and John Candy featured a bald-headed bear and a man who had been struck 66 times by lightning?  Answer »
  • He was Chased by a bald bear in the movie The Great Outdoors.  Answer »
  • What movie had John Candy saying, "HA!, I guess I'm old fashioned. I like assholes!"  Answer »
  • This "actor" passed away in 2000. He weighted 1,500 pounds, standing 9 1/2 feet tall. He played in White Fangs, The Edge, The Great Outdoors, Legends of the Fall, etc.. Who was he?  Answer »
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