Watching the Great Outdoors (1988) // Reaction and Commentary

[@frankrodriguez2999]

Most of us I think that love this movie is for nostalgic reasons, we saw this as kids and just remember funny scenes.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

Yes I can totally see that-i have that myself with many films!

[@Ootlander]

Exactly, it's a beloved movie from my childhood, but if I were to watch it for the first time today I wouldn't like it that much.

[@lusciousmayweather8385]

@@ShanelleRiccio Everything you said was missing in this movie. The Movie "Armed & Dangerous" Starring John Candy & Eugene Levy Has. You would definitely love it. It's My Favorite JOHN CANDY Movie

[@UnveiledAngel]

I watched this so many times as a kid.

[@secludedmisanthrope6388]

@@lusciousmayweather8385 Canadian Bacon 1995 is better!!

[@phillydelphia8760]

Seeing John Candy in anything is like chicken soup for the soul. Life just seems to feel better afterwards 👌

[@ShanelleRiccio]

AGREE!!

[@parallaxnick637]

This was one of the first roles for Bart the Bear, one of the greatest animal actors in history.

[@timfinnigan8760]

hi chanel..greetings from australia

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

He got sorely typecast

[@tionak]

@@jean-paulaudette9246 most “non pet” animals do

[@chrispittman8854]

"The Steak" scene is an absolute classic. Since seeing this movie, I've NEVER seen "grizzle" and not thought of John Candy's face when he's told he's not finished.

[@theguyonthecouch2861]

Since that movie came out, anytime I order a steak I always do the John Candy knife sharping in homage to this scene.

[@JW666]

Makes me wanna have one myself, love steak! ;)

[@TheTitandog70]

I thought I was the only one who did that. Respect

[@vodengc520]

I'll be the grammar police, lol: "gristle" :D

[@chrispittman8854]

@@vodengc520 It's in "qwoats..." LOL! Well I tried...

[@wakebacon8301]

John Candy, The "Wayne Gretzky" of Canadian 70's-80's comedy

[@MST3Killa]

So, on the story, John Hughes often depicted moods (honestly, and I know it's a bit high brow to say, it's very Japanese in that way). He told small stories in bigger ways. All the little occurrences in this movie were meant to feel like stories you'd tell about a trip to a cabin with your family. "Remember that time at the cabin with the bat?" or "Remember the bear!" or "Oh yeah, I had my little flirty kiss with a girl up at the cabin." By doing this, and maybe it didn't work for you, but it created a wholesome feeling of nostalgia and connection to the characters. "We've all been there" type feeling. Trains Plains and Automobiles was very much the same thing without being too crazy as it was in the Vacation movies (although the Christmas Vacation was a bit more grounded in some ways.) This may not work on audiences today as well as it did, but Great Outdoors was always a very simple movie about family.

[@fenner1986]

Very well explained. Not every movie requires a novel of a script backup. This being a comedy, if it made you laugh and you felt a connection to the characters, it achieved it's goal.

[@VotePedroNo1]

For butting heads, try Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Steve Martin and Michael Caine. Great chemistry.

[@theashrook6129]

Classic

[@frankrodriguez2999]

Ruprecht do not remove the cork from the fork

[@nickc1411]

@@frankrodriguez2999 umm, why is there a cork on the fork?

[@frankrodriguez2999]

@@nickc1411 to prevent him from hurting himself and others

[@sean---the-other-one]

@@frankrodriguez2999 ...not...mother?

[@Eidlones]

As a kid, the gun shooting the bear in the ass, with the fur flying... it was like, the pinnacle of comedy. There was nothing that would, or could, ever top it.

[@thebaldbrand]

Bart the Bear was one of the most prolific animal actors in film history. RIP

[@danparker1461]

"Cool Runnings" is the movie for you. Feel good movie where John Candy is at his best

[@shirw]

Yes, came to the comments for this :)

[@celsovera91]

IMO his last good movie before his death the following year. He also did wagons east and Canadian bacon after that but it wasn’t that great

[@dustyb58]

I've almost bought a Sanka Coffie funko pop several times

[@Phil_Trujeque]

John Candy is great in *Stripes* ... has a dual role in *Nothing But Trouble* , which is a weird Dan Aykroyd film... but damn do I love it!

[@carm3d]

John Candy in Nothing But Trouble is about as far removed from a John Huges Candy role as you can get.

[@captainsplifford]

@@carm3d I've been thinking about that movie a lot lately. RIP Shock G and Tupac.

[@jkhoover]

Nothing But Trouble is literally the worst movie ever made.

[@captainsplifford]

Lucy Deakins, the girl who played Cammie, was in a beautiful movie called The Boy Who Could Fly.

[@patrick1984ist]

Summer rental is the best john candy summer movie ever.

[@paulonius42]

I don't agree but you are not wrong! :)

[@michaelgordon3552]

Summer Rental kind of peters out in the third act, but still worth a watch. Better comedy than Great Outdoors. I loved Great Outdoors as a kid, but it hasn't aged as well as other Hughes films.

[@mcigloo]

One of my favorites for sure

[@jkhoover]

No, not by a long shot, but especially not with Spaceballs out there.

[@vabeachkevin]

I was hoping someone would mention this one.

[@Slade347]

About a year after this movie came out I ran into the twins that played Dan Aykroyd's daughters in a video store. The woman they were with (probably a relative) made sure to point out that they were in this movie while pointing at the video box for The Great Outdoors, and sure enough there they were on the cover. I asked them what it was like to work with Aykroyd and Candy and they just said they were nice. That's one of my big brushes with fame, meeting two girls who I don't think actually ever acted again on screen after I met them.

[@terryp6398]

This movie was THE rainy summer vacation day movie for me. So glad you are reacting to it!

[@terryp6398]

Try Dragnet next! Tom Hanks and Dan Akyroyd!

[@justwatching6186]

We’re all burnt out. That’s why we watch you: comedic relief. You Rock! 🤟🚀🥩📈

[@wishfulstinker8327]

If you slow down the footage when the bear jumps on the door you see a hand waving a hotdog because that's how they trained the bear to jump.

[@CheekyTankEngine]

You're the only movie reactor I know who does this in the way you do, with your analysis and behind the scenes research. I just want to say I really respect that.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

Thank you!! Appreciate that!

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

On the topic of "was Annette Bening *ANNETTE BENING* then", this was her first movie. She'd been nominated for Tony award the year before, but her first Oscar nomination wouldn't be for another 2 years (for The Grifters).

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

Nor was she Mrs. Warren Beatty yet, either.

[@nickbell8353]

IIRC, Great Outdoors was Annette Bening's film debut.

[@martinbraun1211]

Thanks ! I've waited a long time for this !

[@mikekay3313]

Summer Rental is another John Candy gem for a family vacation plot

[@The_Bacon_Dragon]

13:38 They actually have the 96'er shirt on Amazon and Nerdyshirts. I've gotten my brother different John Candy themed shirts for the last few years for Christmases/Birthdays now and there's some really good ones out there.

[@MovieVigilante]

I think you would enjoy John Candy vs. Richard Crenna in _Summer Rental_

[@kevinramsey417]

Did you know John Candy helped the San Francisco 49ers win the Super Bowl? It's true. It was very late in the game and the Niners were behind and they were in a commercial timeout. Joe Montana then looks out of the huddle, spots John Candy in the stands, turns to his teammates and goes "Hey, that's John Candy." The next play, the Niners started the game winning drive. All because John Candy went to the Super Bowl.

[@iegendkilla8559]

literally my second favorite movie after planes trains and automobiles

[@MacGuffinExMachina]

I never even noticed the flaws. I just enjoy these actors and the situation. I was always good at ignoring flaws and enjoying things like this. Really as long as I like or like to hate characters, I can ignore every flaw.

[@danielhoehne801]

Oh, and the bat scene. Up in the north woods one summer, we were hanging out one night at friends house, they had bats in their roof, but for some reason got the roof sealed and the bats eventually dug their way into the house while we were watching tv. The rest of the night was like that scene, except with 5 teen-aged boys and 50+ bats.

[@anthonytobin2337]

Summer Rental is the perfect companion to this movie, also starring John Candy.

[@royfugate]

there was a 4th raccoon scene after the credits you missed -- Raccoon #1: "Why's Jody sitting in the lake?" Raccoon #2: "You didn't hear? She got shot in the ass!" Raccoon #1: "Oh no! Don't tell me..." Raccoon #2: "Yup... She's bald on both ends now!"

[@nickbell8353]

Post-Credit scene.

[@timhibbard4226]

Love the channel and your no bullshit style! You have a good mind for criticism and analysis and I really enjoy that there is something extra to your reactions. I watch several reaction channels, but I will admit I don’t watch all of them to the end. With yours I always do.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

😀 oh yay thank you!!

[@andrewkelley434]

John Candy of course made...well SAVED this movie!! The ending is my favorite, when they dance!! I will say that Only the Lonely is a VERY underrated John Candy film, if you want to check that out (also has Aly Sheedy from the Breakfast Club and Maureen O'Hara!) Another one is Delirious :)

[@nikkib6233]

Thumbs up for Delirious. Brilliant film.

[@paulobrien9572]

The gentleman's name is Robert Prosky and he was the Judge in the version of Miracle on 34th Street you reviewed

[@TroyDraws]

This is honestly one of my favorite films of all time.

[@blackraven85_1]

Honestly, it's ok if the movie isn't for you. I absolutely love this whole movie and definitely wasn't just for nostalgia. To me it's one of my favorite comedy's

[@denace2society591]

I live not far from the restaurant (Alicia's) in Winnipeg, Manitoba that he liked to eat at when he came here. It's long since closed down.

[@averagejoenscplays3313]

John Candy in Summer Rental. It's gold!

[@MST3Killa]

Great Outdoors, Summer Rental, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Blues Brothers... I swear you're just doing all the Saturday afternoon flicks I'd watch and take a nap halfway through because they're all just so cozy.

[@LeighMet]

she already did the last 2

[@MST3Killa]

@@LeighMet yep, saw em

[@thomaskennett4896]

Love that you finally checked this out!! And love that you cited The Way Way Back and Adventureland!

[@LeoHernandeznyc]

My First John Candy movie ni saw was Cool Runnings...and I instantly fell in love with him, would run to the video store and rent his movies. He died in my junior year in high school...i was so sad

[@willemverheij3412]

I can recommend giving "Who's harry crumb?" a viewing, John Candy plays a bumbling detective there with lots of different disguises. They really give him a lot to work with in that movie. Also he keeps breaking stuff at the head office whenever he reports in.

[@MrSheckstr]

Given that his birthday is on Halloween, how about a John candy marathon in October that can be the light hearted alternate to the typical horror movie genre?

[@ShanelleRiccio]

Down If i have any left by October! (I’m sure i will 😂😂)

[@MrSheckstr]

@@ShanelleRiccio since there are 5 full weekends (Friday -Sunday) this October, pick five. Maybe you don’t have to pick the ones he is the main actor but a good supporting actor (Brewster’s Millions, Nothing But Trouble, Splash, Armed and Dangerous, Canadian Bacon) Summer Rental you should watch Sometime between Memorial Day and Labor Day And this Christmas you should watch Last Holiday starring Queen Latifa. The reason I add this is when this movie’s script was in developed it was being written with John Candy as the main character but he died and QL found the script and had it rewritten for as a tribute to him.

[@HaveL0veWillTravel]

@@ShanelleRiccio NOTHING BUT TROUBLE

[@MrDarkwing78]

Bart the Bear's most iconic role would have to be in Legends of the Fall. By the way Shanelle glossed over that listing I'd almost guarantee she hasn't seen it. If she had, she'd have had a much bigger reaction, you know instantly what his role was if you have.

[@williammccollom6847]

John Candy was like Tom Hanks, impossible not to love him even in movies that may not be considered the best, they are still loveable and charming. Hanks is the world's father and Candy is the world's uncle even to this day.

[@wbrownshadow]

Not well known but i heard in a reunion conversation John Candy was almost going to act in Ghostbusters as Rick Moranis’ character but due to creative differences they decided otherwise.

[@Warlocke000]

Promotional glasses were pretty big in the 80s. We had The Great Muppet Caper, those Star Wars glasses, Chipmunks, Pac Man... the list goes on. Arby's also had Christmas glasses. A Zagnut bar makes a brief appearance in Beetlejuice.

[@worldofborriemoto2026]

This reaction matches perfectly the way I felt about this film when I saw it back in the day.

[@estills4768]

Same here, this movie wasn't my favorite. I'm glad she gives her honest opinion, I respect that.

[@socialjokester7925]

Wow, a movie from 80s that i am not familiar with, thanks for it and your comment. My evening became better :)

[@CrocodilePile]

Bart the Bear is an actual co-star in the movie The Edge (1997) and I think you'd like it. Lots of big-time ACTING. Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Harold Perrineau and a David Mamet script.

[@bach5150]

i've always considered this film to be more of a slice of life flick... not necessarily needing a strong antagonistic approach. and it's grown on me over the years. of course uncle buck is the best... summer rental should be on your list as many have suggested... stripes is a great watch as well(murray and harrold ramis wrote it).. love your reviews... you seem way more grounded and a ton smarter than most of the reactors i've seen. and you put things in context as they should be. it's a breath of fresh air...

[@Mviews-hb4ib]

NO WAYYYY Finally someone has done this! to this day me and you are the only people ive crossed directly or indirectly who now knows this movie . im england and saw this very young and only remembered a bald headed bald arsed killer bear and two ginger kids . loved this move i must of watched it at the perfect time in my life :) (i was 8 )

[@Riggswolfe]

I saw this when I was young. I was young enough to have a crush on the girl that the boy dates and I enjoyed the comedy too. This may be one of those movies that works better if you see it like that. And honestly, nostalgia probably has a ton to do with my love for this movie.

[@MountainSnowInc]

Oh my gosh you watched it!! Awesome! I love this movie! Such classic Candy and Akroyd.

[@stephenmatthews1705]

PLEASE do a reaction video to perhaps John Candy’s BEST film “Who’s Harry Crumb”. It is Candy hitting on ALL cylinders!! Thank you!! 😊😊😊

[@pebblesanddirt]

Candy had just made Summer Rental in 1985, I believe, which is another film about him taking the family on a summer vacation, but its plot is more “slobs vs snobs”.

[@caffeineadvocate]

My drinking game for this film (but be careful, it's dangerous). Animal on screen: one drink Someone screams: two drinks Dan Aykroyd Insults John Candy, his family, or way of life: three drinks

[@paulhewes7333]

jesus, that's a recipe for alcohol poisoning, you monster!

[@porflepopnecker4376]

My 3 favorite John Candy movies are Who's Harry Crumb?, Summer Rental, and this. The trick is, you have to MAKE it work for you.

[@jasoncar1469]

This is actually one of my favorite John candy movies. It was very underrated IMO. I think what's missing that maybe you didn't get from the setting is the average Joe vs. the uptight yuppie from the 80"s. It was kind of an ongoing thing in general in real life back then. So, missing from the movie is the context on why they hate each other. Which back then was just kind of a general occurrence. For Chet, just the fact that Roman was there was the protagonist. Roman showing off his wealth and just slightly outgoing him at every turn. Another great underrated movie of John Candy' was Summer Rental.

[@jakecleveland1051]

THAT'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK!!! Direct quote from John Candy Spaceballs

[@middleschoolgravy]

You gotta do Summer Rental soon. Another John Candy kind of Vacation knock off, but with the added bonus of Rip Torn. Oh and it was filmed in my hometown. I was 10 when we lost John Candy and it was the first celebrity death to really effect me. Grew up on his movies and he just always came off so lovable and relatable. I think a lot of people who never knew him still felt like they lost a family member when he passed away. I love seeing your reactions to his flicks because it shows that after all these years he still resonates with audiences. His entire presence is just so warm, familiar and nostalgic. John Candy will forever be humanity’s favorite uncle.

[@cometogether999]

I love your reactions, it's refreshing to get the perspective from someone that has film experience. You should have more subscribers.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I appreciate that! :)

[@Gambithashtag]

Have you seen Cool Running’s? My favorite John Candy movie.

[@FelisDestructicus]

You totally rock for reacting this one! Now I can't get "Land of 1000 Dances" out of my head. lol

[@superbowlchamps52]

you have to watch canadian bacon if you love john candy, his final role. yes, adventureland and the way way back are classics!

[@JW666]

I agree with your review and that would explain why this one isn't so well praised as Plains, Trains & Automobiles. But I know others liked it and it has a cult following. And yes, John Candy is always great, even when he's in a movie that's mostly ok, he still makes it worth watching.

[@TimKCSportsFan]

1941 directed by Steven Spielberg, starring both of them, and John Belushi is an underrated classic.

[@catrissia]

I feel like this was the perfect drive in movie. Back when there were drive in's you didn't want a deep movie or a musical because you were listening to the movie through one little speaker and there were so many distractions with cars driving by and people walking around. So a simple comedy was the best experience you were going to get.

[@ThomasStClair-zr2lb]

I really think John Candy shines when he's acting with another comedian. Most of his films are definitely worth a watch. I'd suggest Armed and Dangerous, Going Berserk, and Summer Rental as other great films of his to check out.

[@carm3d]

Armed and Dangerous is so fun!

[@yournamehere6002]

Armed and Dangerous is underrated. Written by Harold Ramis and Peter Torokvei, who co-wrote Back to School together!

[@astalavista7251]

My high school was half a mile from this lake! It was awesome visiting the Pines for lunches and watch the lake from the balcony. Go Badgers!

[@andersonprimer]

Bass Lake?

[@astalavista7251]

@@andersonprimer Yep! It's in the town of Oakhurst California. Just outside Yosemite park.

[@andersonprimer]

@@astalavista7251 Yep, been to the lake plenty, stayed at the lodge once, and eaten at the restaurant a handful of times. Love how it's featured in the movie.

[@jamesbelshan8839]

One (tiny) point to consider is that the 96-oz steak joke came years before reality TV started doing whole series about finding restaurants that served ridiculous portions of food. So it was fresh.

[@Scott-gjc]

Simply said. Love your channel. You're great 🙂❤

[@ShanelleRiccio]

You are! thank you so much!

[@robertmccauley754]

Probably not too harsh but this was a childhood favorite. Haven’t seen it in probably 15+ years but seeing Bart’s bare bear butt brought back great memories.

[@Tigermania]

Best gag of the movie, still makes me laugh.

[@pthor6265]

The lake in this movie is Bass Lake, California. I went to summer camp there in 1981.

[@vodengc520]

My family had our summer vacations there about 5-6 years in a row when I was young back in the mid 80s. Still my most fond memories of summer vacations. I need to go back one of these years, even though Bigfoot Pizza isn't around anymore, lol (there's still a pizza place there but it's a different name now). I didn't realize they filmed the movie there until a decade or two later though.

[@stephenphillps3250]

a really good john candy movie is Cool Runnings from 1993. one of his last films before he passed.

[@christopherhasenberg1113]

All Jonny ever needs: 1 camera 1 microphone

[@losingstreak415]

This is one of my favorite comedies of all time and my favorite John Candy movie. Definitely a family favorite for my family

[@willcool713]

A lot of '80's outdoor movie tropes are either started by, or reactions to, Bill Murray's, Meatballs, his first lead, playing a camp counselor at an average American summer camp. It was a low budget gem along the lines of, My Bodyguard, and, Breaking Away. And it was Bill Murray's first real foray away from SNL (before it was abbreviated) and the movie was well received generally. I still remember seeing it.

[@AndieO]

Big bear.. big bear chase me..... my husband's favorite line from the film. He loved this one the most of all John Candy films.

[@dustyb58]

I think my favorite jokes were small ones. "If I can get a dessert down him can we get hats for the kids" and the bit about the 76 cent lighter. Had to rewatch this before your reaction. I had bought it like 10 years ago when the video store closed down and hadn't watched it since.

[@danhalstead705]

I always preferred this to Uncle Buck. I feel about the older sister in Uncle Buck how you feel about Roman here - that there wasn't much redeemable about her and not enough conflict to drive the plot. I also think this one has funnier moments: the water-skiing, the guy struck by lightning, the old 96er, and "Big bear chase me!" But I did see it when I was younger and cared more about the laughs than the plot, and I identified a lot with the setting since my parents always dragged me to their northern Michigan cabin when I just wanted to stay and hang out with my friends...!

[@theodorec5775]

I used to love watching this movie and John Candy's Summer Rental from '85 back to back every year when school was ending.

[@jonah1701d]

I just love how much you love all these movies from my childhood

[@manuelvelez7777]

This was a great movie from my childhood. It reminds me of the camping trips my family used to take.

[@nicholassmith8212]

This movie was so great as a kid you just felt like you were going on an adventure with John Candy and his family he always made my grandma laugh out loud.

[@trainradioable]

My older sister took me to the movies all the time, this was one of the many we watched.

[@deano42]

Zagnut, incidentally, is the same candy bar that Beetlejuice used to lure a fly to its death when he moved into the Maitland's town model. I believe that he was hungry from waiting so long to be summoned, and he ate the fly. Yay Zagnut.

[@davidranderson1]

It's not a movie with any really heft to it, but I've always enjoyed. It's light and breezy. The scenery is fantastic. It just feels like summer and a relaxing trip to the lake.

[@theashrook6129]

John Candy is amazing. Loved growing up with greats like him.

[@anothermonday5664]

One of those scripts that Hughes probably wrote in about six hours but it has enough funny moments to carry it. If you forget about: just let go of the rope water skiing; if you excuse the twins in the car and then suddenly they're walking in the rain; the teen romance is strictly filler to get to 87 minutes. But probably one of the funnest end credits sequences ever.

[@klyph]

33 years later and I still think of the end credits whenever I hear Land Of 1000 Dances.

[@buffy17mike]

"Summer Rental" is one of John Candys really great comedy movies ehs done if you havne't seen that one

[@Joe-yz7qx]

Can't believe this was watched instead of Summer Rental.

[@ApesAmongUs]

Gotta love a low altitude funnel gunnel.

[@rollingstoneworks3183]

I’ve mentioned it before- I think you would absolutely love Wes Anderson’s movies- The Royal Tenenbaums, Grand Budapest Hotel, Rushmore...really any of them. You’ll wig out on the filmmaking aspects...trust me.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

Love them all! Seen most!

[@justacuppajoe]

Gawd I loved this movie...great cast!

[@Tacomaguy458]

the reaction from dan akroyd when john candy runs the boat up on the ramp, I still do that to this day whenever one of my buddies does something really stupid in public... lol

[@Grizzlox]

My request: The Three Amigos

[@jonnyyen7169]

It's true that John Candy is in some films that don't totally work or are missing something. But, there are only a small number of them, and he makes them required viewing.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

Agree! I’ll watch absolutely anything he’s in!

[@skullandbones1832]

3:28 Mercedes Benz made some of the best S class cars back in the 1980s.

[@matthewford5094]

When I saw you were doing this I was like, i kinda remember seeing that like 20 years ago, and now I see why I never got around to seeing it again.

[@ItDoesntMatterReally]

Summer Rental is great. My favorite John Candy movie.

[@Davidsmith-go9oz]

Thanks for remembering where the Mrs doubtfire guy was from. It was driving me crazy!! 🤪😤

[@gerry_atric]

The Jerk is one of my favorite movies. A Steve Martin classic. You might have a blast with this one and Bernadette Peters is gorgeous.