Michael Keaton was originally approached to play Bob McGraw. The role later was cast with actor Steve Guttenberg, who over the course of a weekend, instead decided to sign onto Police Academy - Dümmer als die Polizei erlaubt (1984), leaving the production without a lead actor. In the end, the lead male part was cast with actor Tim Matheson from Ich glaub', mich tritt ein Pferd (1978).
'Cheap Trick' rock band drummer Bun E. Carlos was once asked why their title song 'Up the Creek' (1984) to this movie had never been included on a 'Cheap Trick' compilation album. He said: "-'Coz it sucks."
The phrase "Le Petomane" is French and translates into English as "The Fartmaster". It's the name of a French stage artiste in the late 1800s whose act was his musical flatulence, including their national anthem in his repertoire.
Many film critics and reviewers in reviewing the movie said that the dog performer Jake, who played Chuck the Wonder Dog, provided the best acting and performance in the picture.
Of the film's title song 'Up the Creek' sung by American rock band 'Cheap Trick', song-writer Rick Nielsen said in a 1997 interview with John Krewson of 'The A.V. Club', "now that was a bad song!. I co-wrote that... no, wait, let's see... I can't remember. Maybe I actually wrote that whole thing. Man! I must've been high. That was one of the worst songs - put it this way, it was one of the worst movies that's ever been out. Song-wise, it fit right in with the movie."