Wer ist Harry Crumb?

This is one of the better John Candy movies out there, if that isn't damning with faint praise. It's not terrific, but it definitely will tickle your funny bone if you're in the right mood. The only real flaw is the soundtrack, which doesn't accentuate the humor enough. If you enjoy comedies about cute moronic characters who are too blind to see their own faults, you will love this.

This movie is hilarious especially if your a John candy fan. Sure it's not uncle buck but it's classic funny man candy. If you dislike it maybe you're taking it way too serious because it's great!

Responsible for kidnapping his latest client's daughter, the head of a private detective agency hires his least competent employee to work this case, only to be baffled when the man's incompetence helps him make headway in this lively comedy starring John Candy. Donning several different disguises (thanks to some stellar makeup work) as he goes about solving the case, Candy's performance has brought about comparisons to Chevy Chase in 'Fletch', however, with Candy's utter incompetence, this is actually a very different sort of film. Candy is thoroughly likable throughout with his heart (if not his mind) always in the right place and there is a lot to like in how he benevolently takes the victim's neglected teenage sister under his wing without any trite romantic sparks igniting between them. Above all else though, 'Who's Harry Crumb?' is a laugh-out-loud affair with such zaniness as a footsies scene in which three characters at a table each think that someone else is playing with them. A large number of gags are admittedly foreshadowed too heavily in advance for full effect, such as Candy landing in a sitting position in a living room sofa and Candy crashing into a glass cabinet, however, they are still funny thanks to Candy's near nonchalance towards his buffoonery, carrying on in almost all cases as if nothing has even happened. Indeed, while some have dismissed the movie due to the slapstick nature of most of the gags, it is how Candy handles himself in these moments rather than the physical humour itself which generates the most laughs.

John Candy was exploring his performing roots in the character of Harry Crumb. I imagine he enjoyed that. The Indian air conditioner repair man, the Hungarian hair stylist, the overweight jockey. Candy did a ton of these types of characters for years on stage and TV. It's a nice return for fans of SCTV like me. Fans of that show would remember Yosh Shmenge, Tommy Shanks, Mr Mambo, Harry: the guy with the snake on his face, Divine, Johnny La Rue and who knows how many others on stage. This film offers a view of Candy's ability to create comic characters like that. Harry Crumb himself is an excellent comic character. A detective who stumbles on his own ego and family legacy but still manages to back into solving the case. It is a good vehicle for his talent in this regard.

Most of Candy's films explored his range as an actor but this movie is comedy. Not many (or any) moments of pathos like in his work for John Hughes. I like this alot more than movies like The Great Outdoors and Delirious. Cable TV played Candy's movies alot in those days and this one usually kept me watching and happy.

I stumbled upon "Who's Harry Crumb" in 2019, but now that I've sat through it, I do believe that I have watched it once before, perhaps back in the early 1990s. Regardless, this is definitely a very typical late 1980s comedy, and it is most definitely a very John Candy-like comedy. You know, the special unique sense of comedy that he was known and loved for.

"Who's Harry Crumb" is a fun movie, despite it having a somewhat simplistic storyline. But this simple storyline was actually made quite enjoyable by a rather impressive cast ensemble and some great comedy performances.

The movie boasts the performances of the likes as John Candy in the lead, and he does carry the movie quite well. And he is joined by Jeffrey Jones, whom really was well cast for his particular role, and I must admit that I have always found Jeffrey Jones to be enjoyable to watch on the screen. Furthermore, to cement the late 1980s feel, then the cast also includes Tim Thomerson, Barry Corbin, Shawnee Smith and Valri Bromfield.

There are some good laughs in the movie, and I really enjoyed the different roles and characters that John Candy portrayed on the screen, where he was allowed to unfold his comedy talents.

While "Who's Harry Crumb?" is indeed a typical late 1980s comedy through and through, it is one that is well worth watching, especially if you are a fan of John Candy.