Monsieur Hobbs prend des vacances

This pleasant comedy may seem a bit on the dull side to modern audiences conditioned by R-rated gross-out fests (at least it's in color, for those so spoiled they lack the ability to get into a black and white story), but a nice nostalgia trip for those longing for the "simpler, more innocent" times of the mid-twentieth century. (I'm not an old fuddy-duddy chronologically, just in spirit.) Stewart is your average Dad, taking above average Mom (Maureen O'Hara) and family to spend the summer in a rustic Victorian house at the beach. They encounter the usual problems with antiquated plumbing and teenage romance, with a few interesting plot developments. If you know character actor Johm McGiver, he has one of his funniest roles as a bird-watching executive. Definitely recommended for Stewart fans or those interested in '50 & '60s nostalgia; but not for those who can only laugh at the stuff in Austin Powers or Team America (I like all these movies, incidentally).

Jimmy Stewart plays a St. Louis bank executive who goes on vacation with his wife(Maureen O'Hara) and children on a beach front house in California, where his planned romantic getaway with his wife does not go as planned, since the children get involved with their own problems(his lovelorn teenage daughter and young son who only wants to watch television, especially westerns!) On top of that, the plumbing does not work properly at times, especially a water pump with a mind of its own.

Amusing comedy is quite warm and funny, with a charming performance by Jimmy Stewart as the harried father, whose attempts at sailing and bird-watching also meet with mixed results, but film remains a nostalgic comedy of a (sadly) bygone era, but one that can still be enjoyed on DVD whenever the viewer likes.

This has been one of my favorite movies, ever since seeing it at the drive-in when I was eleven. I started holding my mouth just like Katey (pretending I had braces), and dreaming that I, too, would meet Fabian on our family vacation. I still find myself humming "Cream puff, shortcake, sweet stuff, jelly rolls....". And Henry Mancini's soundtrack still is great beach music.

All grown up now, my business is renting beach houses, a vocation partially stimulated by my favorite summer movie. I can't help but compare the old beach shack full of cobwebs and broken plumbing to today's sand castles. This video belongs in every modern beach house, to bring back memories of vacations long ago, or to show the kids how we roughed it in the olden days.

I am reading reviews of Mr Hobbs takes a vacation and can't believe some of the stuff I'm reading .. "boring script?" ... "miscasted" .. I firmly believe anyone who doesn't like this movie was not born in the 60's or never took a vacation with his family .. This is a simple story of a simple time .. sorry no sex violence .. Jimmy Stewart doesn't turn into a Zombie ... it's just a pure and simple movie filmed during a pure and simple time .. and yet some of the issues are still here today: family troubles, growing up with braces, identifying and communicating with a Grandfather ..

I smile ear to ear when I see this BECAUSE it doesn't have sex or violence .. it merely transports me to a simpler time when my Mom and Dad poured us all into the back of the station wagon .. me complaining the whole time .. and yet when it was over I was so sad to leave and have memories I still cherish ..

So sad they don't make these type of movies anymore... it simply wouldn't sell ...

I think this highly entertaining film is a bit better than Maltin gives it credit for being. More than just a light comedy about the travails of a summer vacation gone wrong, the movie has some hard edges that give it some bite. Among these are the frayed relationships between Hobbs and his elder daughters, the marital difficulties of one of them (bordering almost on being painful to watch), and the mutually hostile relationship of Hobbs with his grandson. Hobbs is no kindly buffoon; a well-meaning but irascible fellow, he has plenty of cutting and sarcastic comments for the family members that cause him so much grief, yet who he obviously cares for. There are some genuinely touching moments throughout the film, especially as Hobbs reconnects with his teen son. The script is excellent, with many sharp edges and plenty of crackling repartee. Stewart, in a fine performance, makes the movie; his expressive face completely reflects the frustrations, disasters, and surprises he encounters, as well as the warmth and pride he feels for his family. The brief narrative voiceovers he supplies (continuations of the letter he dictates at the beginning of the whole flashback movie) are well-placed and witty. Maureen O'Hara is perfect as the well-meaning Mrs. Hobbs. This is a thoroughly enjoyable 60's movie that stands up well to the passing years.