Les Chester en Floride

For most of his career, John Candy played a bunch of rather silly roles that - while they were completely goofy - were great nevertheless. "Summer Rental" is one such role. Candy plays overworked air traffic controller Jack Chester, who takes his family on vacation in Florida. Naturally, it ends up being not as much of a vacation as they hoped. Finally, Jack and his family decide to take one last chance to restore their dignity.

I will admit that "Summer Rental" is pretty much a big excuse to be silly, but you gotta love it. This is John Candy doing what he does best. It's really too bad that he died; he really had a good track record.

At 86 minutes and half a dozen subplots not being wrapped up or developed in any way at all. For example the subplot involving John Laroquette is never given the chance to become anything. His whole presence in the movie is totally pointless and I suspect there was a whole 'Candy's wife may be cheating on him' plot that was cut out because it just too similar Chase/D'Angelo in Vacation.

We never know what happens to Richard Crenna or Rip Torn after the Regatta and we never know how the rest of the Summer Rental went. It's like the writers knew there was no plot, chucked in this Regatta crap and thought that would be a good place to end the film when it's over. And what was wrong with the popcorn Candy and Crenna eat? I found that pretty weird.

Although I have already made comparisons to Vacation I still feel like this film is good enough without being a copycat movie. It's seems more realistic and doesn't have any slapstick humor. Candy feels more like a real guy who needs a real vacation. We want him to relax but still can't help laughing when everything goes wrong. My fave scene is when he returns home to find it transformed into some kind of free-for-all Funhouse.

But for a film set in Florida there is a huge lack of nice scenery and the photography isn't so cool. I wonder why Kerri Green (who starred in The Goonies the same year) never made another mainstream movie tho. Joey Laurence did so why not her?

If you like comedies, but hate the scatological humor that most present day comedies have, then this is a good enough escape. I miss John Candy and wish he made more movies before he died.

This movie is from a time that I sorely miss. It is about having a good time, and nothing else. There's no violence, no crude sexual comedy, just the legendary John Candy doing what he did best. Given, the music and clothing are extremely dated, but this is without a doubt the best feelgood lighthearted movie I've ever seen. All of the characters come together perfectly to tell us the tale of Jack Chester. One of the most memorable is Scully, the sailor/pirate. To this day, I see Scully whenever I see Rip Torn in any movie. This story just makes me feel good for days after I see it. John Candy is surely one of the best comics of the past 30 years, pulling this move together.

The world is a happier place with a John Candy film to watch, and still after decades he continues to entertain us even with a mediocre story line such as summer rental.

John Candy is the embodiment of the complete comedian, his delivery is second to no one, his physical comedy makes us want to reach out and hug him, and his one liners deliver that "Gotcha'" moment every time.

Summer Rental is a film I have seen several times now and anyone over the age of 12 can enjoy the story line of the lovable underdog coming out victorious over the big and rich bully played perfectly by Richard Crenna. Adding to the films entertainment is the versatile actor Rip Torn who plays Scully the sea captain who is the owner of a rundown restaurant and a fleet of broken down sailboats.

This is a simple story line, easy to follow for even a 12 year old, with the inspirational Chester family played by John Candy, Karen Austin, and their two children played by Kerri Green and Joey Lawrence who find a way to come together as a tight knit family beginning with their adventure on the high seas in the regatta against the wealthy Richard Crenna.

As in any John Candy film there are scenes he steals that are both memorable and unfortunately knowing there will be no more John Candy films. RIP John.

I give it a 7 out of 10 IMDb rating.

I thoroughly enjoy watching this movie every time they show it on Comedy Central or USA or TNT. This movie is classic John Candy all the way. Candy has scenes, no matter how many I times I watch, that make me laugh so hard I fall from my chair. Like when he kicks all the people out of his house wielding a crutch. Sure the story may be weak and a little corny with the whole boat race but it ranks up there among my favorites.

It has some other memorable moments including Rip Torn's character of Scully. My of my favorite parts is when he is teaching Jack (played by Candy) to sail. They are on the boat late at night and they are both drunk. Scully announces to jack, "Here's and little ditty me mother used to sing to me", at which point he breaks into "The Theme from Love Boat" and Jack joins in with him. And then there is the scenes between Scully and Angus when Scully refers to Angus as a "dumb Swede" even though he is a Scot.

It is a good rainy day rental.