User reviews

One Crazy Summer is a classic 1980s comedy that follows the misadventures of a group of teens as they spend the summer on a beach in New England.

The movie has a great cast, including John Cusack, Demi Moore, and Bobcat Goldthwait, and the chemistry between the actors is one of the highlights of the film. The script is full of hilarious one-liners and memorable moments, and the movie has a light, fun tone that makes it a joy to watch.

One Crazy Summer also has a great sense of nostalgia, with its retro setting and music adding to the charm of the film. The movie is a great reminder of a simpler time, and it's sure to bring back memories for anyone who grew up in the 1980s.

Overall, One Crazy Summer is a delightful comedy that is sure to bring a smile to your face. If you're a fan of 1980s movies or just looking for a fun and entertaining watch, this is definitely a movie you should check out.

Thus starts "One Crazy Summer", the evil twin of "Better off dead..". How can any movie be bad when the opening lines are sung by David Lee Roth?

This movie is a total blast. Pairing again John Cusack with Curtis Armstrong, but this time adding Bobcat Goldwaith to the mix has great, funny results. Hyperactive Bobcat grates the nerve of everyone around, Curtis "Ak Ak" is the son of a deranged military with pacifist tendencies, and Demi Moore (with natural breasts... wow!) as the love interest of, once again, chronically depressed Cusack.

The story is, well, simple enough. The laughs are there, but both Savage Steve Holland films have a certain quality to them... they are funny, but they are also sweet. The scene where Curtis finds a blown up doll in the target practice beach, and begins musing about how a little girl won't be able to sleep was dumb, funny and touching. The animation used throughout is quite surreal. "The Boat" is hysterical (complete with Watsamatta U. sail and Odie plush doll). Overall, a fun film, though not as good as "Better off dead..."

The always likable Cusack collaborates with "Better Off Dead" director Holland again in this comedy about a struggling cartoonist who helps a singer (Moore...And boy does she sing badly.) save her family home from a land developer on the island of Nantucket. Goldthwait is his usual maniacal self and adds some laughs to the picture. A film that has loads of fun with itself. Completely harmless.

i adore this film as much as any one adores viewing whatever it was they saw when they were young. it was one of those films that Home Box Office showed every other day throughout my youth. this film is forever lodged in my brain. For someone who didn't grow up around this film, you may have become spoiled by the ADD cycle we've been in since the mid-90's and may find it more difficult to appreciate this gem. cool this is, as my sis was doped up on "better off dead" before i saw this (of which i raped & loved)-and no one, NO ONE can deny the embrace of awkward teenage humor in American cinema in the 80's - this gave birth to everything we have found tiresome in teen comedies..because with all the overuse of slow-mo, the current soundtrack, the new tech. I wonder if cinema will go back to these roots... THIS IS the teen comedy...YES!

...but still humorous enough. The main problem is Demi Moore, who seems to have the impression she is in a serious movie. She also fails to convey much romantic interest in John Cusack's character. Lots of zany humor from the hand of Savage Steve.

This is the follow-up creation to Better Off Dead. In a competition, Better Off Dead would win hands-down. But for star power, One Crazy Summer outshines Savage Steve's better script. Problems with One Crazy Summer (OCS): casting. Better Off Dead (BOD) was cast so much better. Friendship: OCS shows Cusack giving hateful looks to Bill Murray's little bro. Trouble on the set?? More outrageous friends in OCS, but more genuine friends in BOD. Plot was good. You'll predict some of it, but even the predictable parts go further than you think they could. So, even though this is Better Off Dead's ugly stepsister, it's worth a look. See Demi Moore before the plastic surgery if for no other reason. John Cusack fans, you gotta see it, just to say you have. If you don't like Bobcat Golthwaite, I'm sorry. I don't like him either, but you can't escape him in this one. At least he does a great job in the film doing a tribute to another movie monster. Editing needed help on the beach, but for most part, not much to complain about. Overall, it's good and funny. But try not to compare it to BOD or you'll find it lacking. *sigh*

Despite this being one of John Cusack and Demi Moore's early films, it is one even hardcore fans can miss, unless they absolutely have to complete the collection. I have rare moments, where I can handle Better Off Dead, but this movie is ultimately worse. I am just not a Savage Steve Holland fan, and he did both movies. So if you don't like the cheesy, random comedy and amateur animation, steer clear of this one. FYI even for the Demi Moore fans: she can't sing and the 80s synthesizers did not save her. There are too many predictable twists and too-easy jokes. I suppose if you want mindless entertainment or something you can leave on in the background and ignore while you do something productive, then go for it. Otherwise, don't watch this movie. If John Cusack (or Demi Moore) couldn't save it, you know it's got to be bad. They are the only reason I didn't give this movie a 1.

In the eighties, Savage Steve Holland put out three movies, two of which are classics of what seems to be a very small genre, absurdist teen comedies. The third "How I Got Into College" does not measure up to "Better Off Dead" and this one, mainly because of it's lack of John Cusack and Curtis Armstrong (Except for a tiny cameo).

One Crazy Summer is an underrated movie, with lots of great characterizations and gags. As I recall, Savage Steve's movies were vilified as being brain dead at the time and after three movies he drifted into children's TV. We could use more movies from the likes of him.

This is from much of the same creative team behind "Better Off Dead", but is not quite as good as that amazing teen comedy. Its a lot of fun, but its all over the place and just not quite as funny. Curtis Armstrong is used to less effect (he was incredibly funny in "Better off Dead", Bobcat Goldthwaite is hilarious, Cusack is good, Demi Moore is Demi Moore (only with better hair here.) Overall its fun, and as a person from Cape Cod, it catches the feeling of an 80s Cape Cod summer very effectively. For some reason, this film feels more "mainstream" than "Better off Dead". There isn't quite as much left field absurdity going on here. Again, if you are a fan of John Cusack and Savage Steve Holland its definitely recommended.

Another movie that aired about 10,000 times too many on cable. I'm not exactly sure what audience I should recommend this to-- there's no gratuitous sex or T & A. No witty dialogue on the trials of being a young person. And nothing particularly screwball enough to qualify it as screwball comedy. It's just kind of there. Like a man's nipples or Wisconsin.

As far as I can tell, it's a movie about a cartoonist, a singer (note to Demi: don't quit the day job), a boat-race (always exciting, those boat-races are!) and a really deathly looking dog with a satellite dish around it's neck. Oh, and some sub-Family Circus animation.

This isn't good enough to be good, nor bad enough to be bad, it's the Cheerios of teen comedies. Although I must note, it's seriously teetering on the edge of Puffed Rice or Muslix with all those ultra-annoying Bobcat Goldthwait scenes. Are there really people out there that find this man funny? I mean, sober people?

The dog with one paw in the grave did make me laugh though. And so did the two ugly kids with the frozen faces. Eeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!

To start....... This Movie brings back so many fun memories from Saturday night sleepovers growing up. I love the over the top comedy right down to the cliche love story. And if that doesn't get you, the fact that it's very early performances by Demi Moore and John Cusack should help.

(John Cusack) is Hoops, a guy with good illustration skills who joins his friend George (Joel Murray) on a summer trip to Nantucket Island after graduation. And naturally comedic situations become the film's focal point.

It's not the best comedy ever made, but holds a special spot in my heart. It's worth the 90 minute runtime.

Lonely cartoonist Hoops McCann (John Cusack) graduates from high school. His friend George invites him to spend the summer in Nantucket with George's weird little sister. He rescues Cassandra Eldridge (Demi Moore) from a motorcycle gang. They stay with George's grandma where uncle Frank is desperately waiting for a radio contest. They meet up with the idiot Stork twins (Bobcat Goldthwait, Tom Villard) and Ack Ack Raymond (Curtis Armstrong), the son of marine General Raymond (Joe Flaherty). The ragtag group helps Cassandra save her dead grandfather's house from the greedy Beckersteds for their development. She has one week to pay the mortgage.

Cusack is in the throws of his boyish charms. Demi Moore is beautiful and bold girl next door. It's got Bobcat going Goldthwait insanity. Director/writer Savage Steve Holland has his wacky sense of humor similar to his first movie 'Better Off Dead...' It's fun but a bit uneven. The craziness never stops and it's very memorable. Watching it some 30 years later, the most crazy stuff like the Bobcat Godzilla is still unforgettable.

One Crazy Summer tries really hard to be the next great screwball comedy. It's as if they said, "Remember all that fun we had filming Better Off Dead? Let's do that again! Just go crazy whenever the camera is rolling." There were some parts that made me laugh, but overall this is a ridiculous and forgettable movie.

'One Crazy Summer' is something of a follow up to Director Savage Steve Holland's 1985 comedy, Better Off Dead. The situation is somewhat repeated in this movie, with John Cusak playing the innocent teen who's romantic quests are thwarted by an obnoxious blonde rival and his equally obnoxious father.

John Cusak is Hoops McCann, legendary basketball player who has no skills whatsoever when it comes to the sport. Just like Lane Meyer in Better Off Dead, Hoops is good at cartooning, and his cartoons are used to help him sort out his dilemmas (well, as much as a cartoon can, anyway). Hoops, a fresh high school grad, joins his sloppy friend, George (you might remember actor Joel Murray as a recent sidekick in 'Dharma & Greg') at his grandmother's house near the beach. There, Hoops meets an aspiring lounge singer (Demi Moore in a role resembling that from 'No Small Affair') who is trying to raise money to save her grandfather's home from the likes of the fiendish rivals who want to knock it down and turn it into a luxury golf course. Hoops, the nice guy that he is, and all of his goofy friends (including the return of Curtis Armstrong and a supporting role by Bobcat Goldwaith), agree to do what they can to help out the girl.

If you have seen Better Off Dead, you'll know to expect lots of stupid comedy and a great assortment of strange characters and subplots (including another strange sibling for Cusak's character, though not as weird as Badger in Better Off Dead). So, if you liked the first movie, you'll probably get a kick out of this one, though it doesn't have quite the same flare as its ancestor movie. And as always, if you enjoy early John Cusak comedy roles, this one is perfect for you. It is still a great 80s comedy.

^ 4.5/10 I found this film to be very similar to "Better off Dead" in terms of premise and cartoons. However, "Better..." was so so much better because it was really interesting and the gags worked better. This film just seemed to drag on and on even though it was only 1.5 hours...it literally wouldn't end. Most of the characters were under-developed except for John Cusack who was great as usual. Those two Calamari characters were so damn annoying and really got on my nerves.

All in all the only things that stood out in the movie were John Cusack, the soundtrack and the animated cartoons were really fantastic. Otherwise boring film and I would rather watch "Better off Dead"

I recently rewatched my childhood favorite, One Crazy Summer (1986), on Tubi. The story follows an aspiring cartoonist who heads to the beach for his annual summer getaway. There, he meets a new girl and quickly falls for her. Unfortunately, she's about to lose her family home to a ruthless real estate developer, and the cartoonist decides to help her save the house in hopes of winning her love.

Written and directed by Savage Steve Holland (Better Off Dead), the film stars Demi Moore (The Substance), John Cusack (Say Anything), Bobcat Goldthwait (Scrooged), Joel Murray (Shakes the Clown), and Curtis Armstrong (Revenge of the Nerds).

This is an iconic '80s romantic comedy with unique characters, quirky situations, and a nostalgic charm that captures the magic of the era. Moore and Cusack have fantastic chemistry, playing lovable misfits surrounded by oddball side characters with seemingly impossible goals. The supporting cast is outstanding-particularly the younger siblings and Curtis Armstrong's character, Booger.

Alongside Summer Rental, this film was '80s gold, airing constantly on MTV during my childhood. I loved the soundtrack, the hilarious villains, and the unforgettable hijinks. The Godzilla scene was legendary, the giant rabid dolphin was absurdly fun, and the final boat race was a perfect climax. Every character and subplot gets tied up with satisfying closure. There's so much to enjoy here.

In conclusion, One Crazy Summer is an essential '80s summer romantic comedy and an absolute must-see. I'd rate it 10/10 and strongly recommend it.

A wannabe cartoonist/writer (John Cusack) is invited to vacation on Nantucket Island with a friend. A string of misadventures begin after they pick-up a free-spirited hitchhiker (Demi Moore) who's being chased by a motorcycle gang. Along with some friends, they must help Cassandra (Demi) save her grandfather's house from the greedy Beckersted Family.

"One Crazy Summer" (1986) is a quirky youth misadventure with just enough good to give it a marginal thumbs up. It's zany and creative, highlighted by Demi in one of her early roles. She was 22 during filming and looks great, but she curiously wears big, loose clothing throughout, which conceals her physical beauty. But there are a few notable females in peripheral roles, such as Kimberly Foster as cookie. There's also a Godzilla parody that's great fun.

The movie runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in Nantucket and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

GRADE: B-

This movie is sort of similar to "Better Off Dead" as it has some of the same stars. This one though isn't quite as good. Granted it is rather funny and enjoyable, there is something about "Better...that I like, well better. This one has these guys going to Nantucket to spend there summer vacation. While there they meet this girl who's trying to save here house from this guy who wants to turn it into a lobster restaurant. This guy really doesn't seem to like lobsters, cause in one scene he sticks it into boiling water and puts in a stethoscope so he can hear it scream. The main character is torn between this girl and the girl of the son of the guy who wants to make the restaurant. Somehow or another this leads to a big boat race showdown, kind of like in "Summer Rental" though it works a bit better here and fits into the plot a little better. Though what is the deal with boat races at this time? Was there some weird fascination with them? For the most part this movie delivers laughs at a good clip, but "Better Off Dead" was still better cause it was the first and the jokes worked better.

This is sooo bad. I mean if it was aimed at 6-10 year olds maybe it could be forgiven but it's meant to a teen/adult movie. I can't believe it has such high reviews. It must be Americans who find this utter garbage funny. I don't think anyone from Europe over the age of 11 would give this more than 2 out of 10. The plot is really naff. The acting is terrible. The only one that can just about act is Demi Moore and she was a mediocre actress at the beginning of her career in the 80s. She must look back particularly with this film in shame. I know the 80s were naff but this is something else. Typical but worst version or an American 80s teen comedy (its not funny at all by the way). Again i cannot believe that people have reviewed this higher than a 2 out of 10. Bunch of sad people who don't get out i say

When I watched this movie, I wasn't quite sure what to think. It is certainly reminiscent of Better Off Dead, with many of the same cast members, similar animation scenes, and the same writer and director. I adored the animated sequences (especially the one in the very beginning!) and Cusack's performances throughout the movie, but on a whole, I feel that Better Off Dead is probably the better film. One Crazy Summer's plot is sort of all over the place. It doesn't seem like the romance is built up as much as it should have been. My least favorite part of the movie, I think, is the inclusion of the Stork Brothers. While to some people they might be considered humorous, I thought they were a horrible parody of people who are mildly retarded. Perhaps that wasn't the intent, but it definitely came off that way to my companions and myself.

In conclusion, I'd recommend this movie to big Cusack fans, but I'd also recommend keeping a remote in hand to fast forward through much of the movie.