Bolt (voice of Travolta) is a celebrity dog and the star of a hit TV show where his amazing feats and powers draw big ratings. But when a mail-room mix-up finds him roaming free on the streets of New York City, the wonder dog will have to learn to rely on his actual strengths -- as well as his new friends, an abandoned housecat and a starry-eyed hamster -- in order to find his way back home to his owner and co-star, Penny (voice of Cyrus).
In her new town of Forks, Washington, misfit teenager Bella Swan (Stewart) falls for her alluring and mysterious classmate, Edward Cullen (Pattinson). As it turns out, Edward belongs to a lineage of vampires, although he doesn't fit the typical vampire mold. As their passion reaches dizzying heights, can Edward resist his natural urges, and will he be able to defend Bella from his family members who have come for her?
Metermaid Les Franken (Rapaport) has an unexpected reaction to the anti-depressant he's taking as part of a clinical trial; suddenly convinced he's a superhero, he embraces his new powers, dons a homemade costume, and hits the streets to protect the citizens of his city. the corporation behind the pill, fearing bad publicity about their drug, set out to bring down our hero, who in turn hones his abilities to fight off his new arch-nemeses.
Summer Vacation with John Candy – 80’s Movies Time Warp
Most of my favorite summer memories, except for when the neighbor lady would sun bathe in her bikini, are from vacations with my family. There is nothing like journeying across the country in a loaded station wagon with those you live with every day.
If I can’t vacation with my family anymore I like to settle for the next best thing and that is virtually traveling with John Candy via some movies from the 80’s. In my opinion, Candy is the most comedic actor in the history of cinema, lovable for his humor and charm. My favorite movie of all time is, ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ in which he stars with Steve Martin, but it’s about Thanksgiving so is out of season.
There are basically two types of family vacations, an escape to the beach for some fun in the sun or a peaceful get away in a scenic paradise. (We’ll forget about the option of visiting relatives.) Between, ‘The Great Outdoors’ and ‘Summer Rental’ Candy leads his family on both kinds of trips.
In ‘The Great Outdoors’ (1988), directed by Howard Deutch, Chester ‘Chet’ Ripley (Candy) is a common, middle class man who takes his family to a lake resort in Wisconsin and without invitation is intruded on by his brother- in- law, the arrogant, upper crust, Roman Craig (Dan Aykroyd) and family.
Candy and Aykroyd appeared in eight other films together but never with more humorous results. Their personalities are totally opposite and Roman never misses the chance to one-up Chet, such as when he has lobster for dinner rather than hot dogs and gets a jet boat over a pontoon. Despite their differences Chet is determined to still provide an enjoyable trip for his family and we delight in his suffering.
Highlights include Chet being taken on a wild ski ride that he wasn’t prepared for and he must endure a series of risky maneuvers with Roman at the controls. Another is when the two of them attempt to catch a bat trapped in the cabin while dressed in an assortment of protective garb.
Another comic behemoth of the film is a grizzly bear, known for its bald scalp from when Chet shot it while on his honeymoon. The scene is recreated while Chet tells the story, and everyone acts as if he’s telling the greatest ghost story ever told. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen the movie several times but I wasn’t scared. The infamous bear returns near the conclusion and ends up bald on the other end after invading their cabin and repeatedly jumping on the door which is on top of Chet.
One thing scary about the film is Roman’s twin red haired daughters, Mara (Rebecca Gordon) and Cara (Hillary Gordon). How they were never cast in a horror movie is beyond me. The Olsen twins they are not, but just about as skinny.
Other notable scenes are, when at a local restaurant in order to impress everyone and earn a free meal, Chet cleans his plate of the ‘Old 96er,’ a 96 ounce prime aged beef steak, even the fat and gristle. It’s almost enough to make you at least consider being a vegetarian. And there is Reg, with skunk styled hair from being struck with lightning, “S-s-s-s-s-s-six-sixty-sixty-six times.
In-n-n-n-n-n-In-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n the head.” Make that sixty-seven by the time the final credits roll. Also memorable is the wise-cracking raccoon’s who knock over their trashcans and speak in subtitles.
‘The Great Outdoors’ is also the first feature film role for Annette Bening as Roman’s wife, Kate, who went on to a prominent career.
A true sign it’s an 80’s movie is the size of the cell phone that Roman uses in one scene, a vast difference from the pocket sized models of today.
In ‘Summer Rental’ (1985) directed by Carl Reiner, a Florida beach vacation is the final destination for Jack Chester (Candy), a beleaguered air-traffic controller, and his family. Rather than a peaceful escape: it’s of course a series of mishaps, otherwise it would be a rather boring movie.
The spiral downward begins when their initially nice beach house is discovered to be the wrong one after the owners return and the right location is rundown and right next to the public entrance to the beach. Like I always do, Jack also manages to get sunburned on the first day after he falls asleep in the sun.
Though the actual plot is rather thin, it centers on a dispute between Jack and a local sailing champion, the arrogant Al Pellett (Richard Crenna). They first butt heads when Al gets the last of the lobsters which Jack had been waiting in line several hours for at a fancy restaurant and escalates when their boats collide in the waters.
With no lobsters, they end up going to eat on a dilapidated old ship; ‘The Barnacle’ where frozen fish sticks make up the main entrée and the pirate, Scully, (Rip Torn) is introduced. An authentic pirate, even with a real hook for a hand, Scully teaches Jack how to sail.
The film culminates in a big boat race which pits Jack against the champion sailor and bitter enemy, Al, with the rent of the beach house for the remainder of the summer on the line. Also at stake is Jack’s pride as he’s trying to prove to himself and his family that he can succeed at a newly learned skill, such as sailing. Never before or since have I had such a vested emotional interest in a boat race, but I have never seen another one either. Not to be a spoiler, but Jack pulls out a victory by the seat of his pants, literally.
For me the biggest laughs are from the scene where, while walking across the crowded beach, Jack’s cooler leaks water interfering with many who are basking in the sun. The innocence Jack portrays from his actions only adds to the humor. A running gag through the film is a woman who shows her newly enhanced breasts to everyone, except the camera, for their opinion on how they look. “Uh, similar?” Jack responds.
One of Jack’s three children is played by Joey Lawrence, who seemed to be in about everything, television and movies, during that era.
Though, since Candy’s too early of a death, watching his films now bring a touch of sadness but the laughs always carry the most weight. From the comfort of your own home you can enjoy a vacation with ‘The Great Outdoors’ and ‘Summer Rental.’
