This movie is funny. I don't know why it has such low ratings. I like the sarcasm involved in having a married couple from the city moving out to a farm. This is a movie that I recommend to anyone who wishes to have a few laughs watching Chevy Chase and his superb timing for acting in comedies such as this one.
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CuriosityKilledShawn30 January 2010Chevy Chase is normally associated with the Caddyshack, Fletch and Vacation series meaning that his one-shot movies mostly fall by the wayside. Films like Spies Like Us, Nothing But Trouble and Funny Farm have went largely unseen since the advent of DVD in 1997. Neither of these movies have received widescreen releases and have been out of print for years. I was beginning to wonder what Warner had against giving them definitive releases until I discovered an HD master of Funny Farm on the PlayStation Network.
I saw it only once, when I was about 9, and remembered very little. If you're a fan of Clark Griswold then Andy Farmer isn't too far removed. Andy is a sports journalist who retires from the big city to the Redbud, Vermont hoping to enjoy and idyllic, peaceful life and finally write the great, American novel (The Big Heist). When he gets there he and his wife discover that almost everyone and everything is weirder than the last. There are giant snakes in their pond, a dead body buried in their garden, a Sheriff who can't drive, a crazy mailman and a town who basically hate them. And top of all this Andy has severe writer's block while his wife manages to churn out a successful children's novel without really trying.
With careful, measured direction from George Roy Hill (Butch Cassidy, The Sting) Funny Farm, based on a novel by Jay Cronley, manages to be a little classier than Chase's usual fare. This makes the lack of a home video version even more puzzling. It has never been released on DVD in the UK, and the 1989 VHS is long gone. If you have access to the PlayStation Network then go for it. I have a funny feeling that Funny Farm and Spies Like Us will probably be released as a Warner Blu Ray Double Feature in the near future, but nothing has been announced so far.
Don't let the mistreatment of this film put you off, it lives up to it's title and is the perfect vehicle for Chevy Chase and his goofy humour. -
jrig2421 July 2002I think this is a great film that Chevy Chase did. If anyone has ever lived in a small town they can relate. The writing is great, the comedy is great, and Chevy is great. I recommend this flick to anyone that is an avid Chevy film watcher.
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krumski17 February 2000Now, admittedly, I saw this during a period of my life when I believed Chevy Chase could do no wrong but even so, this is one that holds up, and was unfairly lambasted by the critics. From the ads (if you can even remember that far back!) this looked like it was just going to be a "Vacation" rip-off, sort of "The Griswolds Move To the Country." Believe me, the humor in this film is much slyer and more charming than anything in the Vacation pictures (of which the first one was solid, the next two lame). The film is about a sportswriter (Chase) who quits his job in order to move out to the country with his wife (the wonderful Madolyn Smith) and write the Great American Novel. The movie details his gradual come uppance, as he realizes that neither country living nor his talent is all that it's cracked up to be.
The film wonderfully skews the convention of the innocent country rubes moving to the big city and being overwhelmed by its meanness and craziness. Here, it's the cityfolk who move wide-eyed to the country - and are amazed to find there a roll call of crazies, misanthropes, and just plain wierdos. Does this view of country life have any basis in reality? Probably not, but then the film isn't really trying to be a satire but instead a pure lunatic comic fantasy. And it gives us a rich array of supporting characters - from the town sheriff who hasn't yet passed his driving test and so must ride around in cabs, to the owner of an antiques store whose merchandise are all personal. All these characters are priceless, and the film just keeps coming up with more and more of them - until it has created this pleasantly bizarre and warped Otherworld, of a kind that only comedy can truly provide.
Best of all is the way in which Chase and Smith react to all of this and try to make some sense of it. I very clearly say "Chase and Smith" because the film belongs equally to both of them. It had to be billed as a Chevy Chase Comedy, of course, since he's the big star here, but this is no star trip; from the very first, the wife is made an equal partner in the trials and the laughs, and it's the way the two go through their new life together that provides much of the comedy. It also helps take the edge off of the usual Chevy Chase persona: in Funny Farm he's neither glib and disinterested (as in the Fletch movies) nor over the top silly (like in the Vacation movies). He comes across instead like a normal, personable guy who just finds himself caught in insane circumstances.
Finally, the climactic sequence of the film is absolutely priceless - one of the most brilliantly sustained comic set-pieces you'll see in any movie, of any era. Funny Farm is the type of movie which gives you a great time and leaves you with a big, dopey grin on your face after it's all over. Trust me, even if you don't normally like Chevy Chase, you'll love Funny Farm. -
Maziun27 August 2013This is the last movie of George Roy Hill – the director of "The Sting". It's a good farewell for him , since this is a funny movie . Chevy Chase is in good shape as the writer who struggles to write his first book. Madolyn Smith who plays his girlfriend is also good and very charming.
It's one of those movies that will help you relax after a hard day . It reminds me a little of "Money pit" with Tom Hanks. It has the taste of typical 80's comedy - a lot is going on and the characters are colorful. I was either laughing , snickering or grinning through all the movie. I loved the jokes with the dogs. One can't stop , while the other can barely move . The small town has also few interesting characters : crazy postman , teenagers stealing road signs , weird old lady from antique shop. There is nice love/hate/love relationship between Chase and Smith . In the end the movie kinda becomes a little Christmas movie.
Overall it's a very pleasant movie . I think it's underrated and deserves more attention. I give it 6/10. -
cjwynes8 September 2001This film has some pretty negative and ho-hum comments. I won't say it's his best, but this is still a great film for fans of Chevy Chase. There are a number of good laughs, even if the comedy isn't nonstop like today's ADHD movie-goers demand. Every so often, someone in my family will say "Cue the deer," and we still have a good chuckle every time. Just one of the all-time classic lines in a classic comedy sequence that is really the lasting mark of this film. The telephone operator scene, and all the dog scenes are just great for laughs, too. Really, this film falls into that "Saturday afternoon on USA" sort of category, like PCU and Used Cars. You wouldn't go rent it perhaps, but if it came on TV some afternoon, it's always worth a watch.
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gwnightscream16 December 2014Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith Osborne star in this 1988 comedy based on the book. This tells of sports writer, Andy Farmer (Chase) and his wife, Elizabeth (Osborne) who give up city life and move to the country in small, Vermont town, Red Bud. Soon, things go terribly wrong for them when meeting odd, new people, getting into mishaps and finding unexpected things on their property. Andy also tries writing a novel and when Elizabeth decides to write too, they drift apart. I watched this growing up and always liked it. Chase is great as usual, he & Madolyn have good chemistry and the late, Elmer Bernstein's score is great as well. I recommend this good 80's comedy.
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Psycho Mantis27 June 2001The city couple Andy and Elisabeth Farmer, played by Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith, leave the city life to move out to the country. He is going to write a novel, but things doesn´t go exactly as planned. Lots of disasters make their new life go awry and it seems country life wasn´t as simple as they thought.
In Funny Farm, all the magic that made the first Vacation-movie so great is missing. Even the silly sequel, National Lampoon´s European Vacation, seems rather fun in comparison. The jokes are predictable and rarely hit the spot. It´s difficult for Chase to do anything with this material, his acting skills definitely deserves better scripts. Madolyn Smith is not bad as his wife, and it´s rather surprising that she hasn´t done any acting since 1994.
With a pretty promising plot, the movie could have been a funny trip to the countryside, but Chevy Chase has done much better movies.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is seen in a blink-and-you-miss-her appearance, and this might be fun to check out for Buffy-fans. But this itself is not a reason to sit through this movie, it´s simply to dull.
* ½ out of * * * * * -
LebowskiT100030 January 2003I wouldn't say this is one of Chevy Chase's best films, but this one still has some good things to offer. There is a fair amount of good laughs and an entertaining story, but not as great as some of Chevy's other credits.
Chevy Chase does a fine job with his role, playing a very similar character to most of his other films. Chevy is good at what he does and doesn't seem to stray very far from what works. Madolyn Smith-Osborne is fantastic in the film, looking just gorgeous and playing her role very well. The only other actors that were familiar to me were the movers in the beginning of the film, Mike Starr and Glen Plummer. Both actors do a fine job, although very small roles in the film.
If you are a fan of Chevy Chase, then I'd recommend seeing this film, you'll probably enjoy it. But, if Chevy Chase isn't your cup of tea, then this may not be the film for you. In any case, if you do see it, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading,
-Chris -
Idocamstuf26 December 2002Funny Farm is one of those very funny comedies that is also family friendly. Chevy Chase is hilarious as usual, and his wife did a good job as well. Lots of very funny scenes, especially the pay phone, and the sherrif that rides around in a taxi. If you dont enjoy Chevy Chase's other work, you probubly wont enjoy this. Overall a good comedy. 8 out of 10
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PhilipV26 February 1999As it took place on a farm, and was so crappy it could be used as fertilizer on a farm. If you accidentally pick this movie up at a rental store, wash you hands ASAP. If you are forced to watch it for any reason, just remember who did it to you on that list of grievances you keep. If you can make it through without projectile vomiting, you are a better man than I.
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jrs-822 February 2005I realize that comedy is subjective and things that I think are funny others may not think is too funny. But I am dumbstruck at some of the negative reviews for "Funny Farm." Far and away this is Chevy's best film. I think the screenplay is beautifully written with so many small touches of humor hidden within a scene that to list them would take forever. I will agree that the last act takes a bit of a wide turn in reality but it doesn't stray so far that the film goes off track.
The main story is your typical fish out of water story but what person can't identify with Chase's Andy Farmer in one way or another? Of course the film takes it to the extreme and it's all the funnier for it. And the characters are a biting reminder that not everyone is normal or sane for that matter. The waitress who serves lamb fries without explaining what that really is until it is desperately too late. The sheriff who has to take a cab because he flunked his driver's test. The mailman who throws the mail to the road because he is drunk by the time he reaches the Farmer's residence.
And the small touches? How about the dog that runs away from home just after being brought home for the first time? Or the umpire whose strike zone is a bit wide. The odd fate of Claude Musselman? And let's not forget the phone operator who can tell the sound of two pennies being dropped in a jar but fails to realize it's not a pay phone Chase is calling from? I laughed hard and often which is something odd for me in any film with Chevy Chase. In all the years with all of his films I can honestly say I have only enjoyed five of them (Foul Play, Vacation, Fletch, Christmas Vacation and this one. That's right I am not a fan of Caddyshack)and this is his best.
One more small moment sums up the film's humor for me. Chase is fishing with some men he has just met. One of them men gets a hook stuck in his neck. Instead of trying to pull it out Chase thinks it easier to knock the man out so THEN they can pull the hook out. After punching the man three times in the face one of the other men finally steps in and says "You're not knocking him out, you're only beating the p*ss out of him." -
doyce4sub7 May 2005I've seen this movie on numerous occasions and still think it's good. We moved to a small town years ago. Since then the town has grown into a small city but originally we encountered things that the locals considered "normal" but we found "odd". The mail man that throws the mail out the window as he drives by--I had a mail man that wanted me to hold the box at the correct height while he put the mail in the box. That happened while I was putting the box up and he wouldn't hand me my mail but had to put it in the box. A sheriff that couldn't drive. There are various things of that nature in this movie. On another note the sexiest scene that I have ever seen in a movie is when Madolyn Smith is digging the garden and finds a coffin. Look between her legs closely and you will see what I mean. The Chevy Chase character eventually becomes as "odd" as his neighbors. Watch this one-you'll really like it.
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SnoopyStyle10 April 2016Writer Andy (Chevy Chase) and wife Elizabeth Farmer move to the country Redbud, Vermont. At first, they see the little problems as quaint. Their movers have a harrowing time finding their house. However, the weird locals and unending problems overwhelm them. Elizabeth doesn't like Andy's manuscript and writes a children's book of her own. It all falls apart as the couple decides to get divorced and sell their home. They offer the locals money to fool prospective buyers.
It has a couple of good chuckles but the movie is more quirky than funny. Chevy's air of superiority gets into the way sometimes. He's not always lovable. This is not that bad either. I had a couple of chuckles but it's not enough. -
BoccaDeVerita4 September 2003While watching this movie, I realized that on several levels we live in a small town not much different from the Vermont one depicted. Our tourist town is located on a Channel Island in the Pacific, but the characters couldn't be more identical to those Chevy and wife deals with in the rural town they move to for serenity and quiet. Everyone tests their resolve to live in that community, and in failing to measure up to their standards, they are treated as outsiders. Once they understand the neighborhood peculiarities, everyone becomes acquainted, then accustomed to one another. While finding a common bond and learning to fit in, there is one silly misadventure after another. There are a lot of laughs in this movie that allow a person to stand back and realize that this is how small communities conduct themselves everywhere, and is a study in human behavior. Chevy's characters rarely make anything easy, which combined with a seemingly conservative personality has become his calling card.
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LeroyBrown-218 August 2003This movie is a wonderful comedy that unfortunately has been lump in with other films of Chevy Chase and other SNL alumni. The premise is very simple, Chase and his wife, the wonderful Madolyn Smith, are city dwellers who moved to the country where they find life to be filled with misadventure. They also find that their new town is filled with rather eccentric people and curious cuisines. The script is smarter than typical SNL alumni comedy, the cinematography and the pacing of the movie is right on the money. If there is one major shortcoming it is the casting of Chevy Chase. James Stewart in "Mr Hobbs takes a Vacation" hit the right notes for this type of character, an average man somewhat overwhelmed by his new and foreign environment, but Mr. Chase does not. It doesn't help that many of Mr. Chase's earlier characters were smart alecks surrounded by dullards. Here it's the opposite. Fans of Mr. Chase will not like this because he's not playing the character he's known for playing. Non fans will simply think a better actor who can play the average guy like Tom Hanks or Robert Hays (who was still somewhat well known at the time) would have made the movie much better.
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questl-1859229 December 2020Old School Chevy Chase in a serious of home related pratfalls and antics? Yeah, I'm game for that. None of this feels original at this point but with the right talent involved it's still a good time. I definitely laughed a few times watching this and it's hard to deny the command Chase had of the craft. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you can find it streaming somewhere.
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hetstadium16 April 2005I sort of like this movie and always have. I just got done watching it in Hi-Def after not having seen it in about ten years. This is the point Chevy Chase started to slip off the face of the earth. He still had Caddyshack II (1988) in which he re-played Ty Webb. The only good thing about that movie. Fletch Lives (1989) which was as good if not better than the first one. And Christmas Vacation (1989) which I believe to be some of his best work and a great movie. Funny Farm (1988) is a slow comedy. The relationship between Madolyn Smith and Chevy Chase seems really forced which makes it a little uncomfortable. Most of the jokes are pretty tired and don't usually work that well. But it has a sweet side and can be an enjoyable watch for a Chevy Chase fan.
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emotionalgoat-987-18162326 February 2011I pulled this dusty VHS off the shelf today and felt a faint stirring of disgust. Never one to balk at a mystery, I sat down with my old pal IMDb to figure out why I had such an aversion to this movie when everything about this movie should add up to being a 10-star masterpiece for my tastes. Here are things I really love in movies, and that this movie has:
1. Chevy Chase
2. Light/slapstick comedy
3. 80s comedy
4. Fish-out-of-water story
5. "living the dream" plot
6. I can relate to it (we moved city-to-farm in real life)
7. Animal/outdoor humor
8. Beautiful setting
This should be the perfect movie for me. So what on earth is it that makes me so reluctant to like this movie? I finally figured it out: I don't actually LIKE any of the characters - everyone in this movie seemed so very mean spirited and just plain grumpy. There really wasn't anyone to "root for" at all. I didn't care whether they stayed in the town, stayed married, moved away, got divorced, or even abducted by aliens and never seen again 2/3 of the way through the movie? I really like movies that allow me to enjoy and feel for the characters - this one was very VERY lacking in that department.
I'm glad I finally figured it out. Next time I pull that VHS off the shelf, I hope to remember exactly why I should put it right back up again. -
spencer-w-hensley21 January 2020I recently rewatched this having seen it many, many years ago and remembering nothing of it. I stumbled upon some old Siskel and Ebert reviews on YouTube, and they had very mixed opinions about Chevy Chase and his movies. They thought he was a fairly one note actor playing a smart aleck type but did occasionally get some good scripts. However their praise for this film was extremely enthusiastic saying it was Chase's best work. Chase has had a career that has been very hit and miss. His best movie work was in the 70's and 80's and during the 90's he made some very bad career choices like his failed short-lived talk show, and picking bad scripts. But knowing Siskel and Ebert's love for this film and considering it was in the decade of Chase's better work, I had to give it another try, and boy am I ever happy I did. This movie was pure joy all throughout. Every gag worked, the acting was good, Chase had a chance to show lots more range here than in some of his previous (and certainly subsequent) films and no I dont agree with other reviews that say he was just playing Clark Griswold again here. His performance in this is fine comic acting. Madolyn Smith also gave a great performance as his wife. If the movie didn't have a great joke or visual gag, it was gorgeous to look at. The scenery and camerawork are simply dazzling and beautifully done for a comedy. George Roy Hill who directed Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting directed this and does great with the material that writer Jeffrey Boam adapted from a book. This film was sadly overlooked because of strong competition in the summer of 88 when it came out. It came out on the same exact day as the Tom Hanks classic Big and suffered from competition with Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Crocodile Dundee II, The Great Outdoors, and Die Hard among others. While it may not be a "classic" like the aforementioned films, it is noteworthy as just delightful comedic filmmaking from beginning to end and the last truly great film Chevy Chase made. In the 90's he made Man of the House and Vegas Vacation and they were the only two films he did that decade that were decent and not failures. But this ranks high along with Chevy's best 80's movies like Caddyshack, the Vacations Fletch and Three Amigos! Anyone who says Chevy Chase was never funny is mistaken. This film is proof that he is a very funny, talented comic actor with the right script. He found a diamond before the rough came. This is a good, fun comedy his best after the first Vacation. If you need proof that Chevy Chase at one point was a great comic actor you must see this movie. He really shines in this one.
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The plot of "Funny Farm" is a good one, and the script has doses of funny lines. But most of the comedy comes in antics involving Chevy Chase, and in the comedy rapport between Chase and Madolyn Smith Osborne. From the opening scene - a farewell lunch and drinks among the boys from the newspaper, one might wonder why there haven't been at least a couple more movies made along these lines.
Chase is Andy Farmer, a sports writer for one of the Big Apple newspapers of the day. He is doing what many "rag" writers dream of doing - escaping the big city for country life and the chance to write the great American novel. His wife, Elizabeth, is a school teacher and they both have looked forward to living in Redbud. It might be in Upstate New York, or western Connecticut or Massachusetts. The Farmers get there by heading up the Hudson Valley Parkway and have some distance to drive. Whichever state it's in, it is definitely some distance off any major roads.
The country home they bought is very nice and has a tremendous view. While there's nothing wrong with the house, troubles begin right away with the movers, the rural mailman, and some of the locals. How will things work out? Will Andy get his novel done, or will someone else have success writing? Will the Farmers settle into their community? That's all part of the fun in this comedy that has just a little satire about rural life and people.
This film has some swearing in places, but otherwise it's a decent comedy that older kids and adults should enjoy. The funniest lines are mostly upfront. Here are some favorites.
Newspaper Editor, "Andy, all my life I've dreamed of packing up and leaving the city and the newspaper business behind." Reporter, "What stopped you, Jack?" Newspaper Editor, "And moving to some quiet little town in the country and putting down on paper the novel I know I have inside me." Reporter, "That's not a novel, Jack, its heartburn."
Mickey, "This ain't a bridge. It's termites holding hands."
Crocker, driver of the moving van, "You still got that map?" Mickey, "Yeah." Crocker, "Don't lose it. It might be the piece of evidence that gets me off a murder charge." Mickey, "Who you gonna kill?" Crocker, "The S.O.B. who drew that map."
Elizabeth Farmer, "When they say hardwood floors, what they really mean is hard, wood floors." -
emm10 January 1999Chevy Chase can do better in those VACATION movies, and because he's a funny guy. FUNNY FARM isn't high enough on comedy, and that's not good. A lot of gags and puns from Chase get stale after a while. At times, you can expect the unexpected, as is the part with the moving truck attempting to cross a wooden bridge until it gives. Other times, things get too far-fetched. It's actually your standard fare husband-and-wife story about the inconveniences of living in the country, which best fits the description. Look elsewhere if you want totally serious comedy from the main man himself. So-so.
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dgreene9926 December 2006Funny Farm has some pretty funny moments with the movers, the crazy mailman, a sheriff that rides in a taxi, yellow dog, the Redbud village people and then there is the beautiful Madolyn Smith... the ambiance of the movie really sets it in the location and makes you believe they are really in that crazy small little town... similar to other fish out of water stories (Green Acres, Mr Blanding Builds His Dream House, etc.) but with the Chevy touch!
Then to have it all turn around and the reason they moved out turns out to work for her rather than his... great story!!
Chevy at his best... see Funny Farm for all it's intricate little funny story lines that cumulate with Chevy and Madolyn both getting what they want in the end. Redbud is reminiscent of a small town in NC I used to spend my summers while growing up (maybe not that crazy, but it had it's moments) -
view_and_review26 September 2019A couple of city folks move to the country for a little slice of heaven. Andy (Chevy Chase) wants to work on his novel while his wife, Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith), just wants an idyllic life away from the city. Country life wasn't what they'd hoped.
I had a few chuckles watching this movie but nothing more. It's a nice movie that can be watched almost anytime. There's nothing outrageous that occurs, it's a straight forward comedy. -
Pnkprinses30921 July 2020One of the worst comedies I was forced to sit through. There is no humor in this movie, just aggravation and stupidity. And his best movie? That's a laugh. Christmas vacation is his best, watched yearly and beloved by all. This movie is the horse poop on the shoe of that movie.