Who's Harry Crumb?

John Candy was exploring his performing roots in the character of Harry Crumb. I imagine he enjoyed that. The Indian air conditioner repair man, the Hungarian hair stylist, the overweight jockey. Candy did a ton of these types of characters for years on stage and TV. It's a nice return for fans of SCTV like me. Fans of that show would remember Yosh Shmenge, Tommy Shanks, Mr Mambo, Harry: the guy with the snake on his face, Divine, Johnny La Rue and who knows how many others on stage. This film offers a view of Candy's ability to create comic characters like that. Harry Crumb himself is an excellent comic character. A detective who stumbles on his own ego and family legacy but still manages to back into solving the case. It is a good vehicle for his talent in this regard.

Most of Candy's films explored his range as an actor but this movie is comedy. Not many (or any) moments of pathos like in his work for John Hughes. I like this alot more than movies like The Great Outdoors and Ridiculous. Cable TV played Candy's movies alot in those days and this one usually kept me watching and happy.