Product Details

• Actors: John Candy, Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy, Kevin Dunn, Milo O'Shea
• Directors: Chris Columbus
• Writers: Chris Columbus
• Producers: Hunt Lowry, John Hughes, Mark Radcliffe, Tarquin Gotch
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: March 22, 1995
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303394051
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,540 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

vhs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for John Candy fans...., September 23, 2001

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Only the Lonely [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Is there a movie where John Candy was the main actor that did not make you laugh out loud? This is not an exception to that rule. The man had such subtle wit and could deliver a line in the most hillarious way, God rest his soul.

In this story his mother makes a good candidate for mother-in-lawhood. She is controlling and a bit selfish in that she doesn't see her sons need to have his own life.

Each time John Candy tries to let go he has thoughts that something terrible will happen to his mother. His mother comes across as a completely controlling and insensitive person who we soon learn to dislike. We of course feel completely sorry for her son and hope he finds someone and runs away with her.

As a police officer who knows everyone, he finally takes advantage of his position in very creative ways and meets the woman of his dreams. But can he keep her? Will his mother let him go?

All I want to say is...watch this and enjoy it. If I tell you the whole story, it will spoil it for you.

If you don't laugh out loud when you watch this movie, come back and give me 10 negatives...I am that confident you will enjoy this movie. It is a bit long in some places, but the laughs are completely worth it.

~The Rebecca Review

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Candy's Finest Hour, June 19, 2005

By 

David Baldwin (Philadelphia,PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Only the Lonely (DVD)

In John Candy's short but prolific film career he made few films that were up to his prodigious talents. This is the best of the bunch. There is no debating that Candy was up to the light-hearted comedy demanded of him in his role as affable Chicago cop Danny Muldoon. Candy was also more than capable of delivering on the dramatic elements in this story of a 38 year-old man finding love for the first time. Credit that to the capable direction of Chris Columbus and his knowing script. Candy also gets to play with some first class pros and I think that upped his game. Maureen O'Hara lost none of her star appeal in her golden years as Danny's demanding mother. This role could have been played as a stereotype but O'Hara injects complexity and, yes, sympathy for her character. Ally Sheedy may also have had the best role of her career as Theresa, the introverted funeral home cosmetologist who is the object of Danny's affection. Anthony Quinn also delivers an amusing turn as Danny's neighbor who burns the torch for his mother. This film is an unqualified heartwarming success.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A forgotten movie that shouldn't be. O'Hara steals the show., January 4, 2002

By 

Peter Ingemi (Worcester County, Massachusetts United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Only the Lonely [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie has all the makings of a winner. A plot that is identifiable to almost any moviegoer, (everybody knows somebody in this situation.)A cast consisting of a fine comic lead, good supporting characters and two Hollywood legends. And a script that fits each actor like a glove.

John Candy pleases in this low key role of a lonely police officer tied too tight to his mother (O'Hara) who has very strong opinons about almost everything and who plays the mother guilt card like no other as he is pursuing his interest in an equally lonely lady (Sheedy). I watched this with my own mother who is O'Hara's age and saw her nodding in agreement all over the film. (until her full blooded Siclian fists clenched when O'Hara's character described us. The look on her face was worth the price of the movie alone.)

The story is plesant and worth your money, Candy & O'Hara work well together (who would have thought she would outlive him!) but the real power of the film is her interaction with Anthony Quinn. Classic film buffs like myself will get a real charge out of Quinn once again persuing O'Hara, but this time without an Errol Flynn as a rival. That sub plot is at least as interesting as the main one and for my money is better. It is classic Maureen O'Hara, the strong woman who is chased by the strong man and frankly is a great contrast to the the exact opposite situation between Candy & Sheedy.

In the end to nobodys surprise love conquers all and Candy's final immagined scene (contrasting with several ones eariler in the film) gives him closure. That final scene is my favorite and show O'Hara playing a character she has always excelled at. Considering the events of 9/11/01 the ending has even more meaning as we see a member of "The Greatest Generation" setting an example (albert a fictious one) that would be bravely followed in reality 10 years later.

I've said little about the good performances by Sheedy and Belushi, not to mention several other supporting characters in minor roles, they all add to the picture, but the stars make this film. Buy it.