Product Details

• Actors: John Candy, Karen Austin, Kerri Green, Joseph Lawrence (II), Aubrey Jene
• Directors: Carl Reiner
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300214621
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,988 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
John Candy's first leading role was in this 1985 film by Carl Reiner, in which the comic actor played a stressed-out air traffic controller who takes his family on a Florida vacation and has to deal with arrogant, rich jerks. Candy is good in what is almost a straight part (albeit with some jokes), and Reiner keeps the tone in check so his star has an opportunity to show more than one dimension. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING, January 6, 2004

By	Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Summer Rental (DVD)

John Candy does an outstanding job in this movie, playing the part of Jack Chester, a burned out traffic controller who desperately needs a relaxing vacation. Too bad he doesn't get one!
Taking his family to Florida, he does not know the cabin he has rented is right next door to a public walk leading to the beach.
Living in Florida, I certainly know how busy those walks can be, and that only heightened the laughter for me, as Jack had to deal with 'walkers' everyday, who wanted a glass of water or to use the bathroom. Good Lord!
Add to that a budding teenage daughter, a neighbor who wants to show off her new 'breasts' and rich jerks who think they own the Florida beaches (oh yes,I have seen them as well).
This all adds up to a great movie, one that you will watch time and time again. Outstanding!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Charming & cute, September 22, 2001

By	Bectile "bectile" (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This is one of my boyfriend's favorite movies and I have grown fond of it as well. It isn't the kind of movie that has you busting out laughing, but it puts a smile on your face and leaves you happy. The music is uplifting and the whole movie has a mellow tone, but I never considered it "slow" as some have.

I do have one issue with this movie, for which the lack of information is driving me crazy:

Am I the only person in the world to notice that there are scenes deleted from the pay channel, VHS and DVD versions? If you watch it on basic cable there are several scenes NOT found in the "uncut" (no commercials) versions:

1) On the drive down to Florida, they have fast food in the car, and feed the dog Archie the onion rings, who then has terrible gas
2) When they are in the wrong rental house the dog is continually shown chewing on the legs of the couch instead of the bones he is being offered by John Candy
3) Right after they leave the wrong house and the rightful owners sigh with relief, the couch falls over as a result of the dog chewing on the legs (they break)

Does Columbia Pictures have something against this dog? I thought those scenes added to the enjoyment of the film! I have purchased and returned the VHS and DVD versions, each time excited to be able to see the entire movie uncut.

If you're reading this, powers that can, please release a special edition with ALL the scenes!!!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll want to keep this movie for more than just a rental, September 21, 2001

By	retrowens (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Jack Chester (John Candy) takes his family to the beach on a summer vacation resort in Florida. While on this vacation, Mr. Chester and his family will encounter tough times, make new friends, and much more. All of these events have something in common: They're hilarious!

While I was watching "Summer Rental," I could tell that it just had an average script and that in all ways it should've just been an average movie, but John Candy's hilarious antics make this one a keeper for comedy fans. There are many different parts of "Summer Rental" that you'll always remember once you see them such as when an attractive woman asks John Candy for an honest opinion, and when Candy goes on the beach for the first time and tries to avoid many obstacles.

Not only is "Summer Rental" hilarious, it also has other redeeming qualities such as the adventure that Mr. Chester (John Candy) and his family go on close to the end of the film. To make it short, if you like hilarious comedy movies, I definitely recommend getting "Summer Rental." You'll want to keep this movie for more than just a rental.