Going Bananas (1988)

A Major Disappointment

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Big Bad Joe (Dom Deluise) has agreed to take a senator's son, Ben (David Mendenhall) on an African safari. In truth, it doesn't make much sense as Joe sprays disinfectant everywhere and is scared of the creatures. But, a promise is a promise. Their private safari leader, Mo (Jimmie Walker) is glad to have them in his fictitious country of Tongola and is delighted when Ben expresses great admiration for lions, elephants, and ostriches. Joe is aghast when a lion perches on the roof of their vehicle and the man injures a tooth. Its off to a local tribe where natives speaking a foreign language try to "heal" his tooth and give advice on brushing! Adorable. Soon the trio rescue a monkey/chimp who takes to Ben like nobody's business. A local officer (Herbert Lom) grabs the chimp away from them and throws the group in an outdoor jail. Yet, this chimp is SMART. He breaks out of his confinement, rescues his friends and they all go to a high faluting Parisian cafe, with the chimp dressed as a lady. Also at the restaurant is the commanding officer. Could it be that this official has his own tricky plans for the chimp? What a joy this family film is! If anyone is in a bad mood, here is a movie to wash away the blues. Deluise, Lom, Walker, Mendenhall and all other cast members are great fun! Also darling is the chimp, which is really a midget wearing a monkey suit; it doesn't matter, kids will still love him. Then, too, the Africa scenery is beyond amazing, with lovely waterfalls, animals, caves, and more. The script is comedic and the direction is lively as well. Hey, folks, go bananas and find this entertaining movie. Even the crabby Appletons of the world will turn their frowns upside down at a showing.

"Going Bananas" is one of the worst comedies ever made. It has not one laugh in it. Not one. At all! It just meanders on endlessly for 95 minutes and goes nowhere. I've seen "ER" episodes with more laughs than this.What a waste of comic talent. This has Dom DeLuise ("The 12 Chairs", "Blazing Saddles" "Silent Movie"), Jimmy Walker ("Good Times) and Herbert Lom (Dreyfus from "The Pink Panther" series). You might ask me, "Bill, how can a film with those three be bad?" Watch this movie and find out.They don't even take advantage of the premise: a safari. I'm sure there are many comic possiblities in this. But a safari film can also be a thrilling adventure like Cornel Wilde's great "The Naked Prey". "Going Bananas" fails on that level also. The most threatening thing that happens in this: a chase in the circus. OOOOHHHH! I'M SCARED!"Going Bananas" was apparently so bad that it wasn't even released theatrically. Instead, it was released straight to tape. I'm not sure which is worse: charging people $5 or $20 to view this travesty. Even worse than that were the ads: quotes (supposedly) from children who have viewed the film. Brother, they must have been on Ritalin because any normal child would hate this, just like my family did. Roger Ebert often says that a bad movie should be cut up into something the poor can use. My suggestion for "Going Bananas": could be useful to even out short legs on a table or stool.no stars out of 4 stars

Even if you get a kick out of all those terrible movies Israeli producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus did in the 80s, you'll probably still find GOING BANANAS tough going. Man, this is one BAD movie. There's nothing worse than an unfunny comedy. There are NO laughs in this movie. Not one. Too add insult to injury, everyone in the movie acts like a moron. Why do we want to watch a movie where everyone is a grating idiot? And despite actually filming this movie in Africa, almost all the movie looks like it was reproduced on a Hollywood back lot. I remember when this movie was released (direct-to-video - it was even too bad for Cannon to theatrically release!), an ad appeared in magazines for children - where all the "review blurbs" were provided by kids, and not actual reviewers! "The monkey was so funny!" said one kid. I hope I never have to meet that now grown-up kid.

A good friend of mine one said: "A monkey is funny, anytime, anywhere." There is one exception to this: GOING BANANAS. It is quite simply the WORST MOVIE I have ever seen. It's worse than PLAN 9, worse than THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS. It is TERRIBLE. The talking monkey gag gets old after about three minutes, and believe me that's all there is. Make sure you have a bunch of people around to revive you after you go into TOXIC SHOCK from GOING BANANAS, the worst movie ever.