Funny Farm (1988)

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

A film like 'Funny Farm' is lethargic, it's one of those attempts that rely completely on it's Lead Star. And so on, 'Funny Farm' works in some parts, only because of it's Lead Star, The Legendary Chevy Chase. The Multi-Talented Dude, contributes superbly in the goings-on and is the ONLY reason why this late 1980's comedy works in some levels. Adapted from a 1985 comedic novel of the same name by Jay Cronley, 'Funny Farm' begins ably, slips completely in the middle, but redeems itself by a fairly convincing climax. The humor here, is targeted to children, and in that aspect, the film works. In terms of Screenplay & Presentation, 'Funny Farm' is an average product, that never really attempts to become legendary. It manages some truly funny moments, but some-where, it loses it's focus & leaves everything for it's Lead Star to do.In totality, 'Funny Farm' raises some laughs, but mainly, it's Chevy Chase who deserves the praise.

I 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 Chase2. 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 settingThis 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.

Well I thought I had seen Chevy Chase's worst film until I saw this. This is BY FAR his worst movie. My all time favorite is Vacation with Christmas Vacation and European Vacation tied for second. I didn't especially like Vegas Vacation but even that seems like a classic compared to this garbage. Not crazy about the Fletch movies but they are better than this. I know Roger Ebert gave this dull movie 3 and 1/2 stars but I wonder if we were watching the same movie.My least favorite before this was Three Amigos but that is better than Funny Farm. Caddy Shack was a good movie but Chase's role was trounced by Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and Bill Murray. Chase almost ruined that movie if you ask me, and he was the weakest comedian of the 4. When Chase is too laid back like in Caddysahck and Funny Farm, he is not funny.Talk about milking a character to death. The Saturday Night Live persona Chase created would only stretch so far. I would rather watch paint dry than ever watch this dud of a movie again.

Funny 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)