In the sun-drenched slapstick comedy Summer Rental (released in theaters on August 9, 1985), Jack Chester (John Candy) is a stressed-out air traffic controller whose frayed nerves lead to a forced five-week vacation. Determined to reconnect with his wife Sandy (Karen Austin) and their three children—including his teenage daughter Jennifer (Kerri Green) and young son Bobby (Joey Lawrence)—Jack rents a beach house in the affluent Florida community of Citrus Cove.
However, the dream vacation quickly dissolves into a series of comedic disasters.
The family finds themselves in a dilapidated shack rather than a luxury villa, and Jack is immediately at odds with the local elite, personified by the arrogant, champion sailor Al Pellet (Richard Crenna).
Directed by the legendary Carl Reiner, the film follows Jack as he suffers through sunburns, leg cramps, and the constant humiliation of being the “tourist” outsider.
When Pellet eventually manages to get Jack evicted from his public beach spot, the rivalry turns into a high-stakes challenge: Jack must beat Pellet in the local regatta.
To do so, he enlists the help of a grizzled, eccentric local sailor named Scully (Rip Torn) and a quirky neighbor, Don Moore (John Larroquette).
Even as he deals with the maritime interference of figures like Angus MacLachlan (Richard Herd), Jack transforms from a bumbling father into a determined captain.
The plot culminates in a chaotic, heart-filled boat race where Jack must prove to his family and himself that he can finish what he started.
Rip Torn and John Candy in Summer Rental (Photo/Paramount Pictures)
Reception for Summer Rental
Summer Rental grossed $5.8 million on its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office behind Back to the Future, which earned $8.1 million on its sixth weekend of release.
The film grossed $24.7 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
Summer Rental‘s legacy is inextricably linked to the warmth and comedic timing of Candy, marking his first major starring role after a string of successful ensemble parts.
It solidified his persona as the lovable, relatable underdog, a character archetype that would define his legendary career throughout the 1980s.
While it arrived during a decade saturated with teen-centric beach movies, this film stood out by focusing on the domestic frustrations and triumphs of the suburban father, paving the way for future vacation-themed comedies.
Summer Rental‘s blend of Reiner’s sharp directorial wit and Candy’s physical humor created a family-friendly classic that has endured as a staple of summer viewing.
