Weekend at Bernie’s, released in theaters on July 5, 1989, is a cult classic that takes a darkly comedic premise and runs with it, delivering a surprisingly entertaining and endlessly quotable film. Directed by Ted Kotcheff (North Dallas Forty), this movie is a masterclass in physical comedy and situational absurdity, proving that even a dead boss can be the life of the party.
The plot is as outrageous as it is simple: two young, ambitious financial analysts, Larry Wilson (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard Parker (Jonathan Silverman), discover their boss, Bernie Lomax, dead in his Hamptons beach house. Fearing they’ll be blamed, they decide to pretend Bernie is still alive, leading to a series of increasingly elaborate and hilarious attempts to manipulate his corpse to avoid suspicion. What follows is a weekend of morbidly comical escapades, as the duo drags Bernie’s body through parties, boat rides, and even a mob hit.
McCarthy as Larry and Silverman as Richard form a fantastic comedic duo.
McCarthy plays the more cynical and opportunistic of the two, often instigating the wilder schemes, while Silverman’s Richard is the more anxious and morally conflicted partner. Their contrasting personalities and escalating panic drive the humor, as they try to maintain the charade amidst growing complications. Their physical comedy, especially when maneuvering Bernie, is a highlight.
The true star of the show, in a morbid sense, is Terry Kiser as Bernie Lomax. Despite being dead for the majority of the film, Kiser’s performance is legendary. He perfectly embodies the lifeless, floppy nature of a corpse, yet somehow manages to be a central comedic figure through the sheer absurdity of his situation and the ways Larry and Richard manipulate him. His “performance” is a testament to physical comedy and Kiser’s commitment.
Catherine Mary Stewart plays Gwen Saunders, a fellow employee and Richard’s love interest, who adds a touch of normalcy and becomes entangled in the duo’s bizarre predicament.
Don Calfa delivers a memorable performance as Vito, the hitman sent to kill Bernie, whose repeated failures to confirm Bernie’s death lead to some of the film’s funniest moments.
Weekend at Bernie’s (Photo/20th Century Fox)
Reception for Weekend at Bernie’s
Weekend at Bernie’s grossed $4.5 million on its opening weekend, finishing eighth at the box office. The highest grossing film of the week was Lethal Weapon 2, pulling in $20.4 million in its first weekend.
The film would gross $30.2 million in its theatrical run.
The cult success of the film spawned the 1993 sequel Weekend at Bernie’s II.
Legacy
Weekend at Bernie’s thrives on its high-concept premise and the sheer commitment of its cast to the ridiculousness. It’s a unique blend of slapstick, dark humor, and buddy comedy that, despite its macabre subject matter, remains a surprisingly lighthearted and genuinely funny film that has cemented its place as a beloved ’80s comedy.
