"Summer Rental" is a very pleasant comedy vehicle from director Carl Reiner and star John Candy. Candy stars as Jack Chester, an air traffic controller under alot of stress. His boss tells him he needs some time off from his job. So he packs up his family and heads for Florida hoping to have the time of their lives. But it doesn't go exactly that way, especially for Candy. He experiences about as much stress vacationing as he does at work. The funniest part of "Summer Rental" is the opening 5 minutes, with Candy exhibiting the kind of stress that causes his superiors to suggest a vacation. This part is a riot, and the movie is very funny for the first half. The film loses a little of its comic edge in the second half, when Candy takes up sailing and tries to win a bet against one of the locals, an obnoxious yachtsman played gamely by Richard Crenna. The second half still has some funny moments, but not as much as in the first half. Still, "Summer Rental" is a nice little movie, with the late John Candy giving one of his better leading performances. Karen Austin is very good as Candy's supportive wife Sandy; a very young Joey Lawrence (several years before "Blossom", back when he was starring on Nell Carter's '80s sitcom "Gimme A Break!") shines as Candy's son Bobby; Rip Torn is somewhat amusing as Scully, owner of a local restaurant on a boat who becomes Candy's good friend; and "Night Court's" John Larroquette also makes an appearence in a bit part. "Summer Rental" is one of director Reiner's better films, and it gets to show off Candy's considerable comic talents that are sorely missed today.
*** (out of four)
*** (out of four)