Summer Rental
An overworked father’s beach vacation becomes a comic battle for dignity when every family mishap leads him closer to a showdown with a smug local yachtsman.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- breezy
- lazy sunday
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found it good-natured but loosely constructed, with John Candy's comic performance providing most of its appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Chesters' beach holiday deteriorates through successive mishaps, including problems with their rental house and Jack's rivalry with a local yachtsman.
Jack's feud with Al Pellet turns vacation frustration into a contest over pride and family respect.
Jack's overwork, vacation failures, and final race are tied to his desire to regain his family's respect.
Aggregate criticism specifically describes the film as a collection of shore-vacation bits whose appeal depends heavily on John Candy's performance.
Films like Summer Rental, and why
National Lampoon's Vacation
family vacation disasters, escalating comic mishaps, and an overburdened parent at the center
Uncle Buck
warm blue-collar comedy driven by john candy's physical humor and family-centered frustration
The Great Outdoors
1980s family comedy built around adult embarrassment, domestic chaos, and restoring family respect
Movie Details
- Director
- Carl Reiner
- Release Date
- 1985-08-09
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (245)
Cast
- John Candy
- Richard Crenna
- Rip Torn
- Karen Austin
- Kerri Green
- John Larroquette
- Joey Lawrence
- Aubrey Jene
- Dick Anthony Williams
- Richard Herd
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Summer Rental about?
- An overworked father’s beach vacation becomes a comic battle for dignity when every family mishap leads him closer to a showdown with a smug local yachtsman.
- What is Summer Rental like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Summer Rental as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Summer Rental violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Summer Rental.
- What did critics think of Summer Rental?
- Critics broadly found it good-natured but loosely constructed, with John Candy's comic performance providing most of its appeal.
- Which films are like Summer Rental?
- Films with a similar feel include National Lampoon's Vacation, Uncle Buck, and The Great Outdoors.
- How long is Summer Rental?
- Summer Rental runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Summer Rental?
- In United States, Summer Rental streams on Philo, YouTube TV.
