Caddyshack (1980)

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Originally an ANIMAL HOUSE of golf, directed by its co-writer, Harold Ramis, CADDYSHACK morphed into an eclectic comedy starring four comic actors that - had the rudimentary vision sustained - probably would have been random guest appearances amid the shack-dwelling youngsters... Although a 'teen' is still the main character - the straight-man pawn, Michael O'Keefe as Danny Noonan, with one of the best natural golf swings recorded on film (most actors have horrible swings even when playing pros). After an opening credit bicycle ride from a crowded and noisy, low class home, he passes a strip of mansions to classy Bushwood Country Club backed by Kenny Loggins' smooth party anthem I'm Alright: bridging a grainy late-70's yacht rock groove into the preppy vs anti-preppy decade to come...Then Danny winds in and out of misadventures including an attempt to appeal to Ted Knight's stuffy Judge Smails for a possible college scholarship while faithfully caddying his mentor in Chevy Chase's quirky millionaire Ty Webb, sharing the most subtle yet hilarious moments in-between butting heads with cool cat Italian bully Scott Colomby, the other "kid" whose role wasn't diminished to a cameo. The R-Rating is earned between our caddy and one of the hottest of underrated and underused starlets, Cindy Morgan, far more beautiful and interesting than Laurie Metcalf as Danny's knocked-up girlfriend (using a bad accent of some kind), whose bland romantic melodrama should've been left on the cutting room floor...Meanwhile, Bill Murray, despite the overall popularity of his character, isn't at his best here, chasing a stuffed gopher that, getting around cooler and funnier than CGI, seems a nod to b-movies that can't afford any better... With his bottom lip hanging to pilot a contrived manner of speech, in place of his MEATBALLS (and future STRIPES and GHOSTBUSTERS) glib confidence, Murray's assistant groundskeeper, Carl, seeming part of an SNL skit stretched too long. Leaving ultimate fan-favorite Rodney Dangerfield as a condo developer who insults anyone within verbal/audible reach - the epitome of a scene-stealer... While we see Bushwood through the vulnerable young eyes of O'Keefe's Danny Noonan, it's Dangerfield's cocky Al Czervik who provides both the Roman Chorus and an unintentional narration, from start to finish, in a perfectly timed 97-minute ride.

This is not funny. This is nothing but hype. It is not a 7.4. I give it 4 out of 10 because it is not funny it is boring. The story line is awful. Do not know why this is so popular. Is it because Bill Murray is in it. He is a good actor. But this is not a good movie. A lot of the actors in it has talent. But this movie is a waste of there time. Do not wast your time. And do not wast your money. I can not believe that the same man who wrote Ghostbusters and the same man who directed Ghostbusters wrote and directed this crappy movie. Ghostbusters is a great film. And this is just crap. Do not this movie. This movie has seen were people think a chocolate bar is a piece of pooh. Because it this movie is pooh.

"Caddyshack" was Harold Ramis' first job in the director's chair, and it shows: the tension is slack, there is far too much improvisation, and there's a lack of focus both in narrative and theme. Caddyshack features fine performances from Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, and of course, the gopher. This motion picture is replete with sight gags and one-liners that to this day are repeated by aficionados of clever satire. As far as the improv goes, one gets the sense that Chase, Dangerfield, and even Murray just sort of steamrolled Ramis. I'm sure it was a fun set to be on perhaps too much fun.I can see that the jokes are mostly lame, the subplots are predictable and the acting rarely rises above the adequate. But I still can't help laughing like a drain whenever I watch it. You don't have to be a lowbrow to like this movie, and just because you think it's funny doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. Caddyshack and Animal House withstand the test of time as two of the funniest comedies ever made... and that stands for a lot! Overall rating: 6 out of 10.

CADDYSHACK is yet another movie that everyone else but me has seen until now (apparently). It's directed by Harold Ramis and features Bill Murray and Chevy Chase in their prime, along with Rodney Dangerfield. Why wouldn't it be good? Well, if 90 minutes of improvisation with little to no plot is your idea of good comedy (and considering comedies these days, there are a lot of people who feel that way), then you'll feel right at home. For me, there were a number of individually funny bits from each of the main cast members, but the unfocused, episodic nature of the story kept me from being invested too much in the goings-on at this snooty country club. The best running gag is one that everyone is probably familiar with: Bill Murray and the gopher. But it was only funny in and of itself, feeling mostly tangential to the story (or to justify Bill Murray's presence). There was the potential to do a satire on class conflict, but Rodney Dangerfield threw a wrench in that (most of his bits didn't work for me at all). Chevy Chase got to do some of his shtick as well, but overall it felt like all the cast members were just trying to show each other up instead of being a real ensemble cast. I will say that the soundtrack, heavily featuring Kenny Loggins, was quite good though. Ultimately, I did laugh a handful of times but the script and its execution left a lot to be desired.