Rating: 
Summary: Great Chevy Chase moments
Review: "Funny Farm" is a harmless comedy from Chevy Chase's prime that is easy to watch and like. For me it's had a longevity, and I tend to throw in the DVD a few times a month to run in the background while I'm working. It's the story of Andy Farmer, a sportswriter turned novelist, who moves to the New England countryside with his wife Elizabeth to write the great American novel. The little town they choose is called Redbud, a seemingly quaint Northeastern village. At first glance, everything is beyond perfect. The house and property are spectacular, enough to make any viewer of the film want to pack up their typewriters and move immediately. But slowly the dream crumbles. The movers get lost, the mailman is a psychopathic drunk, a corpse is discovered in the garden, they have no phone to call the police, Andy makes some enemies from the locals, the writing is laboriously slow, and his dog runs away. The Farmers discover they aren't quite suited for country life, despite their valiant efforts to embrace it. This fact reaches its apex when, in a very funny scene, Andy sets the record for the most "lambfries" consumed in one setting at the local diner. Only after breaking the record does he find out they are actually sautéed sheep testicles. This is the start of a long night for Andy, who, in taking his wife out for a romantic night at Sid's Hideaway Bungalows, presents her with the first few chapters of his novel, insisting she read it right then and there. This whole sequence is classic for any writer, since we've all been there. Andy watches his wife read the first page and, when she doesn't crack even a smile, he feels the need to point out the funny parts that she should've laughed at. He reluctantly leaves her alone to finish it and goes out for wine. Her response upon completion? Tears. She goes on to describe in painful detail why the story (which they've pinned their hopes and dreams on) is an utter disaster. Her diatribe ends with a suggestion to burn it, which he does in a retaliatory fury. To make things worse, Elizabeth has written a children's book behind Andy's back, which has been accepted for publication. The story? A squirrel from the city ends up in the country and completely out of his element, everything he tries to do turning to disaster. The squirrel's name? Andy. This only adds insult to injury and drives a wedge between them. Andy sinks into depression, and the last straw for Elizabeth is when Andy gives a copy of her manuscript to his publisher, passing it off as his own work (since he hasn't written a thing since the script-burning incident). She leaves him. Up to this point the movie is pretty good. It has funny moments (if you like Chevy Chase, which I do), good characters, unique story ideas, etc. And then it just derails into that generi-comedy that suffocated many films in this era (like "Real Genius" and "Weird Science" for example, funny films that just exploded into some alternate universe in act 3). Instead of getting a divorce, which will take months to finalize, they decide to ask the citizens of Redbud to emulate Norman Rockwell paintings of "normal" small-town life so that when prospective buyers of their house come to town, they will be so impressed with Redbud they will just have to buy it. In return for this, Andy and Elizabeth will give the town $10,000 plus $50 to each person witnessed doing an act of "Rockwellian" normalcy. What? How does this even remotely fit in to the rest of the story? First of all, it doesn't do anything for the problem of the divorce or the time frame involved to get it done. Second, they did nothing to establish that there would be any problems whatsoever in selling the house, even without the help of the Redbud townspeople. Lastly, it was completely unnecessary and unbelievable. They simply would've moved back to the city, gotten real attorneys and had their divorce finalized within weeks. End of story. The house would've been sold when it sold, the money divided up in the settlement, whatever. It just didn't make any sense, in reality or in the context of the film. Even within this bizarre plot twist, however, there are still plenty of funny moments, and eventually we are led to the happy ending. Apparently the façade the Redbudians put on is so good it fools even Andy and Elizabeth back into buying the dream they had abandoned. They decide to stay married and keep the house. Andy gives up his dream of writing a novel and takes a job as a local sportswriter. The end. Another significant point to mention is the unique structure to the film. Well, that was kind. I suppose other critics might say *lack* of structure to the film, but either way it's unconventional. There really isn't a major act turning point until over an hour into the movie (not counting his uprooting from the city - this would normally occur fifteen to twenty-five minutes into a film), then the Redbud deal finally brings us into the next act, and act 3 is just a couple of minutes of voice-over by Andy. The structure is there, just unusual, and I think it's what makes the movie stand out more than the average 90s comedy. One more thing. Chevy relies heavily on his patented comedy and you really can't distinguish a difference between Andy Farmer and Clark Griswold. He even uses some of the same lines ("A hundred years ago the settlers didn't need electricity or phones..."). True, this is a problem, but for those of us that love Clark Griswold it's easily bearable. Lastly, I'll mention the DVD is completely impoverished. There are literally no special features to be heard of. I think you're safe to buy this though; although a fun little movie that's comfortable like an old pair of jeans, I don't really expect to see a special edition of "Funny Farm" coming out anytime soon.
see a special edition of "Funny Farm" coming out anytime soon.
Rating: 
Summary: An amusing comedy movie
Review: "Funny Farm" is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Andy Farmer (Chevy Chase) and Elizabeth Farmer (Madolyn Smith) want to find a place to live in the country, away from all the noises and hassles of the city. But they never thought that the country could bring some of the problems that it does. It's a nice place in the country with a pond, a nice house, and a good view. But before they know it, they're dealing with snakes, a mysterious mailman, a coffin in the backyard, and much more. "Funny Farm" has a lot of funny parts such as when Chevy Chase thinks he caught a fish from their backyard pond, but finds out it's a snake and it chases him all the way to the house. The movie isn't only a good comedy movie, it also has some other elements such as drama mixed in, and you'll see that when Andy and Elizabeth nearly split up. If you like good comedy movies, and especially if you like Chevy Chase movies, you'll probably like "Funny Farm." I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: An amusing comedy movie
Review: "Funny Farm" is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Andy Farmer (Chevy Chase) and Elizabeth Farmer (Madolyn Smith) want to find a place to live in the country, away from all the noises and hassles of the city. But they never thought that the country could bring some of the problems that it does. It's a nice place in the country with a pond, a nice house, and a good view. But before they know it, they're dealing with snakes, a mysterious mailman, a coffin in the backyard, and much more. "Funny Farm" has a lot of funny parts such as when Chevy Chase thinks he caught a fish from their backyard pond, but finds out it's a snake and it chases him all the way to the house. The movie isn't only a good comedy movie, it also has some other elements such as drama mixed in, and you'll see that when Andy and Elizabeth nearly split up. If you like good comedy movies, and especially if you like Chevy Chase movies, you'll probably like "Funny Farm." I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite movie's from Chevy Chase
Review: "Funny farm" is one of my favorite comedies from Chevy.The lamb fries part is a classic.You really have to see this film more than once to enjoy it.In a recent interview,Chevy Chase said "Funny Farm" was one of his best films.
Rating:
Summary: Underrated! For those who despise Chevy Chase films!
Review: A very funny film for those who don't like sophmoric Chevy Chase films. Well written and directed. Why isn't this DVD WIDESCREEN???
Rating: 
Summary: The only accurate word in the title is Farm
Review: As in it took place on a farm, and was so crappy it could be used as fertilizer on a farm. If you accidentally pick this movie up at a rental store, wash your hands ASAP. If you are forced to watch it for any reason, just remember who did it to you on that list of grievances you keep. If you can make it through without projectile vomiting, you are a better man than I.
Rating:
Summary: Sarah Michelle Gellar?
Review: Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith bring lots of laughter into this film, its very funny and entertaining but why was there so little of Sarah Michelle Gellar is the film, the film is one her filmography and box office data but we hardly see her, she simply wasn't there, a big disappoinment but the movie still deserves a 4/5.
Rating:
Summary: A loud comedy in a quiet setting
Review: Chevy Chase is wonderful as man trying to find a little piece and quiet in the country when all he get it's torture and kaos. The best parts of this film is the wacky mailman and the moving men who try shamelessly to find the Chevy's new house.
Rating:
Summary: Bad title, good film
Review: Didn't the producers know that comedies with the word "funny" in the title often don't do well at the box office? Add to that a horrible print campaign (Chevy Chase with a cracked egg on his face), and it's not hard to see why this movie bombed. And that's too bad, because I think this is one of Chevy Chase's best movies. This is a classic "fish out of water" movie, with the twist being that it's not the fish that's bad, it's the water. Chase and his wife try to escape the crazy life of the city by moving to the country, only to find that life on the farm is not all it's cracked up to be. Think Norman Rockwell after smoking five joints! The tone of this movie is more laid back than the Vacation series and other Chase movies, but easily finds its own pace. Probably the last really funny movie that Chevy Chase made.
Rating:
Summary: Bad title, good film
Review: Didn't the producers know that comedies with the word "funny" in the title often don't do well at the box office? Add to that a horrible print campaign (Chevy Chase with a cracked egg on his face), and it's not hard to see why this movie bombed. And that's too bad, because I think this is one of Chevy Chase's best movies. This is a classic "fish out of water" movie, with the twist being that it's not the fish that's bad, it's the water. Chase and his wife try to escape the crazy life of the city by moving to the country, only to find that life on the farm is not all it's cracked up to be. Think Norman Rockwell after smoking five joints! The tone of this movie is more laid back than the Vacation series and other Chase movies, but easily finds its own pace. Probably the last really funny movie that Chevy Chase made.
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