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The Worst Film Ever

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this John Candy film minus-zero. It is a terrible movie. I have always been a John Candy fan, but this script sounds like it was written by a high school student who flunked English and drama, not to mention comedy. The plot is ridiculous, the script has no meaning, and I wish Candy had never made it. A comedy should have some logic to it, even if the logic is thin, but this script doesn't come close to making the grade. I have reviewed over 500 movies for magazines and newspapers, and 'Who's Harry Crumb?' ranks near the top of the list with such losers as 'Spies Like Us' and 'Assault on Paradise'. It doesn't come near the comedy that Candy generated in 'Uncle Buck,' 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' and 'The Big Outdoors.' Don't waste your time watching this dud.

"Who's Harry Crumb?" is a title I have now been familiar with for a few years, and I original came across that title simply due to John Candy's starring role in the film. I was only 7½ years old when that renowned comedian passed away, and I never heard his name until probably several years later. It wasn't until over a decade after his premature death when I finally discovered how talented he was by seeing episodes of "SCTV" and the 1987 John Hughes film, "Planes, Trains & Automobiles". However, I was obviously in no hurry to see "Who's Harry Crumb?" since it's been probably about five years since I first heard of it and I've finally just seen it for the first time. This is not one of Candy's more popular movies, and unsurprisingly not one that I like.Jennifer Downing is the daughter of a millionaire named P.J. Downing, and one day, during a mud massage at a health spa, she is kidnapped! When P.J. seeks help from the Crumb & Crumb detective agency, Eliot Draisen, the president of this agency, puts Harry Crumb on the case. Harry comes from a long family line of skilled detectives, but unfortunately, he hasn't inherited the skills of his predecessors. Although this man means well, he is actually a very clumsy and incompetent detective, and there's a good chance he will louse up this mission! He begins his investigation not knowing that the reason why Eliot put him on the case is because the president of Crumb & Crumb is secretly behind this kidnapping of the young heiress, so he actually wants the investigation to fail! Eliot is well aware of Harry's incompetence, and feels that with him on the case, there's no chance that the mission will be a successful one! In this 1989 crime comedy, John Candy plays a kind of character he was very well known to play, a clumsy but well-meaning and kind-hearted one. He sure was good at this role, but didn't always play it in good movies. This film is unfortunately one of the unfunny ones he starred in. Near the beginning, the part where Harry crashes through the window of an arguing couple made me laugh a little, and what is perhaps the funniest part takes place very shortly after that, when the incompetent detective accuses a woman named Mrs. MacIntyre of having an affair with her own husband! However, I don't think I laughed at all after that, apart from one scene much later in the film, and even that laugh was small. The vast majority of "Who's Harry Crumb?" didn't even make me smile. There's a lot of slapstick here, but it's generally cheap slapstick, and there are also some fairly poor quality lines, such as the really corny "cherry Coke" one. In addition to being unfunny, this movie is also usually quite boring."Planes, Trains & Automobiles" is an excellent comedy and definitely the best film I've ever seen John Candy in. "Uncle Buck" is another John Hughes film starring Candy, and I found that one to be pretty good when I saw it for the first time last year. "Who's Harry Crumb?" came out the same year as "Uncle Buck", but sadly, it's significantly weaker. Although Candy basically plays the same kind of character here as he does in the two Hughes comedies I've mentioned, and the late comedian's talent was a big help in both of those, he couldn't save this film. Even if you have found Candy hilarious in certain other works, which I would say I have, you could still easily be disappointed by this particular comedy which he starred in. Many viewers may disagree with my comments on this crime comedy, but I still think it's a mediocre effort, and don't think I will ever really care who Harry Crumb is.

I love (John Candy). However I hate seeing him in something less than his capacities. This movie is one. It seems like they did it in 2 weeks. The plot is simple with one kidnapping, and the comedy is even simpler with farce along the talking scenes, and little clowning sequences as well. (Candy) suffers from being in his fattest conditions. The many disguises of him weren't close to funny. Some of the jokes were pure pathetic. And save the first sequence, the action comedy didn't dazzle or make laughs.Nevertheless, it's watchable and light. (Shawnee Smith) is so cute as the she-sidekick. Although (Smith) went later to TV, establishing herself successfully as the "dumb beautiful girl", but I feel sad that she missed the opportunity of doing other lead roles in more comedy movies or even rom-coms. The supporting roles are played by good actors. I adore the soundtrack; having a true piece of the 80s's best soft music and songs (the intro music is on the top). The pace moves nicely without any slacking along the way. In fact, the feel of slacking comes from your feeling that you have seen all of that before and maybe better.After (Trail of the Pink Panther – 1982), then (Curse of the Pink Panther – 1983), the series stopped due to (Peter Sellers)'s death, added to the outrageous flop that (Curse..) was, with the new Panther (Ted Wass). So in the 10 years gab between (Curse..) and the late sequel (Son of the Pink Panther – 1993), the dumb detective's role was used once more and filled this time by (John Candy). If you asked yourself how would it be if (Insp. Clouseau) became a private eye, working under the authority of decayed (Chief Insp. Dreyfus) ? (Who's Harry Crumb) is a good answer. As a comedy, it lacks the human touch that distinguished other Candy's works like (Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck,..). And even as a farcical cartoon, it's pretty old stuff. Anyway, to judge fairly; this is funny time. But not so funny !

I just saw this film on local TV Sunday Night,June 17th. I had heard of this film for a long time but never had the chance to see it. Being a late 1980s comedy,I was sure it would be crummy.The movie started out kind of slow for me,I felt it took too long to demonstrate that the bolts of Harry's brain are missing a nut or two. A few of the gags didn't work for me as well but then,thankfully the ball got rolling and so did I! Those having seen this know that Harry's has been hired to fail in the solving of a kidnapped young heiress case,because of his incompetence. Those behind it are the very people who did hire him. I think the first really funny thing Harry said that let me know this would be good after all was,"If we can find the crazy typewriter that made this ransom note,we'll have our man!" Referring to the pieced together note from magazine letters. Talk about a cuckoo lose in your clockwork!Harry also manages to get his tie caught in a paper shredder,go flying through his employer's office on a runaway exercise bike,goes flying through an air vent system of a hotel dressed as an Arabic air-conditioner repairman.He's assisted by the sister of the heiress,played by then teen Shawnee Smith,who went on to play Linda the receptionist,on Ted Danson's CBS comedy "Becker". She likes Harry but knows he really doesn't have a real idea of what he's doing. She doesn't hurt him by saying so,despite how he talks like a man whose watched to many TV detective shows. She doesn't want to see him fail and look more foolish than he does.Annie Potts is great as the mother of the heiress,who could care less if her daughter lives or dies and is a wonderful villainous "B". (If you get my meaning. The male players are nit-wits also but only because they foul things up for themselves by both being attracted to Potts. (She looks fantastic in this by the way).In his own befuddled way,Harry comes out victorious in solving the case,rent-borrow or buy he movie and find out how all the little crumbs lead Harry to bread. 8 out of 10,two off for the slow start and jokes that didn't work. Otherwise,"Harry" was hilarious. (END)