Summary
Going Berserk is a 1983 American-Canadian comedy film starring John Candy, Joe Flaherty, and Eugene Levy and directed by David Steinberg.[1]
| Going Berserk | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | David Steinberg |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Claude Héroux |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Bobby Byrne |
| Edited by | Donn Cambern |
| Music by | Tom Scott |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Countries | United States Canada |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $234,950 |
Plot edit
John Bourgignon is an amiable chauffeur and would-be drummer who is engaged to the daughter Nancy, of an extremely disapproving United States congressman Ed Reese. As the wedding date approaches, John's sleazy film-director friend, Sal DiPasquale, blackmails the senator into allowing him to record the ceremony. John has assorted misadventures, including being handcuffed to a dead man, running afoul of a motorcycle gang, and getting brainwashed by an aerobics cult that wants him to assassinate the congressman. The conditioning goes awry, causing John to behave like "a schmuck" and nearly ruin his engagement, but a second attempt appears to have the desired effect. At the wedding ceremony, John reveals he resisted the conditioning; the cultists are arrested, John more or less saves the day, and more or less lives happily ever after.
Cast edit
- John Candy as John Bourgignon
- Joe Flaherty as Chick Leff, John's friend and limo company partner
- Eugene Levy as Sal DiPasquale, a sleazy wanna-be filmmaker
- Alley Mills as Nancy Reese, John's fiancee
- Pat Hingle as Congressman Ed Reese, Nancy's father
- Ann Bronston as Patti Reese, the youngest daughter, who is also brainwashed by the aerobics cult
- Eve Brent Ashe as Mrs. Reese, Nancy's mother
- Elizabeth Kerr as Grandmother Reese
- Richard Libertini as Reverend Sun Yi Day
- Dixie Carter as Angela, Sun Yi Day's assistant
- Kurtwood Smith as Clarence, one of Sun Yi Day's associates
- Ronald E. House as Bruno, one of Sun Yi Day's associates
- Ernie Hudson as Muhammed Jerome Willy
- Frantz Turner as Wallace Jefferson, a friend of Muhammed Jerome Willy
- Gloria Gifford as Francine, Muhammed Jerome Willy's girlfriend
- Brenda Currin as Sal's Secretary
- Paul Dooley as Dr. Ted, a psychologist that Chick knows
- Julius Harris as The Judge
- Murphy Dunne as Public Defender
- Bill Saluga as Skipper / Kung Fu Leader
- Kathy Bendett as Shirley, the news reporter
- Dan Barrows as Minister
- Elinor Donahue as Margaret Anderson
Reception edit
The New York Times review stated, "John Candy is easily the funniest thing in Going Berserk, an affably stupid comedy that's saddled with too much plot and that hasn't nearly enough energy to go with it."[2] Vulture Hound wrote, "Going Berserk co-written by Dana Olsen misses the mark with its bare minimum of plot to get us from scene to scene that reference films/tv shows you’d rather being watching than this movie."[3]
References edit
- ^ "Going Berserk". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 29, 1983). "JOHN CANDY IN 'BERSERK'" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Going Berserk for Candy - Going Berserk (DVD Review)". June 9, 2016.
External links edit
- Going Berserk at IMDb
- Going Berserk at Rotten Tomatoes
