Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Good cast can't help lame man vs. nature farce.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Great Outdoors
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a hilarious comedy filled with classic humor and memorable moments, particularly driven by John Candy's performance, but it contains a significant amount of strong language and suggestive material that might not be suitable for younger audiences. While some viewers find it a heartwarming depiction of family and camping, others criticize it for lacking the same charm and relatability as other works by the same creators.
- comedy appeal
- strong language
- family themes
- suggestive material
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
The Ripleys set off on an idyllic family vacation in the Midwest woods. Their plans for bonding with each other and communing with nature are immediately halted by the arrival of the Craigs, their rich in-laws who are disdainful of the beautiful outdoors and, in the case of Mr. Craig, have an ulterior motive for the surprise visit. What follows is a series of mishaps and misadventures as the wholesome Ripleys conflict with the materialistic, clueless Craigs. The entire group faces multiple mini-catastrophes, including angry bears, runaway power boats, leeches, lost kids, wise-cracking raccoons, a slapdash teen romance, and mounting family dissension.
Is It Any Good?
This movie has little character development, even less resolution, and an almost non-existent plot. THE GREAT OUTDOORS is basically a series of skits and would-be comic confrontations between American middle class values, represented by Chet and Connie Ripley (John Candy and Stephanie Faracy trying very hard to make the most of ridiculous situations and dialogue) and the arrogance of the rich, as portrayed by the Craigs (Dan Aykroyd, almost manic in his efforts to find some humor, and Annette Bening, who mugs a lot in an early career misfire). Unfortunately, the skits go nowhere; they just end so that the viewer can move on to the next chaotic event. The subtitled dialogue of marauding raccoons between scenes is the only glue that holds this mostly unfunny effort scripted by the usually talented John Hughes together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie is like a cartoon even though it's a live-action movie made with real people. What are some of the elements you expect in animation that the filmmakers have used here?
Why do you think the movie chose to exaggerate and change authentic bear behavior? How do real bears differ from those seen in this film?
Does anyone get hurt in this movie? Are there things that happen here that would usually hurt and/or injure a real human being?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 17, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : July 1, 1998
- Cast : Annette Bening , Dan Aykroyd , John Candy
- Director : Howard Deutch
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 5, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate