Awfully Good Movies: Nothing But Trouble

May 28th 2020, 10:15am

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Nothing But Trouble (1991)

DIRECTOR: Dan Aykroyd CAST: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Demi Moore

The Awfully 90s Summer rolls on as Awfully Good Movies revisits one of the most infamous film debacles of the decade that also serves as one of its most endearing cult classics: Dan Aykroyd's 1991 directorial debut/finale NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! After dominating the 1980s by co-writing and starring in such hits as THE BLUES BROTHERS and GHOSTBUSTERS, the Canadian comedian decided to finally step behind the director's chair after Dan and his brother Peter wrote the script for a most unusual hybrid of horror and comedy that Aykroyd described as a hybrid of BEETLEJUICE and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, with both John Hughes and John Landis refusing to reunite with Aykroyd on the project. It certainly helped Aykroyd that he was able to attract plenty of star power to his directorial debut, with his SNL co-star Chevy Chase starring as a big shot financial advisor alongside Demi Moore as a lawyer who convinces Chase to drive her to Atlantic City to confront her ex-fiancee, and Aykroyd's GREAT OUTDOORS co-star John Candy as a cop in the decaying mining town of Valkenvania who pulls over Chevy and Demi for speeding and turns them into the local Justice of the Peace–a demented 106 year old man who isn't planning on letting these snooty yuppies leave his courthouse alive, as played under heavy makeup by Aykroyd himself. But when Aykroyd's movie finally hit theaters after a change in title, several changes in its release date, and numerous edits made to reach a PG-13 rating, NOTHING BUT TROUBLE proved to be an unfortunately fitting title for a film that was largely ignored by audiences and deemed by many critics as one of the worst films of the year. And when you walk into this movie with fresh eyes, you can understand why it left audiences and critics bamboozled, as Aykroyd and Candy also play dual roles as two of the Judge's misfit grandchildren–with Aykroyd dressed up as an adult-sized mutant baby and Candy dressed up in drag–and the Judge joining his captive prisoners for a dinner of hot dogs and Hawaiian Punch that would make even the Leatherface family want to excuse themselves from the table. And don't forget the musical cameo from Digital Underground alongside their newest member at the time, Tupac Shakur–wonder whatever happened to that kid. But if you're one of the many who grew up on NOTHING BUT TROUBLE as a young fan of Aykroyd, Chase or Candy, you've probably come to appreciate the film's truly unique brand of comedic insanity that was unlike most other movie comedies of the 90s, and whether you find the movie funny or fowl, you have to applaud Mr. Aykroyd for making this truly unusual reflection of his comedic id on a major studio's dime. Now give us that original R-rated cut already, Warner Bros, or else you'll have a date with Mister Bonestripper.