Nothing but Trouble (1991 film)
Nothing but Trouble | |
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Directed by | Dan Aykroyd |
Screenplay by | Dan Aykroyd |
Story by | Peter Aykroyd |
Produced by | Robert K. Weiss |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Dean Cundey |
Edited by |
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Music by | Michael Kamen |
Production company | Applied Action |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $45 million[1] |
Box office | $8.4 million[2] |
Nothing but Trouble is a 1991 American comedy horror[3] film written and directed by Dan Aykroyd in his directorial debut, based on a story by his brother Peter, and starring Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd (in a dual role), John Candy (in a dual role), and Demi Moore. It tells the story of two yuppies and the clients of one of them who are taken to court for running a stop sign in the bizarre, financially bankrupt small town of Valkenvania, which is dominated by a 106-year-old judge. Tupac Shakur made his acting debut, as a member of the rap group Digital Underground.
Production commenced in 1990 under the title Git, which was changed in production to Valkenvania. Subsequently, prior to release, Warner Bros. changed the title to Nothing but Trouble; in a press statement released in December 1990, Aykroyd said that he preferred the Valkenvania title.
Upon release, the film was largely panned, with criticism directed at its humor, screenplay, tone and direction. The tone was compared by critics to films such as
Plot
While hosting a party in his
Chris takes a detour off of the New Jersey Turnpike, ultimately ending up in the run-down village of Valkenvania. After running a stop sign and subsequently attempting to escape pursuing chief of police Dennis Valkenheiser, the group is captured and taken before his 106-year-old grandfather, Judge Alvin Valkenheiser. After Chris offends Alvin, the yuppies are locked in a hidden room under the courthouse to be judged the next day, and they overhear Alvin violently executing a group of convicted drug dealers in a deadly roller coaster nicknamed "Mr. Bonestripper".
Chris, Diane, and the Brazilians attend Alvin's dinner, learning that Alvin is holding them there as retribution for a coal deal which the Valkenheiser family blames for their poverty as Chris keeps correcting him that he's a financial publisher and not a banker. The group attempts an escape, but Alvin's granddaughter Eldona captures Chris and Diane. After being chased by Dennis' cousin Miss Purdah, the Brazilians escape by cutting a deal with Dennis, who decides to escape with them.
Alvin holds Chris and Diane hostage, but they eventually escape, get lost through hidden hallways and slides and become separated. Escaping into the property's salvage yard, Diane meets and befriends Alvin's severely deformed grandchildren Bobo and Lil' Debbull who are barred from living in the house. However, she also notices Eldona destroying Chris's BMW 733i. Alvin catches Chris sneaking into his personal quarters and punishes him per house policy, which decrees that Chris must marry Eldona.
Meanwhile in the court room, Digital Underground is being held on charges of speeding. Alvin releases them after being charmed by an impromptu rap performance. He also asks them to stay as witnesses for the wedding, which Chris reluctantly goes through with in exchange for his life, but is later caught pleading with the band to help him escape. The band leaves without understanding him, and Alvin furiously sentences Chris to die in "Mr. Bonestripper". The machine breaks down just before Chris is fed into it, and he escapes. Alvin nearly kills Diane with another claw contraption known as the Gradertine, but Chris retrieves her at the last second and the two jump on a freight train back to New York.
After the two report their plight to the authorities, local and state police raid Alvin's courthouse. Chris and Diane are asked to accompany the FBI agents to Valkenvania only to find out that the state troopers involved are fully aware of and allied with Alvin since they dump some of their captive lawbreakers on him. The couple escapes when the area's underground coal fires cause a colossal earthquake, fatally destroying Valkenvania.
In Brazil, Dennis becomes Fausto and Renalda's head of security as he vows that nobody will harm them on his watch.
Back in New York, Diane wakes Chris from a daymare as the news broadcast of the Valkenvania disaster is shown where there is oil everywhere. In a twist-ending, Chris sees Alvin on a news broadcast rummaging through the debris where he states to the reporter that he and his family survived. While brandishing Chris's driver's license, Alvin announcing to the reporter that he and his family plan to move in with his new grandson-in-law while vowing to see that "banker" soon. This causes Chris to comically flee for his life leaving a hole in the shape of him in the wall.
Cast
- Chevy Chase as Chris Thorne, a financial publisher
- Dan Aykroyd as:
- Alvin "J.P" Valkenheiser, the 106-year-old judge who rule Valkenvania.
- Bobo, the severely deformed grandson of Alvin who lives in Valkenvania's salvage yard.
- John Candy as
- Dennis Valkenheiser, the grandson of Alvin who is Valkenvania's chief of police that fails at trying to get his grandfather to fine the lawbreakers that enter Valkenvania and send them on their way.
- Eldona Valkenheiser, the mute granddaughter of Alvin and the sister of Dennis who is an expert mechanic.
- Demi Moore as Diane Lightson, a lawyer who Chris falls for.
- Valri Bromfield as Miss Purdah, the trigger-happy grandniece of Alvin and the cousin of Dennis and Eldona.
- Taylor Negron as Fausto Squiriniszu, a wealthy Brazilian.
- Bertila Damas as Renalda Squiriniszu, the sister of Fausto.
- Raymond J. Barry as FBI Agent Mark
- Brian Doyle-Murray as FBI Agent Brian
- John Wesley as Sam
- Daniel Baldwin as Dealer #1
- James Staszkiel as Dealer #2
- Deborah Lee Johnson as Dealer #1's girlfriend
- Karla Tamburrelli as Dealer #2's girlfriend
- John Daveikis as Lil' Debble, the severely deformed grandson of Alvin and brother of Bobo who lives in Valkenvania's salvage yard.
Peter Aykroyd makes a cameo early in the film as the doorman Mike. Dan and Peter's father P.H. Aykroyd and Dan's daughter Danielle Aykroyd appear as porch people alongside Richard Kruk, producer Robert K. Weiss, and Dan's father-in-law Earl Dixon. Rap group Digital Underground has a minor role.
Style and interpretation
Production
Development
The story was developed after a screening of the 1987 film . Weiss had a fractured rib and suggested the three attend a film to take his mind off his injury, but that it could not be a comedy because it hurt him to laugh, hence the choice of a horror film. Once the screening started and the three saw the audience laughing, Weiss suggested that they make a horror comedy together, since audiences wanted to laugh and be scared at the same time.
Peter Aykroyd related an event in which Dan had been pulled over for speeding in upstate New York and was taken to the justice of the peace to stand trial in what Dan referred to as a "kangaroo court", and after he was fined $50, the justice of the peace invited Dan to stay for tea, and he ended up staying there for four hours. It was suggested that a horror story be developed based on this event, and Aykroyd spent six months writing it as a screenplay titled Git, which was later changed to Road to Ruin; Dan Aykroyd described the script as "a monster movie", comparing it to Beetlejuice and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Much of the bizarre characters and events, such as the giant mutant babies, were based on a series of dreams Aykroyd was having, and he set the story in the fictional town of Valkenvania, which was based loosely on the town of Centralia, Pennsylvania.[1]
Aykroyd offered the script to John Hughes, who, while interested in the story, ultimately turned it down because he only directed his own scripts; Hughes received a special thanks credit. John Landis disliked the script and immediately turned it down.[1] The script caught the attention of Warner Bros., who wanted John Candy to costar. Aykroyd wanted to play the parts of Judge Valkenheiser and Chris Thorne, but the studio wanted Chevy Chase as Thorne, and Aykroyd agreed. With no director attached, Aykroyd said he would direct the film to secure the deal, even though he didn't want to.[1]
Aykroyd later agreed to play the giant adult baby Bobo as well, after no one else wanted to play the part, and found it stressful to play two parts in heavy makeup while simultaneously directing and producing.[1] Warner Bros. had faith in Aykroyd, and gave him a $40 million budget.[1][2] It ultimately went $5 million over, for a total of $45 million.[1]
Filming
Production commenced on May 7, 1990, in
The "Valkenheiser" mansion, Town Hall and other environments were constructed on two soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios; one of the set pieces, dubbed "Autohenge", was a garden constructed of scrap metal. Designer William Sandell was inspired by his previous experience as a kinetic sculptor.[11] The production designers acquired props and decorations from "every prop resource in town", as well as Aykroyd's personal collection.[11]
The Greystone Mansion in Los Angeles was used to shoot the scenes depicting Chris Thorne's New York City apartment. Exteriors were also shot in the Lehigh Valley, 60 miles North of Philadelphia; second-unit photography occurred in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York City.[11]
Music
The film score is composed by Michael Kamen.
Nothing but Trouble (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
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Singles from Nothing but Trouble | |
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [15] |
Nothing but Trouble (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released in 1991 through
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | " I Mean I Love You" (performed by Hank Williams Jr.) | ||
10. | "Valkenvania Suite" (performed by Michael Kamen) | Michael Kamen |
- Other songs
There are four additional songs that appeared in the film but were not released on the soundtrack album:
- "A Garden in the Rain" performed by Blue Barron
- "She's a Great, Great Girl" performed by Jack Teagarden
- "Wabash Cannonball" performed by Doc Watson
- "Helen Claire" performed by Michael Kamen
Release
In December 1990, Warner Bros. changed the film's title to Nothing but Trouble. On December 20, Dan Aykroyd stated in a press release that he would always think of the film as Valkenvania.[11] A promotional illustration by Boris Vallejo was commissioned in 1991.[16] The film's release was delayed to recut for a PG-13 rating, removing the film's over the top violence, and the studio rescheduled The Bonfire of the Vanities to the Christmas release date.[1]
The film was released on February 15, 1991.[11] It opened at #8 in 1,671 theaters, grossing $3,966,240 opening weekend. The site lists its total gross upon completed release as $8,479,793, with a 50.5% drop-off in its second week of release.[2]
Critical reception
Nothing but Trouble was panned by critics.
Lou Cedrone, writing for the
On
Accolades
In 1992, at the 12th Golden Raspberry Awards, Aykroyd received the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor.[33] It also took home Worst Picture at the 1991 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards.[34]
Response from cast and crew
Chase later expressed dislike for the film, saying he only accepted the role of Thorne because of his friendship with Aykroyd.
Bertila Damas, who plays Renalda, said she enjoyed working especially with Demi Moore and Taylor Negron, but had problems getting along with Chase, who has had a reputation for being difficult to work with.[35]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Exploring Nothing but Trouble - The Untold Story Behind Dan Aykroyd's Notorious Production. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c Nothing but Trouble at Box Office Mojo
- ^ a b c "Nothing But Trouble". ew.com. 1 March 1991. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Vibe". www.vibe.com. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "The Movie Stars Who Have Only Directed One Film". denofgeek.com. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ a b RAINER, PETER (18 February 1991). "MOVIE REVIEW : Aykroyd No Triple Threat in 'Trouble'". Retrieved 4 May 2018 – via LA Times.
- ^ a b "Screen full of comics can't make anything of 'Nothing but Trouble'". 19 February 1991.
- ^ a b "Comedy Isn't Worth The Trouble Of Buying A Ticket". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Rabin, Nathan. My Year of Flops. New York: AV Club., 2007
- ^ a b "'King Ralph,' 'Nothing But Trouble' Just For Laughs Aykroyd Effort Lacks Wit To Balance The Grossness". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "AFI-Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Starlog #161, December 1990, p. 9
- ^ "1991-03-05 / Music From The Motion Picture: Nothing But Trouble". 2PacLegacy.net. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ "1991-01-06 / Tupac's Debut in Digital Underground's "Same song" Video". 2PacLegacy.net. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-17.
- ^ McDonald, Steven. "Nothing But Trouble - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
- ISBN 9781599670898. Retrieved 4 May 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Hicks, Chris. "Film review: Nothing But Trouble". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (16 February 1991). "Review/Film; In a Dungeon for Speeders, Somewhere in New Jersey". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Pass The Bromo, Christmas' Worst Leftover Is Being Served". chicagotribune.com. 19 February 1991. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Hinson, Hal. "Nothing but Trouble (PG-13)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Nothing But Trouble". ew.com. 27 September 1991. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Nothing but Trouble". people.com. 4 March 1991. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Berry, Jo. "Nothing But Trouble". Empire. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Variety Staff (1 January 1991). "Nothing But Trouble". variety.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Nothing But Trouble". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Nothing but Trouble (1991) - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ "Siskel & Ebert Classics - 2/22/91 - Nothing but Trouble, Scenes from a Mall - YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "Nothing But Trouble (1991)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "NOTHING BUT TROUBLE (1991) D+". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
- ^ P, Ken (29 September 2003). "Featured Filmmaker: Dan Aykroyd". ign.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Matt Barone (June 16, 2013). "25 Underrated '90s ComediesNothing But Trouble (1991)". Complex. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ K Thor Jensen on December 17th. "10 '90s Comedies That Really Need Sequels". IFC.com. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Razzie's vote 'Hudson Hawk' year's worst film". upi.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Past Winners Database". The Envelope at LA Times. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ Fruchter, Rena. I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not. London: Virgin Books Ltd., 2007, p. 158.