Chris Farley and David Spade team up in Tommy Boy, a 1995 comedy about an incompetent, intellectually-challenged auto-parts heir who is forced to save the family business following his fathers untimely death. Utterly hilarious from beginning to end, its one of the best comedies of the 1990s and continues the long tradition of cult classic comedies that helped cement the careers of former Saturday Night Live cast members. The onscreen banter between Farley and Spade is unrivaled, making Farleys premature death all the more of a loss. Throughout Tommy Boy, Farleys unique brand of Belushi-like humor and good-natured demeanor make this comedic gem blossom into a masterpiece Tommy Boy follows the life of recent college graduate Tommy Callahan (Chris Farley). Picked up from the airport by Callahan Auto employee Richard Hayden (David Spade), Tommys father Big Tom (Brian Dennehy) announces a surprise engagement to his new girlfriend Beverly (Bo Derek). Beverly has a son of her own, Paul (Rob Lowe), who travels into town for his mothers wedding. Ecstatic to finally have a brother, Tommy takes Paul out on a personal tour of his hometown of Sandusky, Ohio where the idea of a wild night of fun consists of cow-tipping. Paul is anything but amused. On the day of the wedding, however, Big Tom suffers a heart attack, and without the big guy running the show, Callahans clients grow weary about doing business with the over-extended Callahan Auto Parts. With the Callahan bankers reneging on their promises to loan the company much needed capital, the board of directors considers selling out to Ray Zalinsky (Dan Aykroyd), a rival auto parts salesman who sells auto parts to the common man, because thats who he is and thats who he cares about! But selling shares means closing the current Sandusky manufacturing plants and putting hundreds of employees out of work. Intent on averting that outcome, Richard and Tommy decide to hit the road and sell Callahan auto parts face-to-face. However, when Tommy bungles a number of meetings and Richard comes across as arrogant, the two lose more orders than they gain. Meanwhile, Tommys love interest, ex-high school classmate and Callahan employee Michelle Brock (Julie Warner), uncovers a surprising truth about Beverly and her supposed son Paul. With the future of Callahan Auto and the town Sandusky hanging in the balance, its up to Tommy, Richard, and Michelle to put a stop to Beverly and Paul before they sell a majority of Callahan shares to the cold and calculating Ray Zalinsky... Directed by Peter Segal, producer of such hits as Anger Management (2003) and 50 First Dates (2004), Tommy Boy is one laugh after another. If you havent seen it, you really dont know what youre missing. Chris Farley and David Spade create the perfect comedy duo. Written by veteran TV writers Bonnie and Terry Turner, screenwriters for the 1992 phenomenon Waynes World, Tommy Boy is one of those rare comedies thats well-written and hilarious without being overly outlandish. Highly recommended |
