The Great Outdoors 4K UHD Review

One in a pattern of ‘80s comedies that cast named comedians and let them run through a plot-less movie (Caddyshack, Meatballs), The Great Outdoors utilizes John Candy’s charms for all their worth. He’s the soul of The Great Outdoors, playing to type as he often did, and against an exaggerated, even obnoxious Dan Aykroyd.

John Hughes wrote The Great Outdoors but didn’t direct it, likely why the film often feels aimless in its characterization. Aykroyd’s smarmy, wealthy buddy character exudes 1980s financial gluttony to an extreme. The role, originally written for Chevy Chase, isn’t a great fit for Aykroyd no matter how hard he tries – and try hard he does. Candy only needs to be himself.

Great Outdoors, until the final 20-minutes or so, is a fun family getaway movie, even if the antics feel directionless. Candy inadvertently water skiing is a great gag. The two stars battling a bat indoors is a laugh riot too. All of the gags are, actually, even if Great Outdoors mindlessly stitches them together in a way that wouldn’t make a difference what order they’re in. A few lines of dialog about how many days are left in the trip and nighttimes in bedrooms are the only indicator of time passing.

When Great Outdoors does find its plot, it’s too late and feels awkwardly abrupt. Suddenly, there’s a financial crime, and kids go missing in a thunderstorm, giving Aykroyd’s Roman Craig a chance to be a father. Then comes the bear, blatantly foreshadowed earlier, to give Great Outdoors some action for its closing chapter.

Candy would star in Uncle Buck a year later, and that was written AND directed by John Hughes. The difference is notable in how Uncle Buck depicts the aggravating charm of suburban life. Great Outdoors is louder, screaming for laughs rather than letting them happen, trying to hide the lack of actual storytelling behind the dueling leads. Mostly, it works, but the seams show. Candy and Aykroyd struggle to meet each other in the middle, as if playing in two different movies all together. It’s a fine team-up of big comedic names, a definite box office draw, but one wonders the outcome with Hughes behind the camera, or a more reserved performance alongside Candy’s.

Kino’s new 4K scan looks gorgeous. With a pinpoint-precise grain structure, the film stock’s sharpness pops out. Definition soars, well defined in close or from the countless views of the surrounding forests. Facial detail is stellar within a print that is near spotless.

Saturation brings dense blues, rich greenery, and other bold primaries. Color isn’t stand out impressive, but it’s gorgeously natural. Flesh tones appear pure.

Dressed in Dolby Vision, lights have a small uptick in intensity. Flames and exterior cabin lights are visibly heftier than the Blu-ray (especially against the rock solid black levels), although it’s not a notable update. The carnival, for instance, with all of its lights, barely registers brightness. Great Outdoors is comfortable in its contrast.

Unremarkable yet clear, the DTS-HD 2.0 mono track sounds pristine. Great Outdoors hasn’t audibly aged a day. Dialog has a crispness and the score is rich. There’s even a bit of range from the music and boat engines, offering something for the subwoofer to do.

Director Howard Deutch is joined by moderator Douglas Hosdale for a commentary. Podcaster Joe Ramoni comes in for the second track, and there’s a third with historians Paul Anthony Nelson and Lee Zachariah. Finally, there’s a trailer.