"I am still amazed at the number of people who haven't seen this movie! Mr. Stewart even narrates, here and there, throughout the story, this wonderful tale of his summer vacation with his family at a rented beach house, along with the family maid. There is a running gag throughout the picture about the plumbing and the maid misunderstands the English language, and Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs try very hard to understand their adorable teen-age daughter (Lauri Peters) who falls in love with an adorable boy (played by none other than Fabian!), who shows up at the local dance and then there's a son who prefers to watch westerns on TV all day and night. There's a sexpot neighbor that lives in a nearby beach house who attempts to read War and Peace, and later the Hobb's daughters show up with the misbehaving grandchildren and want nothing to do with "Boompa", otherwise known as Mr.Hobbs! Don't miss the scene when Jimmy Stewart bird-watches with his son-in-in-law's boss and learns "the proper walk". The chemistry between Maureen O'Hara and James Stewart is so wonderful, it's no wonder they were so successful in several films together! She is so convincing as the jealous wife, especially when Jimmy innocently tries to help his son-in-law's boss's wife (Marie Wilson) while she is in the shower and runs into trouble........don't miss it, you'll laugh all the way through this marvelous movie. Let's hope Twentieth Century Fox soon gives us a widescreen DVD version with extras, like an interview with Maureen O'Hara & Lauri Peters!"
Good medicine.
Margaret Bauer | Hoodsport, Washington United States | 08/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have seen this movie about ten times. Recently I recommended it to a friend who is going through a depression. It is guaranteed to bring one out of any doldrums. Why? Because it is soooo very
funny!Scene after scene did in my funny bones. I laughed until my tummy ached. Marvelous are Stewart and O'Hara, but Marie Wilson(Remember "My Friend, Irma") and John McGiver are more than marvelous in their roles. They play a couple of 'supposed to be' tea totlers who are guests in the seaside, summer house rented by Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs played by Stewart and O'Hara. Wilson's steamy shower scene and McGiver's lessons in birdwatching are just about the funniest I have seen on screen in almost sixty years. I place this film with great comedies such as: "The Egg and I." and "As Good As It Gets" "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" IS as good as it ever gets."
A couple of old smoothies on the loose
hardly_b | Palo Alto, CA USA | 07/05/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I really like this movie. Stewart is perfectly cast, and his voice-overs masterful in providing the ironic commentary on the events as they unfold. The scenes between O'Hara and Stewart are flawless ("What did you tell him I had? Dementia Praecox?") -- you don't get to see sophisticated, funny, and warmly affectionate parents in movies lately, and watching them together is a pleasure. Not only are they real pros, but they are obviously having fun together. I just wish that we could have seem more of them as couple, and a lot less of the teenagers. If you liked the movie you might enjoy the book, too. The tone is similar, but lots of details are different, and I found the humor a bit understated and the protagonist less likable than Stewart's character."
Very funny movie.
hardly_b | 05/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an enjoyable movie, with some very funny scenes and lines. One of my favorite lines takes place in the scene when Jimmy Stewart's shy daughter is at a dance, being the wallflower, and none of the boys ask her to dance. He asks Fabian to ask his daughter to dance (for a $5.00 fee). While they are dancing, Maureen O'Hara (his wife in the movie) asks "How did you find that boy?" and Jimmy Stewart answers "I yelled out 'Joe' to a group of boys. There is always at least one Joe in a group!""
Father Knows Best
John A Lee III | San Antonio, TX | 11/15/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Most everyone will have memories of a vacation gone wrong. Usually, looking back with hindsight, we can see humorous events in the experience. Thankfully, in this film, we get to laugh at someone else's problems. The situations are tame by today's standards but that doesn't mean that they do not still work. They work mainly because Jimmy Stewart and Maureen O'Hara make them work.
The family is from St. Louis. They have two married daughters, a teenage daughter and a preteen son. Mom decides that instead of a romatic getaway vacation, they will rent a coast house in California and have a family reunion. Anyone who has ever had a vacation or a family can see trouble brewing.
Non of the problems is insoluble or even uncommon. The son spends too much time in front of the TV. The younger daughter has braces and is insecure. What's worse is that she becomes popular with the boys (after an initial bribe from Dad). One of the older daughters is married to a guy out of work and the other one is married to a pretentious would be philanderer. The neighbor is a goldigger and the plubming is in really bad shape. Its lots of fun and it is kind. That is something all too lacking in many modern films.