FUNNY FARM. Directed by George Roy Hill; written by Jeffrey Boam; produced by Robert L. Crawford for Warner Bros. Starring Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith. Rated PG (a little vulgar language).
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There aren't too many funny lines in Funny Farm, but it's full of laughs.
Most of them come from expertly timed, exquisitely photographed and well-acted sight gags. The pure artistry of these comic gems actually calls a bit too much attention to itself. And the separate parts of the movie don't hang together as well as one might wish. But fans of comedy in general, and especially fans of Chase, won't want to miss this one.
In a way that's hard to define, Chase's style is a bit different in Funny Farm than in his previous efforts. It's a bit more subdued, though nonetheless funny. A bit less crazy, but more realistic.
His trademark goofy grin that one sees in the newspaper ads for Funny Farm is actually missing from the movie. In its place is the look more of a normal person caught up, largely through his own weaknesses, to be sure, in funny situations.
The basic fish-out-of-water situation of Funny Farm is perfect for Chase's style of comedy. He has the funniest case of writers' block since Billy Crystal's in Throw Momma from the Train, and has ample opportunities to show off his slapstick expertise.
Chase's co-star deserves a lot of the credit for Funny Farm's success as well. Smith is intelligent, attractive and funny in her own right.
June 15, 1988