MovieChat Forums > Weekend at Bernie's (1989) Discussion > One of the most flawless films ever

One of the most flawless films ever

posted 21 years ago by billyray331
58 replies | jump to latest

I loved this film and truely do think it is the most perfect movie ever. But wait one second, I am not saying it is the greatest film or even close to being the greates. Not even close, but I do feel it is almost perfect, meaning with what they had it couldn't have been any better.

What I mean is this, all the charecters were introduced wonderfully and all played very well by all the actors. I find it hard for anyone to truely dislike any performance in this film as much as you might have hated it, the performances were all good, and soo much was learned from the charecters without saying much, simply by reactions we knew that One charecter was a wise guy and the other a conservative yuppie, but through simple conversations we know that essentially they are the same kind of guy looking for what they don't have in a world they can't win in.

I think that through development of likeable charecters quickly, a story line that hardly goes askew and is paced very well, plus the overall cleverness of the whole thing really is something that should studied by film students. Not for the films plot, I know it's a one joke film, but the fact they keep one joke going for about 100 minuets and do it well, not great but well, something has to have been done correctly, and all should stusy this wonderful picture.

[–] Divtal-1 19 years ago

I was well into adulthood when I saw the previews of WAB. I guess that I'm a real snob...I sneaked off to see it, and didn't tell anyone for a long time.

As a rule, I'm ho-hum about sight gags and slapstick. But, I loved this movie!

Sometime after seeing (and renting) it, I heard an interview with the late Steve Allen. This man, who was a TV comedy pioneer and the author of several books on the subject of comedy, touted it as one of the top laugh-makers that he had seen.

Maybe I'm still a snob -- but I'm no longer shy about saying how much I like this movie.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] deheor 19 years ago

"The main character is dead and moves to music."

You must be thinking of the sequel which was terrible. The original is hilarious but the second one tried to push the gag too far.

"Flying blind on a rocket cycle"

http://www.deheor.4t.com/

[–] three-amigos 19 years ago

The sequal was lame. The original was a classic. As mentioned the unspoken chemistry between the lead actors during the first half of the film is amazing.
Aww Get your a-- out of here, it's too hot!

[–] creasemccann 19 years ago

The movie isn't "flawless", I mean like there's nothing wrong with it, but I thought it was a bit cheesy...

Although, whenever Bernie fell over the edge, "I give him an 8.5"...

VERY, VERY funny.

[–] captainramius 19 years ago

Jumping on the approaching ferry was a classic. And the little brat burying Bernie... Are you talking to me? then shut up!"

"Do yeh shee the beesht? Have ye golt'r en yer Shights?"

[–] rfarr8888 19 years ago

I just watched Weekend at Bernie's last night on one of the Comcast free movie packages. Probably the first time I have watched the movie in its entirety since it originally made "pay per view."

Question: has anyone noted it seems the version now being shown has been edited?

I especially noted that not as much time was spent on the "love making" scene as what I seem to recall (albeit 16+ years ago). Also noted that the actor's mouthed words didn't always seem to match the words I heard.

I hate it when movies are edited from the original, in any fashion. That's the main reason I refuse to watch films when they are finally shown on network TV.

I rarely laugh out loud when watching a movie, but this movie made me laugh out loud the first time I saw it, and it did last night, too.

Any observations or thoughts on the edits will be appreciated.

[–] sinatrachairman 19 years ago

Totally agree! Weekend At Bernies never fails to make me laugh, no matter how many times I watch it.

I love Silverman's face when he figures out that Bernie is dead and he slides over on the couch totally creeped out...Classic!!

Also, when Bernie falls off the boat and keeps hitting the bouys...the boys finally start pulling him back onto the boat and Larry freaks out;

RICHARD: What?
LARRY: He lost my sunglasses!

Best line;

"What kind of a guy invites you to his house for the weekend and then dies on you?"

How can you not love this movie??? It's like they said on Friends (and I'm summing up) You may SAY that Dangerous Liasons is your favorite movie, but it's really Weekend At Bernies.

[–] PopperTheKungFu-Dragon 9 years ago

Actually its the episode where they're playing trivia for the apartment and they ask a question about Rachel's favorite movie.

What does Rachel say is her favorite movie: Dangerous Liaisons.

What's Rachel's actual favorite movie: Weekend at Bernie's

Its been at least a decade since I've seen that episode, but I still remember it 

The early seasons of Friends were the best.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

[–] elsporko 19 years ago

Anybody who thinks this is one of the best movies ever is a complete retard and should be shot.

[–] padraigdonohoe 19 years ago

One of the last great 80's comedy classics, just an enjoyable movie and a great sequel to boot - roll on number 3!

[–] PopperTheKungFu-Dragon 9 years ago

Totally.

This movie is a perfect 80s movie.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

[–] brockyi 18 years ago

hey elspoorko , you talking to me ?? well shutup !!!

[–] katiewon 18 years ago

This movie is a comedy classic. It's like junk food, you love to indulge in it, once in awhile, even if it's bad for you.

I'll say this, the premise is original. The fact that NO ONE realizes Bernie is dead, is hysterical. Hollywood, especially in recent years, just keeps recycling the same garbage over and over. Name another movie with a similar plot BEFORE it was released.

The sequel SUCKED as do most sequels.

[–] LadyDi4476 18 years ago

This is one of my fave movies to watch during the summer. It IS flawless. I laugh every single time I watch it and it's always entertaining. Andrew and Jonathan have really great chemistry together. I particularly love Andrew's performance cause it's so unlike every other character he played in the '80s.

Great movie.

"There's never enough time, never enough" ~ BBM

[–] chuckleezodiac 16 years ago

Elsporko wrote: "Anybody who thinks this is one of the best movies ever is a complete retard and should be shot."

It appears porko qualifies for his own recommendation as the OP clearly stated that this movie was not an all-time great but succeeded masterfully at its intent: silly comedy hijinks, etc.

Anybody who thinks "complete retards" should be shot -- deserves to be shot.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] brendan-wnicolle 18 years ago

This Film Rocks. End of!

My father will soon be getting married for the 3rd time and my brother and I are throwing a "Weekend At Bernies" Buck's Night. The Oldman was a total Yuppie in his day so its only fitting.

I need some help though. I am trying to find a High res image of the movie poster or even better the DVD cover, so I can Photoshop dads mug onto the front and then change the two lead characters either side to my Brother and I.

If any one can help (150-300 dpi would great) please can your email me at

[email protected]

(subject weekend at bernies). I need this before 15th July 2006 ,so I can make the invitations.

Cheers
Burdbrain

[–] s_miles_4 18 years ago

I love this film too,it's a true typical 80's gem of a movie!

"When your down here with me you'll float too!!"

[–] im_sofa_king_cool 18 years ago

i first saw this movie a couple of years ago, and i completely loved it. i thought nothing of it after a couple of years, but then i found it on youtube.com . after watching a second time a couple of years later, its still one of the funniest movies i have ever seen.

i can't believe andrew mcCarthy, the same guy who was in st. elmo's fire and pretty in pink is in this movie. he's so funny!

here's the movie for all you people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHSLSrZ0uYU (Pt.1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PX4LeFQ4LY (Pt.2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSM7Nn9_V8 (Pt.3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElukvhvUU70 (Pt.4)

Christian: The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.

[–] jblunt96 18 years ago

Just wanted to say something to clear this up... This isn't a very original premise. Dealing with a dead body has been done before, multiple times. The Trouble With Harry was made 35 years earlier, and if Hitchcock couldn't quite make it work... I'm not here to make enemies, though I think this movie is pretty terrible, I mean, laughing at a dead guy and the unbelievably stupid people around him isn't my idea of comedy gold, but, I saw many posters comment on how nothing like this has ever been done before in the history of movies, and, sorry to say, you're wrong.

[–] kyndellsemail 18 years ago

I agree with the person who started this thread ... they made this film as well as it could possibly have been made.

It amazes me that this film was ever made. It's just incredible that some people in Hollywood backed this movie and invested in it.

Like it or hate it - but this film would NEVER be greenlighted today. NEVER.

[–] PopperTheKungFu-Dragon 9 years ago

Like it or hate it - but this film would NEVER be greenlighted today. NEVER.

Like it or hate it, but they make worse crap than this today, so you're the one who would be wrong. The nonsense that they greenlight nowadays makes Weekend at Bernie's almost oscar worthy.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

[–] three-amigos 18 years ago

Flawless in what it attempted to do.
I agree. The friendship between McCarthy and Silverman is what makes the film. Thier personalities are so well defined in the early part of the movie at the office, then at Silverman's dad's apartment, and then when the senerio involving dead Bernie begins on the island and chaos swirls around them you see them thrown into one funny unbelievable situation after another, sight gags, awesome one liners.

And through it all you really do care about "those two shmucks"

"Not all my tricks ROOKIE!"
Paul Newman as Doc Hudson in Cars

[–] jockey1-1 18 years ago

Just found these remarks on Weekend at Bernie's....MY all time favorite funny movie. I have it in my collection of movies and watch it over and over again and laugh just as hard every time. When this movie was made mostly at Wrightville Beach,. N.C., I lived and had a business in Wilmington, N.C. We were lucky enough to see some of the scenes that were made at the time. We often ate at the restaurant featured at the beach. My other most favorite movie would be THE MONEY PIT with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. Another pants wetter!

[–] 18 years ago

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