Family Plan is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Fred Gerber. It stars Leslie Nielsen[2] and Judge Reinhold.[3][4][5][6][7] It is the second movie in which Nielsen portrayed Harry Haber, the first being Rent-a-Kid.
| Family Plan | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Fred Gerber |
| Written by | Paul Bernbaum |
| Produced by | Paul Bernbaum Abby Singer |
| Starring | Leslie Nielsen Judge Reinhold |
| Cinematography | John Fleckenstein |
| Edited by | David Rawlins George Roulston |
| Music by | Lee Holdridge |
| Distributed by | Initial Entertainment Group[1] |
Release date | May 30, 1997 |
Running time | 95 Minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
Saul Reubens, an old millionaire (Harry Morgan) died and left everything to his niece Julie (Emily Procter), including a children's summer camp "Sedona". Julie's fiancé Jeffrey (Judge Reinhold) wants to sell this camp to rich investors, so he transforms the camp into an adult health resort without telling Julie and invites investors to take a rest there.
At the same time Harry Haber (Leslie Nielsen), after a misunderstanding about a scheduling conflict, takes the children up from Mid Valley Children House to the now-adult health resort. Two brothers from there, Alec and Eli Mackenzie, recently lost their dad in a car accident and are trying to find their biological mother. According to their case, their mother lives in Phoenix, Arizona, which Camp Sedona is located near to. The two brothers decided to run away while at the camp to find their mother. But right before all the children go to camp, Alec (Trevor Morgan) is busted for some tricks by the children house principal (Tony Rosato) and grounded – he isn't going to camp.
Eli (Zachary Browne) helps Alec to get to the camp inside of big bag with clothes; now he is secretly there without permission. But he can still have fun with the adult investors.
Various shenanigans are done by the kids and other members of the camp much to the frustration of Jeffrey, whose investors are not fond of kids (one time going so far as to hide insects in guests' food). Another incident involves the filming of a sleeping woman through her bedroom window. After being caught they flee and while hiding, record a conversation between Jeffery and an investor.
Alec is caught after climbing a dangerous cliff to retrieve RC plane causing other kids to go get the adults.
Before movie night Jeffery shows Julie his "sensitive side" in a desperate ploy to get her to sell the camp. Unfortunately for him, Harry had come across the recording the boys made earlier and puts it in the TV for everyone to watch. The woman who was filmed sleeping storms off and Jeffery pauses the movie several times, but each time Harry resumes it ensuring they get to the part of Jeffery's conversation. This causes Julie to declare the camp not for sale, dump Jeffery, and then punch him.
The boys leave in the middle of the movie and stow away in a catering service's van heading to Phoenix. Julie and Matt (Eddie Bowz), who is working in camp and is Julie's childhood friend, go after them by car but don't beat them to the catering company's building. While Julie and Matt look for the brothers in the van, they get in Julie's car to look at a map during which they answer a phone call from Harry who they somewhat nonsensically tell, "Sorry, wrong number." Slightly puzzled Harry tells the principle there is no answer.
Julie and Matt get back into the car while unbeknownst to them the brothers hide in the back. The principle tells Julie and Matt on the phone to head to the address of the kids' mom and Harry somewhat cryptically adds they shouldn't "Say anything they wouldn't normally say in the presence of uh small people." Harry assures the principle that Eli and Alec are in good hands.
Julie and Matt head to the address and the brothers jump out of the car and run to the door. Unfortunately, there are new owners at the address who don't know the previous owners.
Finally, Matt decides to adopt Eli and Alec, whom he had grown very fond of, only to find out Julie also wanted to adopt them and seeing Matt want kids, realizes he is ready for commitment.
Cast edit
- Leslie Nielsen as Harry Haber
- Judge Reinhold as Jeffrey Chase
- Eddie Bowz as Matt Nolan
- Emily Procter as Julie Rubins
- Tony Rosato as Cliff Haber
- Bill LeVasseur as Head Camp Counselor
- Zachary Browne as Eli Mackenzie
- Trevor Morgan as Alec Mackenzie
- Harry Morgan as Sol Rubins
Reception edit
The German website TV Today was critical of the film and commented, "Since the hit The Naked Gun, Leslie Nielsen has been producing slapstick nonstop. With a few creative breaks he might come up with new ideas."[8] while a similar assessment can be found at the Italian Filmtv, "Disheartening comedy in which Leslie Nielsen does nothing but repeat the clichés that made him famous, with Judge Reinhold as his sidekick. Gerber has made many TV movies, and it shows."[9] Film Dienst stated, "Woven into the plot is the story of two half-orphans who are looking for their unknown mother in the nearby town. Family-friendly, entertaining comedy that focuses on conciliatory entertainment. Although not all the gags are successful and the comedic ammunition is quickly used up, the film still offers a nice family fairy tale."[10] Wunschliste was more positive about the film: "The comedy with top star Leslie Nielsen ("The Naked Gun") in top form offers funny entertainment for young and old and, in addition to lots of gags and slapstick, also presents a touching family story. Judge Reinhold (“Beverly Hills Cop”) is also convincing as the unsympathetic rogue Jeffrey."[11]
References edit
- ^ Hindes, Andrew (29 January 1997). "Initial Ent. Adds". Variety. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
- ^ "Family Plan". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Lavin, Cheryl (15 March 1998). "Judge Reinhold". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Richmond, Ray (28 April 1998). "Telepix run in Fox Family". Variety. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Staff (30 May 1999). "PICKS OF THE WEEK". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "Showtime airs smart films about 1925 trial, Ayn Rand". South Coast Today. 29 May 1999. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Parkyn, John (22 February 1998). "Name Dropping". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "Die verrückte Kanone: Trailer & Kritik zum Film". TV Today (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Family Plan (1997) | FilmTV.it (in Italian), 2012-10-06, retrieved 2024-01-23
- ^ "Die verrückte Kanone". www.filmdienst.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-23.
- ^ Die verrückte Kanone (in German), retrieved 2024-01-23
