Funny Farm (1988)

65% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
50% of users liked it
(24,691 ratings)

Chevy Chase stars as Andy Farmer, a sportswriter who moves with his schoolteacher wife Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith) to the country in order to write a novel in relative seclusion. Of course, seclusion is the last thing the Farmers find in the small, eccentric town, where disaster awaits them at every… More Chevy Chase stars as Andy Farmer, a sportswriter who moves with his schoolteacher wife Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith) to the country in order to write a novel in relative seclusion. Of course, seclusion is the last thing the Farmers find in the small, eccentric town, where disaster awaits them at every turn. The veteran production staff features the likes of composer Elmer Bernstein, cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek, production designer Henry Bumstead, and director George Roy Hill (The Sting, The World According to Garp). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: George Roy Hill
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 3, 1988 Wide
On DVD: May 18, 1999
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Surprisingly funny
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
With the exception of a couple of remarkably clumsy moments, 'Funny Farm' maintains a delightfully sweet, goofy level of humor. (Blu-ray Double Feature Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...cute, easygoing, and engaging.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Silly, but Chase adds his own brand of humor.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
One of Chase's better vehicles (although that may be damning with faint praise)
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Not to bad for a Chase comedy. Love those lamb fries.
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
One of Chevy's best.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Unwatchable.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Middling star vehicle that wastes its director's talents.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Lightweight and fluffy, but Chase is surprisingly kinda charming!

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

An hilarious movie about a writer who moves out to the country to get some peace and quiet so he can write, but finds it's not that easy. Chase is fantastic in this movie, I really enjoyed it.
Tim S

It's considered an 80's classic, but it's not quiet as memorable.
KJ P

Dated, but funny! Funny farm is pure hilarity!
Jason O

"Funny Farm" is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Andy Farmer (Chevy Chase) and Elizabeth Farmer (Madolyn Smith) want to find a place to live in the country, away from all the noises and hassles of the city. But they never thought that the country could bring… More
"Funny Farm" is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Andy Farmer (Chevy Chase) and Elizabeth Farmer (Madolyn Smith) want to find a place to live in the country, away from all the noises and hassles of the city. But they never thought that the country could bring some of the problems that it does. It's a nice place in the country with a pond, a nice house, and a good view. But before they know it, they're dealing with snakes, a mysterious mailman, a coffin in the backyard, and much more. "Funny Farm" has a lot of funny parts such as when Chevy Chase thinks he caught a fish from their backyard pond, but finds out it's a snake and it chases him all the way to the house. The movie isn't only a good comedy movie, it also has some other elements such as drama mixed in, and you'll see that when Andy and Elizabeth nearly split up. If you like good comedy movies, and especially if you like Chevy Chase movies, you'll probably like "Funny Farm." I recommend it. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Chevy Chase is always great.
Michael G

Words cannot describe how much I hate this movie.
Christopher O

George Roy Hill gets Chevy Chase's best performance ever as Andy Farmer who leaves the big city as a sports writer to write his great American Novel in the country with his wife Elizabeth. Of course these city slickers don't adjust well to their new lives and the comedy… More
George Roy Hill gets Chevy Chase's best performance ever as Andy Farmer who leaves the big city as a sports writer to write his great American Novel in the country with his wife Elizabeth. Of course these city slickers don't adjust well to their new lives and the comedy enfolds, sweetly, greatly and cleverly. Madolyn Smith Osbourne is also great as Elizabeth and the film is enjoyable and well written. A hidden comic gem for those have not seen it.
Doctor S

Seems there is a lot of division over this one, but for me the answer is clear: this is Chevy's 4th best comedy behind Vacation, Fletch, and Christmas Vacation. (Yes, better than Spies Like Us, Caddyshack, and… More
Seems there is a lot of division over this one, but for me the answer is clear: this is Chevy's 4th best comedy behind Vacation, Fletch, and Christmas Vacation. (Yes, better than Spies Like Us, Caddyshack, and Three Amigos!) Take a look at that list and let's pause for a moment in remembrance at what a comic giant he was in the 1980s, rivaled only by Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy for supremacy during the Reagan Years. This could have reached #3 if not for the change in direction during the final quarter with fewer gags and a focus on the deteriorating relationship with his wife Madolyn Smith (who gives a fine performance.) This section still works for me since the feelings are earnest but does affect the mood. Until then, there are a ton of great gags: the movers, the snake, the ducks, asking for directions, the softball game, the fishing competition, the crazy mailman, the coffin, the operators, the runaway dog simply called "Dog" because they hadn't had time to give him a name, and the sheriff who never passed the driving exam and rides in a taxi! Stupid title, funny movie.
Jared H

Hilarious stuff.
Erin C

This was pretty enjoyable. The acting and lines were a little over the top at times, but the quirky townspeople were so random and made the movie interesting.
Sarah P

Pretty standard Chevy Chase comedy.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Chevy Chase as Andy Farmer

            Madolyn Smith Osborne as Elizabeth Farmer

            Kevin O'Morrison as Sheriff Ledbetter

            Joseph Maher as Michael Sinclair

            Jack Gilpin as Bud Culbertson

            Brad Sullivan as Brock

            Nesbitt Blaisdell as Hank

            Peter Boyden as Reporter

            Helen Lloyd Breed as Old Operator

            Reg E. Cathey as Reporter

            Caris Corfman as Betsy Culbertson

            Dan Desmond as Reporter

            Macintyre Dixon as Mayor Barclay

            Alice Drummond as Mrs. Dinges

            William Duell as Old Character

            Bill Fagerbakke as Lon Criterion

            Kit Le Fever as Young Operator

            Paul Linke as Caroler

            Dakin Matthews as Marion Corey Jr.

            Audrie J. Neenan as Ivy

            William Newman as Gus Lotterhand

            Glenn Plummer as Mickey

            Raynor Scheine as Oates

            William Severs as Newspaper Editor

            Mike Starr as Crocker

            Nicholas Wyman as Dirk Criterion

            George 'Buck' Flower as Peterbrook

            Barbara Baker as Woman in Stands

            Dennis Barr as First Base Coach

            Russell Bletzer as Councilman

            Robert Conner as Caroler

            Judson Duncan as Caroler

            Alison Hannas as Caroler

            Robert Ingram as Caroler

            Steven John as Caroler

            Mary Johnson as Caroler

            Steve Jonas as Driving Instructor

            Kristin Kellom as Caroler

            Evelyn McLean as Caroler

            Jamie Meyer as Teenager

            Brett Miller as Teenager

            Don Plumley as Reporter

            David Woodberry as Ike

            Marion Dougherty
            
            David Williams as Marcus

            Kevin Murphy as Ewell
See full cast

Funny Farm (1988)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cast

Trailers & Clips