Tommy Boy (1995)

45% of critics liked it
(40 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(231,287 ratings)

Saturday Night Live star Chris Farley had his first starring role in this frankly lowbrow comedy, which teamed him with fellow SNL cast member David Spade. Big Tom Callahan (Brian Dennehy) is the street-smart owner of a company that makes auto parts, and one day he'd like his son Tommy Callahan III… More Saturday Night Live star Chris Farley had his first starring role in this frankly lowbrow comedy, which teamed him with fellow SNL cast member David Spade. Big Tom Callahan (Brian Dennehy) is the street-smart owner of a company that makes auto parts, and one day he'd like his son Tommy Callahan III (Chris Farley) to take over the business. Trouble is, Tommy Boy is a fat, dim-witted slob who took seven years to get a business degree and has no idea how to run a business. His father's sudden death unexpectedly puts Tommy Boy in charge, with his dad's weasely assistant Richard (David Spade) trying to guide him. However, what no one knows is Big Tom's wife, the young and beautiful Beverly (Bo Derek), married him only for his money while holding on to her lover, Paul (Rob Lowe), whose presence she explains by telling people he's her son. Beverly and Paul are waiting for Tommy Boy to run the company into the ground so they can take over, sell it off and earn a quick payoff. However, what Tommy Boy lacks in smarts (and hygiene), he makes up for in determination, and he hits the road with Richard for a long sales trip in a last ditch effort to rescue his father's legacy. Tommy Boy was a major hit that turned Chris Farley into a screen star; sadly, died a little over 2 1/2 years later. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Peter Segal
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 31, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Nov 9, 1999
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

Brian Lowry, Variety
Stupid is apparently in.
Caryn James, New York Times
The most peculiar aspect of the movie is that some of it is played straight.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Tommy Boy is a good belly laugh of a movie.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
As a sketch for a Saturday Night Live show, it would have been a tour de force. But as part of this rather unimaginative movie, it's just a bit with a burning desk.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie is an assembly of cliches and obligatory scenes from dozens of other movies, all its better.
Alex Orner, Common Sense Media
Raunchy, funny, and not for younger kids.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Farley and Spade have a definite chemistry, and they do their best to pick up the slack. [Blu-ray]
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
On Blu-ray, you get an upscale version, as it's the 'Holy Schnike Edition' that makes it to that format.
, Empire Magazine
Against the odds of a feeble script and uninspired direction the duo do, in fact, grow on you, and there are a smattering of silly laughs.
, Film4
Inane and tasteless comedy of obesity and incompetence.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
If this pairing sounds like movie magic to you, we're sure you'll love the picture.
, Time Out
It's some indication of the wit involved that Farley is reduced to cracking fat jokes at his own expense.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...Spade and Farley are so good together...
Tony Whitt, Now Playing Magazine
A surprisingly sweet story, hilarious comic performances by Farley and Spade, and a guest cast that's better than most comedies could ever hope for...
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
There's nothing to grasp, nothing that gives off that good feeling of enjoying a comedy.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
It's not high art -- but it IS pretty damn funny, and sometimes that's more than good enough.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
Tommy Boy unspools just as you expect it to, and the comedy is as unrewarding as the story

Read all 17 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

Brad W

Tommy Boy is a classic, I will admit, but I have this thing about not even tring in a comedy, and this steals the cake. After slacker and moron Tommys (Chris Farley) father dies, he decides to take over the business, but to show he can do this job, he goes on a business road trip… More
Tommy Boy is a classic, I will admit, but I have this thing about not even tring in a comedy, and this steals the cake. After slacker and moron Tommys (Chris Farley) father dies, he decides to take over the business, but to show he can do this job, he goes on a business road trip with long time aquaintance Richard (David Spade). But two con artists (Bo Derek, Rob Lowe) will stp at nothing to stop Tommy and gets his money from his failing company. First of all, who doesn't love Chris Farley, I mean we all miss him, admit it, and hes so funny. David Spade is okay, nothing you will die of laughter at. The jokes were good, and I laughed, but some were just so cheesy I couldn't help but shake my head. This film is an american classic, and even if I found Davids acting bad, and some jokes cheesy, this is a classic.
Conner R

Definitely one of my favorite buddy comedies and just one of those movies that never loses its ability to be funny, no matter how many times you've seen it. Chris Farley delivers his finest performance here as the lovable goofball everyone wanted to see him as. He's just so… More
Definitely one of my favorite buddy comedies and just one of those movies that never loses its ability to be funny, no matter how many times you've seen it. Chris Farley delivers his finest performance here as the lovable goofball everyone wanted to see him as. He's just so genuinely nice and incredibly stupid at the same time, but something of a borderline genius on top of that. Paired up with David Spade, it's like instant magic. Their chemistry together is so natural and the fact that their characters and comedic style are polar opposites is really interesting. Unlimited destruction occurs on their road trip, mainly to Richard's car, and it is what every comedy aspires to be. This is never short on jokes, has a fun storyline and great characters. You'd be crazy not to see why Tommy Boy is such an utter classic.
AJ V

Although this movie has actors from Saturday Night Live, it isn't based on a SNL sketch or characters, it's a road tip movie about friendship. This movie is hilarious and a lot of fun, it's probably Spade's best movie. I highly recommend it.
Jeff "

Tommy Boy is by far Chris Farley's best film. Tommy Boy is a very underrated comedy. The film won't win any prizes, but it definitely is a good comedy. Critics have been unfair to this film Tommy Boy is a funny film that is actually quite fun. This film is yet another… More
Tommy Boy is by far Chris Farley's best film. Tommy Boy is a very underrated comedy. The film won't win any prizes, but it definitely is a good comedy. Critics have been unfair to this film Tommy Boy is a funny film that is actually quite fun. This film is yet another example of how critics can misinterpret a film. Tommy Boy some very funny moments and is underrated. After the slacker son of an auto parts company called Callahan auto, once Tommy graduates after seven years, he is tapped to work at Callahan. Not only that, but he finds out that his father is engaged to a beautiful woman. At the wedding, Tommy's father suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving the heavily in debt company to stock holders and such. Tommy offers to go on the road and sell break pads to save the company. As this happens, Tommy's salesman ship takes a turn for the worst and he ends up failing to very humourous results. The film is not great, but manages to be entertaining fun nonetheless. I've always had a soft spot for this film and I really do believe it's an overlooked comedy in the genre. There are better films out, granted; But Tommy Boy still manages to bring out good laughs. This is Chris Farley's funniest film, and is definitely worth seeing, not perfect but pretty good nonetheless.
Dan S

An often very funny film featuring the great Chris Farley at the top of his game. Although unquestionably stupid in many aspects, the main reason this movie succeeds is because of the chemistry between Spade and Farley. Yes, it is cliched and it is not plotted the best, but this movie… More
An often very funny film featuring the great Chris Farley at the top of his game. Although unquestionably stupid in many aspects, the main reason this movie succeeds is because of the chemistry between Spade and Farley. Yes, it is cliched and it is not plotted the best, but this movie does what it aims to do - make you laugh, and laugh often. It truly is a shame a great comic actor like Farley met his demise at such a young age in real life, since he was truly a lovable figure who embraced his shortcomings so profoundly and whose performances were always hilarious.
MisterYoda ?

3 stars
Mike S

Top notch comedy, that altough being very formulaic and clichéd, made me laugh so hard that I almost had trouble breathing sometimes. Farley's manic slap-stick style of humor, combined with David Spade's witty sarcasm, is one of the best things to have ever happened to the… More
Top notch comedy, that altough being very formulaic and clichéd, made me laugh so hard that I almost had trouble breathing sometimes. Farley's manic slap-stick style of humor, combined with David Spade's witty sarcasm, is one of the best things to have ever happened to the world of comedy. It isn't always funny, but when it works, it's nothing short of hilarious. The storyline may be very "north-by-northwest", and the directing somewhat sloppy in places. But other than that, this is a really enjoyable movie that I'm happy to recommend.
Dean M

Basically a takeoff of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, this buddy and coming-of-age film features Chris Farley as the unlikely proprietor of an auto-parts factory. TV's Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels' production offers some… More
Basically a takeoff of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, this buddy and coming-of-age film features Chris Farley as the unlikely proprietor of an auto-parts factory. TV's Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels' production offers some incredibly funny scenes. Farley and David Spade were the new John Candy-Tom Hanks or Oliver Hardy-Stan Laurel film of the 1990s.
KJ P

I fell in love with the jokes and hilarious predicaments in the film since the first time I saw it when I was 10!
Phil H

Farley's best and Spades best too, great loud and brash US comedy, really hits the spot and shows how good Farley was. The scene where he's trying to sell brake pads to a customer in his office and continues to trash a model car and light it on fire is just pant wettingly… More
Farley's best and Spades best too, great loud and brash US comedy, really hits the spot and shows how good Farley was. The scene where he's trying to sell brake pads to a customer in his office and continues to trash a model car and light it on fire is just pant wettingly funny.
Lenny M

Classic.
danny d

What dyou do?! classic from start to finish. a brilliant comedy.
Michael S

I never found it that funny.
James A

The only way David Spade was funny was when he's teamed up with a coked up obese guy.
Lanning :

Some pretty funny moments. Too bad there wasn't less filler because the underlying story is good. Aykroyd is best in ensemble outings, particularly when he plays types. Grosse Pointe Blank is another good example of his playing a character type well.… More
Some pretty funny moments. Too bad there wasn't less filler because the underlying story is good. Aykroyd is best in ensemble outings, particularly when he plays types. Grosse Pointe Blank is another good example of his playing a character type well. It's sad to lose Farley so young.
Curtis L

Classic comedy
Tim B

Farley and Spade at their best.
Jason S

Funny. Too bad he died so young.
Leigh R

Hilariously wacky.
Stuart B

Great road movie, loved it

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Chris Farley as Tommy Callahan III

            David Spade as Richard

            Bo Derek as Beverly

            Brian Dennehy as Big Tom

            Rob Lowe as Paul

            Dan Aykroyd as Zalinsky

            Julie Warner as Michelle

            James Blendick as Gilmore

            David Calderisi as 'Yes' Executive

            Gil Filar as Kid in Bank

            Colin Fox as Nelson

            Zach Grenier as Reilly

            David Hemblen as Archer

            Helen Hughes as Boardroom Woman

            Gino Marrocco as Cabbie

            Sean McCann as Rittenhauer

            Marc Strange as Toy CAr Executive

            Philip Williams as Danny

            J.R. Zimmerman as Boardroom Man

            Michael Ewing as Ticket Agent

            Ron James as Bank Guard

            Robert Weiss as 'No' Manager

            William Dunlop as R.T

            Marilyn Boyle as Woman with Pen

            Reg Dreger as 'No' Manager

            Henry Gomez as Airport Cop

            David Huband as Gas Attendant

            Jack Jessop as Priest

            Camilla Scott as Stewardess

            Lloyd White as 'No' Manager

            Dean Marshall as Frat Boy

            Jonathan Wilson as Marty

            Brian Kaulback as Bank Guard

            Robbie Rox as Restaurant Regular

            Sandi Stahlbrand as News Reporter

            Bunty Webb as Large Woman
See full cast