Weekend at Bernie's
Directed by Ted Kotcheff
- comedy
- crime
The story
Two young insurance corporation employees try to pretend that their murdered employer is alive by puppeteering his dead body, leading a hitman to attempt to track him down to finish him off.
What it’s like
Bright, flat summer light and bleached-out beachfront colour give this 1989 studio comedy the look of a sun-faded postcard, with most of the action staged in a big, sunny Hamptons-style house and its lawns, pools and patios. The camera is plain and functional, mostly medium shots and two-shots that let the physical gags play out in full view, with little stylistic flourish. The score is bouncy, light pop-jazz that keeps things breezy. The vibe is goofy, slapstick and mildly absurd, the kind of bright, silly romp that suits a lazy afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a sunny weekend with nothing demanding attention. Pacing is brisk and gag-driven, and the tone stays playful, with two bewildered young men improvising ever more outlandish ways to keep their dead boss upright and convincing. Violence is cartoonish and mostly off-screen, with a brief, comic threat from a hitman and no gore, though a corpse is handled throughout for laughs. Best for viewers who want undemanding, mischievous summer comedy with an easygoing, nonthreatening edge.
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