Weekend at Bernie’s is a classic screwball comedy released in 1989 featuring Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, and Catherine Mary Stewart. Two firm employees, Larry (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard (Jonathan Silverman), find themselves in a predicament when their boss (Bernie Lomax) invites them to his weekend house where they discover him dead upon their arrival. Bernie’s invitation to the two young employees stems from their discovery of fraudulent activity in the banking records of the company. It’s barely important to the plot, but Bernie invites them for the weekend as a way for them to get working early on finding the person who’s responsible. Once the two find Bernie unconscious in a chair inside the house, the entire timeline of the weekend changes. Bernie’s presence in the town as a party host on friday nights quickly becomes knowledge to Larry and Richard when suddenly mobs of people start to swarm the house. The two sit back in awe as they watch everyone come up and talk to Bernie’s dead body like he’s still alive and nothing’s wrong. When Richard sees Gwen (Catherine Mary Stewart), an intern who he recently went on a date with and got walked out on by, the two have to make a tough decision. Larry suggests they take advantage of everyone else’s obliviousness and “pretend Bernie’s not dead.” Before Richard sees Gwen and wants another shot with her, he insists they call the police. Of course, the movie would’ve ended logically if they had called the cops, so they don’t. Larry and Richard live the weekend as if Bernie didn’t die, but things get sticky when they learn there’s more parties involved in the death of Bernie Lomax.
The Pros
A lot of impractical scenes is what makes Weekend at Bernie’s a great hit. It’s so easy for us to love a scene where all the components and interactions within it would only be possible in a dream. When everybody from Hampton Island comes flying through Bernie’s front doors and chatting him up on the couch he lies dead on, it’s hilarious. How could no one realize that Bernie is dead??? All the impractical scenes and funny moments come together to give you a huge laugh fest of a movie. What more could you ask for?
Nostalgia is unmatched in Weekend at Bernie’s. Immediately at the start of this movie with the suit Larry was sporting, the movie just oozes 70s and 80s style. The house decor, sunglasses, plaids and crazy colorful patterns give off this different part of the movie to follow.
The movie is a perfect length and doesn’t include any excess scenes. We start in the city with Larry and Richard finding the banking error; Richard goes out with Gwen; Larry and Richard get to Hampton Island and find Bernie dead; They live with dead Bernie for about a day; They uncover the mystery; Then the movie ends. It’s a perfect plot line that doesn’t waste any time anywhere which is something I can respect.
The Cons
The acting is below average. Yes it’s a screwball comedy but that doesn’t mean that the bad acting and poor line delivery is excused. Jonathan Silverman is pretty rough to watch, especially during the romantic scenes. Andrew McCarthy was better but still not stellar.
Weekend at Bernie’s is a hilarious late night comedy screwball option that’ll give you more than just laughs but also a snapshot of 70s and 80s nostalgia. The score is an 82.