TOMMY BOY
A film review by Eric Grossman
Copyright 1995 LOS ANGELES INDEPENDENT
After graduating from seven years of college with a D+ average, Tommy Callahan (Chris Farley) finds himself back in his hometown of Sandusky, Ohio where a top job in his father's factory awaits him. When Big Tom (Brian Dennehy) is struck by a fatal heart attack, the family business falls in danger of being bought out by a rival. It is up to Tommy and Richard Hayden (David Spade), an uptight but efficient company man, to keep Callahan Auto Parts from being cannibalized and sending Tommy and the town of Sandusky to ruin.
It has been a long time since "Saturday Night Live" produced a big-screen star in the likes of a Bill Murray or Eddie Murphy. Michael Myers and Dana Carvey found success in the WAYNE'S WORLD series but have never had a hit otherwise. Chris Farley, however, may be a different story.
Large and likable, Farley has what it takes to carry a movie. Whether he is struggling to change his clothes in an airplane lavatory or demonstrating the advantages of auto parts by lighting model cars on fire, his Tommy Boy is always fun to watch. Add Farley's gift for humor with his big-hearted sincerity and you have a comedian that audiences will want to see more of.
Spade is the opposite of Farley, deadpan and tiny, but he is equally entertaining. The two make an excellent team and if they can find themselves a more substantial vehicle than this, a great comedy might be born.
Director Peter Segal (NAKED GUN 33-1/3) keeps the pace moving and elevates the thin script by Fred Wolf and Bonnie and Terry Turner. To their credit, the filmmakers give Farley and Spade enough scenes to allow them to shine but they waste time on unnecessary sub-plots including one with Bo Derek and Rob Lowe as they try to steal away the factory.
TOMMY BOY is a mediocre movie but offers some good laughs because of the talents of Farley and Spade.
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