The Stupids

Director: John Landis John Landis

Overview

This film is based on The Stupids series of children's books by Harry Allard and James Marshall, which are about a family that takes things very, very literally. In this film, the Stupids attempt to discover what happens to the garbage that disappears from their lawn every week (they think it has been stolen) and accidentally save the world. The father, Stanley (Tom Arnold), goes undercover posing as a tree and unknowingly stumbles into an international arms-smuggling scheme. He believes that the garbage theft is perpetrated by his old enemy from the Post Office, "Sender" (Christopher Lee). His absence worries his equally befuddled children, who go looking for him. Meanwhile he is chased by both the weapons smugglers and beings from outer space. Directed by John Landis, known for his hit films Trading Places and The Blues Brothers.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/07/2017
UPC:	0888574474980
Original Release:	1996
Rating:	PG
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	1:34:00
Sales rank:	40,887

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tom Arnold	Stanley Stupid
Jessica Lundy	Joan Stupid
Bug Hall	Buster Stupid
Alex McKenna	Petunia Stupid
Mark Metcalf	Colonel
Matt Keeslar	Lieutenant
Frankie Faison	The Lloyd
Christopher Lee	Evil Sender
Bob Keeshan	Charles Sender
Jenny McCarthy	Glamorous Actress
Scott Kraft	Policeman
Victor Ertmanis	Garbageman No. 1
Earl Williams	Garbageman No. 2
George Chiang	Chinese Waiter No. 1
Max Landis	Graffiti Artist
Carol Ng	Jade Palace Hostess
Arthur Eng	Chinese Waiter No. 2
Jennifer Dean	Meter Maid
Garry Robbins	Extremely Tall Guy
Nicu Branzea	Arms Buyer No. 1
Richard Crook	Arms Buyer No. 2
Gurinder Chadha	Reporter No. 1
Mick Garris	Reporter No. 2
Jeremy Ratchford	Soldier
John Stoneham Jr.	Green Alien
Ken Quinn	Orange Alien
Gillian Vanderbugh	Alien Stewardess
Harvey Atkin	Deli Guy
David Cronenberg	Postal Supervisor
Markus Parilo	Special Forces Guy
Constantin Costa Gavras	Gas Station Guy
Mif	Explosive Guy
Walter Alza	Taxi Driver
Robert Wise	Stanley's Neighbor
Mo Kelso	Airbag Woman
Sherry Miller	Anchorwoman
Jeff Clarke	Delivery Guy
Atom Egoyan	TV Studio Guard
Wendy Hopkins	TV Assistant Director
Jacqueline McLeod	Make-Up Woman
David Ferry	Late Night Show Host
Norman Jewison	TV Director
Frederic Devancker	French Chef
Rolonda Watts	Talk Show Hostess
Gillo Pontecorvo	Talk Show Guest No. 1
Nicholas Rice	Talk Show Guest No. 2
Julie Champnella	Talk Show Guest No. 3
Philip Akin	Henchman No. 1
Kevin Conway	Henchman No. 2
Carol Anderson	Checkpoint Guard
Rick Avery	Bad Guy
Fiona Highet	Cop No. 1
Phillip Jarrett	Cop No. 2
Jim Amross	Cop No. 3
Wayne Ward	Cop No. 4

Technical Credits

Brent Forrester

John Landis	Director
Rick Avery	Stunts
Leslie Belzberg	Producer
Brian Grazer	Producer
Walter Hart	Special Effects
Ron Howard	Producer
Amy Lippens	Casting
Ted Ross	Special Effects
Brent Forrester	Screenwriter
Owen Langevin	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

The Stupids isn't stupid; it's dreadful. It's also dull, unamusing and downright irritating. It's the kind of film about which stating that Jessica Lundy manages to occasionally threaten to produce something resembling the start of a teeny little smile is about the pinnacle of praise. Film students will also find something of some minimal interest by attempting to identify the famous directors (including Costa-Gavras, David Cronenberg, Robert Wise and Norman Jewison) that pop up in cameos along the excruciatingly long way from the first frame to the final flicker. Perhaps some viewers can also get some distraction by wondering how Christopher Lee and Bob (Captain Kangaroo) Keeshan were shanghai-ed into participating. Otherwise, one is left to contemplate whether it's really possible that Tom Arnold is truly as awful as he seems to be in Stupids, or to wonder whether director John Landis has an evil (and monumentally untalented) twin that is actually responsible for the work on display here. Not even the kind of bad movie that one can laugh at rather than with, Stupids is simply a waste of time.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler