Waste of time

To me, this movie is perfection.

Overrated

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

every time I've seen this movie since the first time I saw it in 1993 or so on television it has been missing about 10 minutes in running time. I just watched it again on Netflix and it has a run time listed of 1 hr 22 minutes which is 82 minutes instead of the total 93 it should have. I also own a copy on VHS which is missing a section. This missing scene is of Bill and Sally running from the bear and Skearns which is an extended chase scene which includes them being literally out on a limb of a large (redwood?) tree which breaks resulting them falling into either a river or pond. This is why in the next scene they are in- when they enter the Van Der Haven home- their clothes are wet. Also missing as I recall is a scene with the Siskel and Ebert schoolchildren giving Marci's storytelling a thumbs up/down.I don't know why this movie isn't more popular than it is- I keep expecting it to turn into a cult classic.

For those of us that lived thru those weeks of filming in town and around the Valley - lest we not forget the tedious days of road closures and "film-making". As a reminder to those that live here - locales include Boulder Creek, Bonny Doon, Davenport, Big Basin. etc. The bank was the BC firehouse; chase scenes included Moon Drive off Hwy 236, Empire Grade Rd, and Hwy 1.Production: Jeffrey Jones was the most approachable, Matt Broderick was above us all - even back then. As far as the film goes - a joke of a script and even a bigger laugh regarding acting and plot - but who cares at this level. A nice time capsule for those that enjoy our coast and valley scenery.Additional notes; Joe's Bar (Jed's Tavern in the film), original name of the film was Welcome to Buzzsaw - the Old Erba's parking lot was the town square, the backyard shots were off of Grove Street in Boulder Creek; turn off the thinking cap and see a few actors in their early days.

My wife and I watch this film whenever we want a good laugh. The plot, characters and cast combine to provide the most hilarious "good feeling" comedy we have ever seen (this is our favorite!). The whole story is built around the classroom recitation by a young girl about how she spent her summer. The bizarre chain of events she tells about are deliberated at intervals throughout the movie by her unbelieving classmates. During these brief interludes she is coaxed to go on with her intriguing story and the action takes off -- again! This movie is superbly acted and directed to avoid the pitfalls of becoming "slap stick." While the plot is a bit far fetched, it is plausible. If you want to see a movie that makes you feel good and is viewable by people of any age, this is a "must see."

Sometimes I watch a movie for it's distractive escape value. This silly, multi-faceted story with the back drop of a child's "What did you do this summer?" tale is fine a beer and potato chip viewing and leaves you with "Hey Baby, Que Paso?" humminn' in your head. Lighten up!