Nothing but Trouble (1991)

Directed by Dan Aykroyd. Starring Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Demi Moore, John Candy, Taylor Negron, Bertila Damas, Valri Bromfield, John Daveikis, Digital Underground, Daniel Baldwin. [PG-13]

A couple of Manhattan yuppies (Chase, Moore) and a pair of coarse Brazilian stereotypes (Negron, Damas) are driving to Atlantic City when they take the wrong detour and end up in a nightmarish small town called Valkenvania, where they soon find themselves fighting for their lives against a decrepit elderly judge (Aykroyd, caked in makeup that resembles melted wax) and his bizarre “family” of psychos and mutants. Ugly, unpleasant, and thoroughly unfunny “comedy” was evidently a passion project for Aykroyd, who makes his feature directorial debut here, and also wrote the script and co-stars in a dual role (each of them quite repellent and obnoxious, so don’t even bother asking what the second one is). But the other stars just go through the motions, the look of boredom and restlessness apparent on their faces, and all traces of character personality or dark humor gets obliterated by the elaborate but unimpressive art direction, which looks like it was trying to be a cross between Bo Welch/Tim Burton and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but failed miserably. Even on the level of carnival sideshow, is anyone supposed to actually enjoy watching this garbage? Other Aykroyd family members make appearances, including Peter, who’s given story credit. The extended cameo and song performance from hip-hop group Digital Underground (whose ranks include a young Tupac Shakur) is thoroughly gratuitous, but coming in the middle of this free-for-all furball, oh, why the heck not?

8/100