Our family had a Grand Wagoneer growing up, and the way Great Outdoors contributed to the mythology of the GW as an iconic family vehicle can't be overstated. It definitely played a part in my parents buying one- it was even the same color as the one in the movie.
But to burst that bubble a bit, our GW was of course gorgeous but kind of a lemon. It had this weird idling problem that mechanics could never quite fix, and it was one of those cars there was a trick to starting. It was also unsurprisingly a shameful gas guzzler.
My wife and I test drove one of the new Wagoneers when they first hit the market, even knowing it was too ridiculously large and expensive to be an option for us. It was very nice and plush, a true suburban assault vehicle. But it was a missed opportunity to not at least offer wood paneling as an option.
Damn, Jason. Read this right after telling my high school buddies that I can't make it for a Wisconsin summer weekend that would be filled with all of that good vibe stuff - kayaking, old fashioneds, cheese curds, frozen custard, campfires. Almost in tears.
For years, we would make fun of my father because one time we went horseback riding (somewhere) and he got a horse that had a bum leg which we affectionately called "the John Candy horse." Love this movie then and now!
I loved that movie too, and was lucky to have been an extra in it (standing over Candy’s left shoulder as he eats the Ol’ 96er). John Candy was a gracious and charming man and a generous actor.
Fireflies! But at least you still get to sweat your balls off in NY. Bay area summers are this schizo warm-ish one week, cloudy/cold the next, drive 30 min for 30 degree change in temp... totally flaky. The heat/humidity is absolutely essential to that feverish, vivid summer energy.
Our family had a Grand Wagoneer growing up, and the way Great Outdoors contributed to the mythology of the GW as an iconic family vehicle can't be overstated. It definitely played a part in my parents buying one- it was even the same color as the one in the movie.
But to burst that bubble a bit, our GW was of course gorgeous but kind of a lemon. It had this weird idling problem that mechanics could never quite fix, and it was one of those cars there was a trick to starting. It was also unsurprisingly a shameful gas guzzler.
My wife and I test drove one of the new Wagoneers when they first hit the market, even knowing it was too ridiculously large and expensive to be an option for us. It was very nice and plush, a true suburban assault vehicle. But it was a missed opportunity to not at least offer wood paneling as an option.
I always wanted to take a summer trip in one of those big wood paneled station wagons because of this movie and Harry and the Hendersons
Same. I'm such a fan. I've got two toy versions in my office lol.
that's amazing!
Damn, Jason. Read this right after telling my high school buddies that I can't make it for a Wisconsin summer weekend that would be filled with all of that good vibe stuff - kayaking, old fashioneds, cheese curds, frozen custard, campfires. Almost in tears.
Hell yeah. Every summer I need to drink at least one bottle of Sprecher root beer.
For years, we would make fun of my father because one time we went horseback riding (somewhere) and he got a horse that had a bum leg which we affectionately called "the John Candy horse." Love this movie then and now!
Ever make it up to Door County, in Wisconsin? That is my vision of calm country bliss.
Oh yeah. First time I ever heard a middle-aged guy say “This is God’s Country” was in Door County
Gah I love this. I grew up in Chicago in the 70s/80s and thought WI supper clubs were the height of classiness
I loved that movie too, and was lucky to have been an extra in it (standing over Candy’s left shoulder as he eats the Ol’ 96er). John Candy was a gracious and charming man and a generous actor.
Fireflies! But at least you still get to sweat your balls off in NY. Bay area summers are this schizo warm-ish one week, cloudy/cold the next, drive 30 min for 30 degree change in temp... totally flaky. The heat/humidity is absolutely essential to that feverish, vivid summer energy.
Always merged in my head with Summer Rental, this one.