Tommy Boy

When his father dies suddenly and the brake pad factory is at risk, Tommy Callahan has to drive across the country collecting orders with Richard, the company's sour sales manager. Tommy is good at nothing, and that is all he has. Peter Segal directed and Lorne Michaels produced. Chris Farley and David Spade star, both from Saturday Night Live. Filming was mostly in Toronto and Los Angeles under the working title Rocky Road. The budget was 20 million dollars. The reviews split and one side was harsh. Roger Ebert gave it one star and called it one of those movies that plays like an explosion down at the screenplay factory. Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times found it sweet natured and a good belly laugh of a movie. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 41 percent, with an A minus CinemaScore from audiences. It grossed 32.7 million dollars, opening with 8 million. It became a cult film on home video, and Farley's range and vulnerability were appreciated more afterwards. Who it is for: viewers who like nineties SNL comedy and physical humour. Who it is not for: anyone looking for subtlety. The film runs almost entirely on Farley breaking things.