Nothing But Trouble Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Rich people run a stop sign and get sentenced to a demented funhouse nightmare by a judge with a prosthetic nose, starring Digital Underground for some reason.

🍿 Nothing But Trouble: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Manhattan Penthouse and Road Trip

Chris Thorne, a financial publisher, meets Diane Lightson, a lawyer, at a party in Manhattan. He offers to take her to Atlantic City for a business meeting. En route, they pick up Fausto and Renalda Squiriniszu, two eccentric siblings, adding to the chaotic nature of the trip. This sets the stage for their eventual misadventure.

Detour and Capture in Valkenvania

Chris decides to take a detour, leading them to the dilapidated mining town of Valkenvania. After running a stop sign and attempting to evade Sheriff Dennis Valkenheiser, they are apprehended. This seemingly minor traffic violation spirals into a nightmare as they’re brought before the bizarre Judge Alvin ‘J.P’ Valkenheiser.

Imprisonment and Escape Attempts

The group is held in the Judge’s courthouse, which doubles as a demented funhouse filled with traps and contraptions. They try to escape, but their efforts are thwarted, leading to them being split up. The siblings manage to escape, while Chris and Diane are imprisoned further, highlighting the surreal and dangerous nature of their predicament.

The Judge’s House and Its Horrors

Chris and Diane find themselves in the Judge’s nightmarish house, encountering grotesque characters such as Bobo and Lil’ Debbull, the Judge’s deformed grandchildren. Diane witnesses Chris’s BMW being destroyed. Chris is then caught and sentenced to marry the Judge’s granddaughter, Eldona, escalating the absurdity and horror of their situation.

Mr. Bonestripper and Digital Underground

Chris is sentenced to be fed into the “Mr. Bonestripper,” a machine that turns people into bone meal. The rap group Digital Underground, also prisoners, perform for the Judge and are released. Chris narrowly escapes the Bonestripper when it malfunctions. He rescues Diane, and they flee the town on a passing train.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Chris Thorne (Chevy Chase): A wealthy and somewhat arrogant publisher who gets caught in a bizarre legal nightmare.
• Judge Alvin ‘J.P’ Valkenheiser (Dan Aykroyd): A sadistic and eccentric judge who presides over the strange town of Valkenvania.
• Diane Lightson (Demi Moore): An investment lawyer and Chris’s love interest, caught in the same predicament as him.
• Dennis (John Candy): The Valkenvania sheriff and officer who initially arrests Chris and Diane, later has a change of heart.
• Fausto Squiriniszu (Taylor Negron): One half of the Brazillian sibling duo and the catalyst for the detour into Valkenvania.
• Renalda Squiriniszu (Bertila Damas): One half of the Brazillian sibling duo and the catalyst for the detour into Valkenvania.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Judge Alvin ‘J.P’ Valkenheiser: “We don’t take kindly to bankers ’round these parts.” – The Judge expresses his distrust and animosity towards the wealthy, setting the stage for his treatment of Chris.
• Judge Alvin ‘J.P’ Valkenheiser: “You broke the law! Now you gotta pay!” – The Judge explains his twisted form of justice to the captured motorists.
• Chris Thorne: “What is this, Deliverance?” – Chris expresses his shock and disbelief at the bizarre and dangerous situation they’ve found themselves in.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $40,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $8,479,793
• Worldwide Gross: $8,479,793

💥 Nothing But Trouble Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so this movie is… something. I remember watching it as a kid and being utterly confused and slightly disturbed. The weird sets, the grotesque characters, and the bizarre plot twists definitely stuck with me. It’s not ‘good’ in the conventional sense, but there’s a certain ‘so bad it’s good’ quality to it. Honestly, the Digital Underground scene is the only thing that saves it, and even that’s just bizarrely out of place. Watching it now, it’s like a fever dream you can’t quite shake off. Would I recommend it? Only if you’re prepared for some serious weirdness.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedy”
  • “Viewers interested in cult films”
  • “People who enjoy bizarre and surreal humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Grotesque imagery”
  • “Violence”
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Suggestive themes”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “An astonishingly poor effort. The longest 94 minutes on record, ‘Nothing But Trouble’ wastes a talented cast on juvenile humor and bizarre visuals that fail to amuse. Aykroyd’s direction is as unfocused as the script, resulting in a chaotic and ultimately unsatisfying cinematic experience.
• Sight and Sound: “Ken Newman of ‘Sight and Sound’ claims this was an “absolute failure as a comedy…”

Audience Reactions

Some viewers appreciate the film’s unique blend of dark humor and surreal visuals, considering it a cult classic.: The commitment of the cast to their roles, despite the film’s flaws, is often mentioned as a positive aspect.

Many consider this as the worst film ever.: Digital Underground scenes are entertaining.

Overall Consensus: A critical and commercial failure upon release, ‘Nothing But Trouble’ has gained a small cult following among those who appreciate its bizarre humor and unique visual style. However, it is largely considered a poorly executed and unfunny film.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is loosely based on a real-life experience Dan Aykroyd had when he was pulled over for speeding in a rural town and taken to a justice of the peace in the middle of the night.”
• “Dan Aykroyd not only directed and co-wrote the film but also played two roles: Judge Alvin Valkenheiser and Bobo, one of the disfigured grandchildren.”
• “The film’s budget was approximately $40 million, but it only grossed around $8.5 million worldwide, making it a box office bomb.”

🖥️ How to Watch Nothing But Trouble?

Currently, “Nothing But Trouble” is available for purchase or rental on various platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Availability may vary by region, so check your local listings.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Nothing But Trouble, you might like these similar films:

• Motel Hell (1980): Shares the dark humor and backwoods horror elements, with unsuspecting travelers falling prey to a twisted family.
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986): Another horror comedy with a sadistic family.
• House of 1000 Corpses (2003): Features a group of travelers being captured by a bizarre and murderous family in a secluded, macabre setting.
• Freeway (1996): A dark comedy take on the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale.

🛒 Nothing But Trouble Related Products

• Digital Underground – This is an EP Release: Relive Digital Underground’s iconic performance from the movie with this essential EP. Features some of their best work.
• Chevy Chase: The Fletch Collection [DVD]: Enjoy Chevy Chase in ‘Fletch’, one of his best performances. If you enjoyed Chevy Chase in ‘Nothing But Trouble’, then check out this.
• Replica Police Car: A miniature replica of Valkenvania police car as seen in the movie.
• Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka: Created by Dan Aykroyd, a unique vodka in a skull-shaped bottle, this is a conversation piece and a premium spirit.

🎧 Soundtrack

Nothing But Trouble features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Good Life (La Belle Vie)” – performed by Ray Charles

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Nothing But Trouble – It’s Not THAT Bad – A Retrospective

Ever heard people bash ‘Nothing But Trouble’? This video makes a compelling case for why it’s actually a misunderstood gem. I kinda agree, give it a watch and tell me what you think!

Tupac Shakur 1st Movie Role in “Nothing But Trouble” 1991

Did you know Tupac’s first movie role was in ‘Nothing But Trouble’? Crazy, right? Check out this short clip highlighting his appearance!

10 Things You Didnt Know About Nothing but Trouble

Think you know everything about ‘Nothing But Trouble’? I bet you’ll learn something new in this trivia video. Some of these facts are WILD!

✨ Rate