Weekend at Bernie’s Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two guys discover their boss is embezzling, get invited to his beach house, he dies, and they spend the weekend pretending he’s alive because… reasons.

🍿 Weekend at Bernie’s: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Discovering the Fraud

Larry Wilson and Richard Parker, two ambitious employees, uncover a $2 million insurance fraud at their company. They report their findings to their boss, Bernie Lomax, hoping for a promotion and recognition for their work. This sets off a chain of events that quickly spirals out of control.

The Invitation and Bernie’s Demise

Bernie, seemingly grateful, invites Larry and Richard to his luxurious beach house in the Hamptons for Labor Day weekend. However, Bernie is actually the one behind the fraud and plans to have them killed. Before his plan can be executed, Bernie is murdered by a mob hitman, hired by his partners who felt he was attracting too much attention and sleeping with the boss’s girlfriend.

The Weekend Begins

Upon arriving at Bernie’s beach house, Larry and Richard discover Bernie’s dead body. Fearing implication in his murder and eager to enjoy the lavish weekend, Larry convinces Richard to pretend that Bernie is still alive. This leads to a series of increasingly absurd and hilarious situations as they attempt to fool the other party guests.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Larry Wilson (Andrew McCarthy): An ambitious and somewhat unscrupulous office worker who suggests pretending their dead boss is still alive to enjoy a weekend at the beach.
• Richard Parker (Jonathan Silverman): A more cautious and morally upright office worker who is reluctantly dragged into Larry’s scheme to impersonate their dead boss.
• Bernie Lomax (Terry Kiser): The corrupt and womanizing boss whose murder sets off a series of farcical events as his employees try to conceal his death.
• Paulie (Don Calfa): The determined hitman who is sent to kill Bernie and becomes increasingly frustrated by his apparent inability to stay dead.
• Gwen Saunders (Catherine Mary Stewart): An intern who is Richard’s crush and becomes entangled in the scheme to make Bernie appear alive.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Larry Wilson: “What kind of a host invites you to his house for the weekend and dies on you?” – Larry expresses his frustration at Bernie dying and ruining their anticipated weekend.
• Larry Wilson: “Think of the possibilities!” – Larry excitedly pitches the idea of pretending Bernie is still alive to Richard.
• Richard Parker: “This is sick!” – Richard’s consistent reaction to Larry’s increasingly absurd plans for Bernie’s corpse.
• Paulie: “How can he still be alive?!” – The frustrated hitman’s bewildered reaction every time he sees Bernie after attempting to kill him.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $15,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $30,218,387
• Worldwide Gross: $30,218,387

💥 Weekend at Bernie’s Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I’ll admit it, I have a soft spot for this movie. The first time I saw it, I was dying with laughter. Seeing Terry Kiser play a dead guy so convincingly is just pure comedic gold. I remember the scene where they’re trying to water ski with Bernie. I thought I was going to pee my pants from laughing so hard. It’s stupid, yes, but sometimes you just need a movie that doesn’t take itself seriously, and ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ delivers on that front. I’ve watched it several times and it still makes me laugh.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of slapstick comedy”
  • “Viewers who enjoy dark humor”
  • “Those looking for a lighthearted and absurd film”
  • “Fans of 1980s comedies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depiction of a corpse”
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Some suggestive content”
  • “Violence (comical)”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While the film’s premise is undeniably absurd, the execution is surprisingly effective. The physical comedy is well-timed, and the performances, particularly Kiser’s, are committed. However, the film’s one-joke premise does wear thin by the end.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Weekend at Bernie’s certainly is quite stupid, but there are a few guffaws to be had here and there. This is more due to the performers than the script. The premise is quite dark.

Audience Reactions

Terry Kiser’s performance as Bernie is legendary; he commits to being dead, making the film’s absurd humor work.: Audiences love the ridiculous premise and the over-the-top physical comedy.

Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman’s chemistry makes them an unlikely but hilarious comedic duo.: Viewers appreciate the fun of watching the two leads try to maintain the charade.

Overall Consensus: Weekend at Bernie’s is a divisive comedy with a ridiculous premise, but those who enjoy its brand of physical humor find it endlessly entertaining.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Terry Kiser’s stunt double suffered broken ribs during filming, mostly in the scene where Bernie is dragged around the ocean, bumping into buoys.”
• “Much of the explicit language was toned down for the UK DVD release in 2001, using overdubs from the original actors for a ‘family friendly’ version.”

🖥️ How to Watch Weekend at Bernie’s?

Weekend at Bernie’s is available for purchase or rental on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability on cable and satellite services. While not typically available on subscription-based streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, keep an eye out as these platforms occasionally acquire licenses for specific titles.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Weekend at Bernie’s, you might like these similar films:

• Mannequin (1987): Features a similar premise of pretending an inanimate object is alive and interacting with it in public.
• National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983): Shares the slapstick humor and road trip elements, with a family facing increasingly absurd situations on their vacation.
• Office Space (1999): Captures similar themes of workplace dissatisfaction and rebellion against corporate culture.
• Very Bad Things (1998): Involves dark humor and accidental death, with friends covering up a crime that escalates into a series of unfortunate events.

🛒 Weekend at Bernie’s Related Products

• Weekend at Bernie’s Blu-ray: Own the classic 80s comedy on Blu-ray for enhanced picture and sound quality. Relive all the hilarious moments with Bernie.
• Weekend at Bernie’s Movie Poster: Decorate your space with the iconic poster from ‘Weekend at Bernie’s.’ A great conversation starter and a fun addition to any movie lover’s collection.
• Bernie Lomax Sunglasses: Replicate the look of Bernie Lomax with these sunglasses. Perfect for costume parties or just for fun.
• ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ Limited Edition Action Figure: A limited-edition action figure capturing Terry Kiser as Bernie Lomax. Comes with multiple accessories, including sunglasses and miniature water skis.

🎧 Soundtrack

Weekend at Bernie’s features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Vissi D’Arte, Vissi D’Amore” – performed by Giacomo Puccini

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Hot New DANCE CRAZE Hits The South It’s Based On The 1980s Movie WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S!!!

Who knew ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ would inspire a dance craze? This video is wild – check out how a classic movie turned into a viral sensation!

Weekend at Bernie’s 1 & 2 funny movie parts

Need a good laugh? This video is packed with the funniest scenes from both ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ movies. Trust me, it’s comedy gold!

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