“Saturday Night Live” has been the jump off point for a huge number of comedy movie stars (though only a few really had the talent to carry the films they were in). The early days gave us the genius of John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd, while later years disappointed with the likes of… oh say… Adam Sandler (who has to be in league with the devil to get the obscene amount of money he gets to headline a film) or Rob Schneider. While time has mellowed some of the early geniuses, death has claimed others. Belushi and Gilda Radner are unfortunately gone… but they are not the only ones. Chris Farley was by no means a genius. He was a fairly gifted comic who, if given the opportunity, might have been able to raise himself above the self-deprecating humor he was best known for. Throughout his short career, he was always the big, fat, dumb guy. Jokes were constantly made at his expense because of his obesity, with much of the ridicule coming from himself. Admittedly, the mean-spirited part of me sometimes found it funny, like the time on “SNL” where Farley was in competition with Patrick Swayze to become a Chippendale Dancer.

But most of the time I found it too sad to laugh. Unfortunately, Farley succumbed to the excesses of fame, dying of an overdose (like Belushi before him). At the time he was doing voiceover work for the character of Shrek, but his death led to the recasting of “SNL” alum Mike Meyers. Meyers did a terrific job with the role, but I have to wonder what Farley would have done with it and whether or not it might have been a breakout role for him.

While both were still on “SNL”, Farley teamed up with comedian David Spade to do a ‘road’ picture called “Tommy Boy.” In it Farley played Tommy Calllahan, the bumbling son of an auto parts impresario and after 7 years of college is on the fast track to take over daddy’s business. However ‘Tommy Boy’ just isn’t cut the mustard in the brains department. To call him naïve would almost be a compliment. After his father passes away suddenly, Tommy finds himself right in the middle of trying to keep the company from closing without a clue as to how to do it. He is teamed with an accountant for the company (Spade) and together they embark on a road trip to raise the money needed to save the family business.

The pairing of Farley and Spade at the time was a brilliant move. The two were so geometrically opposed, both in appearance and comedic style that the dynamic between them just clicked. It is their rapport that elevates the film beyond being just another road picture. Granted the comedy is extremely broad, often bordering on stupid, but somehow they manage to pull it off and deliver the laughs.

Paramount is releasing a 2-disc DVD set of “Tommy Boy” this week, much to my surprise. I’m not surprised by the release per se, but a 2-DISC set? Who knew that the studio held this film in high enough regard to allow for so many extra features? Along with the requisite director commentary by Peter Segal, the 2nd disc holds several featurettes taking a look the making of the film as well as some behind the scenes footage of Farley and Spade showing how well the two got along. Some of the other featurettes focus on the characters themselves and allow Farley’s brothers to talk a bit about what it was like to grow up with him. There are also tons of deleted, alternate and extended scenes. The alternate takes are especially fun as the lines are often altered greatly, too much comedic effect. Add to this a bunch of TV spots and a gag reel and you have a much more fulfilling DVD release than you might have expected form this often overlooked film.

Whether or not the average movie watcher will enjoy “Tommy Boy” really depends on how much they like, or dislike, Farley and Spade. Spade especially can be extremely sarcastic and off-putting, but I find him to be hysterically funny. And again, pairing him with Farley just really worked for me.

Directed by: Peter Segal
Starring: Chris Farley, David Spade, Bo Derek, Brian Dennehy
Extras: Commentary by Director Peter Segal, “Tommy Boy – Behind the Laughter”, “Stories From the Side of the Road”, “Just the Two of Us”, “Growing Up Farley”, 6 Deleted Scenes, 6 Alternate Takes, 15 Extended Scenes, 7 Storyboard Comparisons, 19 TV Spots, Gag Reel, Photo Gallery, Theatrical Trailer
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 8/30/2005
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (For Sex Related Humor, Some Drug Content and Nudity)
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We'll give Tommy Boy: Holy Schnike Edition a B+.