Weekend at Bernie’s

Directed by Ted Kotcheff, Weekend at Bernie’s follows friends Larry Wilson (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard Parker (Jonathan Silverman) as they uncover some irregularities in their company’s financial records and are subsequently invited to their boss’ (Terry Kiser’s Bernie) beach house for the weekend – with Larry and Richard’s eventual discovery that Bernie’s been murdered forcing the pair, for rather convoluted reasons, to convince those around them that Bernie didn’t die. It’s an agreeably broad setup that’s employed to somewhat erratic yet predominantly entertaining effect by Kotcheff, as the filmmaker, working from Robert Klane’s script, delivers a pervasively affable comedy that benefits substantially from the charming, spellbinding work of its two leads – with McCarthy and Silverman’s perpetually compelling efforts here, as well as their endless chemistry together, ensuring that the movie fares well even during its less-than-memorable stretches. It’s clear, of course, that Weekend at Bernie’s doesn’t entirely kick into high gear until the protagonists start pretending that Bernie is still alive, which paves the way for a second half rife with hilarious interludes and set-pieces of a completely (and appreciatively) over-the-top nature (including, in what’s undoubtedly the movie’s comedic highlight, a sequence involving Bernie and a speedboat). By the time the satisfying climax rolls around, Weekend at Bernie’s has confirmed its place as a memorably ridiculous ’80s endeavor that’s overflowing with appealing, engaging elements. (Kiser’s astonishingly captivating turn as the deceased Bernie is alone reason enough to recommend the picture.)

*** out of ****