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In what is probably the most appropriate scene in the film, Tommy
(Chris Farley) wriggles around like a dog as he’s having
crap washed off him with a hose, all the while singing, “I’m
a maniac…maniac…” at the top of his lungs. Chris
Farley is indeed a maniac, from beginning to end.
The story goes as Tommy finally graduates from college after seven
years and moves back home to work for his dad’s auto parts
factory. His dad (Brian Dennehy) soon dies, however, and Tommy
is left with half of the factory, the other half going to the
dad's new wife (Bo Derek). The company will go under unless someone
sells their new break pads, and for some strange reason, they
have no one to sell them but Tommy. The company also sends Richard
(David Spade) with him to keep him out of trouble. Of course,
Tommy gets in trouble wherever he goes, but at least he has a
good heart dang it.
The majority of Tommy is a string of episodes wherein
Tommy has the opportunity to screw up or create some unintended
comic mischief. The gags are real hit and miss – some of
them are very funny while others are just plain dumb. The laughs
really only come from Farley though. David Spade has great comic
potential, as is shown in many other films – but not in
this one. Spade’s character is generally nothing but a cranky
guy set there for something for Farley to play off of.
Many of the gags rely on some gross improbability, such as Richard
and Tommy actually taking over as flight attendants, or everyone
in a bank immediately falling to the ground when Tommy enters
and cries, “This will just take a second!” Even stranger
is Tommy’s romantic relationship with Michelle (Julie Warner).
Why the heck is this girl so attracted to Tommy? If Tommy were
pursuing her and if she weren’t very attractive, we might
be able to believe she would eventually give into him. But she’s
the one going after Tommy.
Anyway, Tommy spends most of the film driving around trying to
sell the brake pads but has trouble selling the product because,
well, he gets too excited when he’s nervous. He must be
nervous all the time. Eventually he learns to control himself
somewhat and finally saves the day by striking a deal with Ray
Zalinsky (Dan Akroyd), who acts like he’s trying to replay
his role from Coneheads. Generally, the film is void of interest,
with the exception of a handful of good laughs from Farley, which
is really all we’re expecting anyway.
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