Among cult films there are many that, at least from the perspective of the uninitiated viewers, look like nothing to write home about. Status of such film can often be explained by some rather banal facts, like merely gathering talents that would later become famous and popular. One such cult film is Caddyshack, 1980 comedy and directorial debut of Harold Ramis.
Film has relatively loose plot, with the main strand dealing with nominal protagonist Danny Noonan (played by Michael O’Keefe), young man from modest blue collar family who wants to go to college and tries to earn some many money by working as a caddie in Bushwick Country Club. There he meets all kinds of picturesque characters, which include club’s arrogant, elitist chairman Judge Elihu Smail (played by Ted Knight) whose favour he tries to win in order to obtain caddie scholarship. As part of his regular job he caddies for Ty Webb (played by Chevy Chase), Zen-practising golfer and son of club’s co-founder. His romantic life is torn between his regular girlfriend Maggie O’Hooligan (played by Sarah Holcomb), who might or might not be pregnant with another man; and Lacey Underall (played by Cindy Morgan), Judge Smail’s attractive but unapologetically promiscuous niece. In the meantime, status quo in the club is challenged with na arrival of wealthy and vulgar nouveau riche developer Al Czervik (played by Rodney Dangerfield) who becomes Judge Smail’s main rival. While all this happens, club’s demented pot-smoking assistant groundskeeper Charlie Sparks (played by Bill Murray) fights his own version of Vietnam War against seemingly uncatchable gopher.
Caddyshack looks more like a disorganised mess than like feature film. Many jokes don’t work or they simply go towards the lowest common denominator by basing the humour on various bodily functions. But the biggest problem is lack of coherence, with certain subplots being unfinished, certain character underdeveloped and many of them, like the scenes featuring often obnoxious Rodney Dangerfield, looking like they were artificially inserted from another film. However, it is that very lack of coherence that ultimately saves this film, allowing various segments of the audience to pick characters and styles of humour they would ultimately enjoy. That might be the case with the pot-smoking scene featuring Chase and Murray, which is one of the best remembered segments of the film although it doesn’t have much to do with the plot. Juvenile and exploitative character of the film, reflected, among other things, in actress Cindy Morgan appearing topless, is one of the reasons why critics initially disliked it. A little bit of class consciousness in the humour, on the other hand, gave just enough basis for Caddyshack not to fall apart and serve as successful springboard for later and much more successful films directed by Ramis and featuring Bill Murray.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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