Dunston Checks In
Dunston Checks In | |
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![]() Promotional poster | |
Directed by | Ken Kwapis |
Screenplay by | John Hopkins Bruce Graham |
Story by | John Hopkins |
Produced by | Todd Black Joe Wizan |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Peter Lyons Collister |
Edited by | Jon Poll |
Music by | Miles Goodman |
Production company | |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 88 minutes |
Countries | Canada[1] United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $16 million |
Box office | $9.9 million |
Dunston Checks Inis a 1996comedy filmdirected byKen Kwapis.The film starsEric Lloyd,Graham Sack,Jason Alexander,Faye Dunaway,Rupert Everett,Paul Reubens,Glenn Shadix,and Sam the Orangutan as Dunston. The film received negative reviews and grossed $10 million against a budget of $16 million.
Plot
[edit]Lionel Spalding and his dog Neil arrive at the prestigious, five-star Majestic Hotel where, due to a prank by Kyle Grant and his older brother Brian, an overflowing fountain accidentally drenches him, greatly frustrating the hotel manager and the boys' widowed father Robert. He is disappointed with the boys but they are guaranteed a vacation inBarbadosafterward, only for the ruthless, haughty hotel owner, Elena Dubrow, to force them to cancel the trip for a third time, due to the upcoming Crystal Ball where one of the guests is revealed to be a critic from the Le Monde Traveller Organization who they hope will reward the Majestic with asixth star.
At that moment, "Lord" Rutledge, a jewel thief whom Mrs. Dubrow believes is the critic, arrives with anorangutannamed Dunston, intending to steal the guests' jewelry. Dunston and his deceased brother Samson were both trained in thievery their entire lives, and Dunston has been wanting to escape from Rutledge's poor treatment and life of crime ever since.
Meanwhile, Rutledge distracts and causes Kyle to accidentally set a sterling rope mini-pulley free from his hand where Brian falls down and out from alaundry chute.Dunston flees from Rutledge and is later found by Kyle, who befriends the poor orangutan and promises to keep him safe. However, Dunston soon begins causing disruption in the hotel such as ruining Spalding's workout and interfering with Mrs. Angela Dellacroce's massage. After realizing Dunston's presence, Robert calls for an animal control specialist named Buck LaFarge to remove Dunston from the hotel.
After one failed attempt by LaFarge, Kyle with the help of Brian hides Dunston in the royal suite of the hotel under the alias of Dr. Lam Binh Ngoc to keep him away from both LaFarge and Rutledge. However, Rutledge manages to locate him due to Dunston's ordering a lot of bananas, ties Kyle up and gags him. Dunston and Kyle escape to the ballroom where the Crystal Ball is taking place, obtaining a picture of Rutledge, Dunston, and Samson from Rutledge's room. Kyle and Brian show the picture to their dad, and Robert is infuriated when Kyle says Rutledge tied him up. Brian and Kyle search for Dunston, avoiding LaFarge and Mrs. Dubrow, while Robert and Rutledge fight in the kitchen. Mrs. Dubrow eventually corners Kyle believing that he brought Dunston into the hotel when in truth it was Rutledge, but Dunston hanging from a chandelier pushes her into the giant party cake. Robert eventually stands up to Mrs. Dubrow but is fired in the process. However, it turns out that Spalding, who had been humiliated, assaulted, and inconvenienced by Dunston's antics, was the real critic all along. As a result, Spalding declares Mrs. Dubrow managed to go from a five-star hotel to a one-star hotel before passing out from LaFarge's tranquilizer dart. Rutledge is arrested and LaFarge apologizes to Dunston, who then slaps him.
In the end, thanks to Mrs. Dubrow's more kind-hearted husband Victor, Robert, Kyle, and Brian move toBalito manage a Majestic Hotel there where they can keep Dunston as a pet. They invite Spalding over with a complimentary room and meals to make up for all the trouble he experienced and assure him that nothing will go wrong this time. However, in the last scene, Dunston causes further trouble by dropping a largecoconutwhich lands on Spalding's head.
Cast
[edit]- Sam the Orangutan as Dunston
- Bob Bergenas Dunston (voice)[3]
- Jason Alexanderas Robert Grant, the widowed father of Kyle & Brian
- Faye Dunawayas Elena Dubrow
- Eric Lloydas Kyle Grant, the new owner of Dunston
- Rupert Everettas Lord Rutledge
- Glenn Shadixas Lionel Spalding
- Paul Reubensas Buck LaFarge
- Graham Sack as Brian Grant, Kyle's older brother
- Nathan Davisas Victor Dubrow, Elena's husband
- Steven Gilbornas Artie
- Jennifer Basseyas Angela Dellacroce
- Frank Welkeras Neil, Lionel's dog (voice)[4]
- Bree Turneras French girl
Reception
[edit]The film holds a 16% approval rating onRotten Tomatoesbased on 19 reviews.[5]
Some contemporary reviews were more generous, however. Desson Howe and Rita Kempley ofThe Washington Postreferred to the film by saying "it ain't half bad", and a "plucky, prank-filled family farce" respectively.[6]Kevin Thomas of theLos Angeles Timesstated thatDunston Checks In"is a delightful and funny family film of exceptional high style", "as light as asouffléand just as delicious ", and" plays like a tribute to the resourceful, unpretentious studio productions of the past ".[7]According to an article published in theChicago Tribune,"The cast is talented, thehide-and-seekaction is silly (not killing), and the bond between a sweet little boy and the adorable ape is touching. "[8]
Audiences surveyed byCinemaScoregave the film a grade of "A" on a scale of A+ to F.[9]
Faye Dunaway's performance in the film and inThe Chamberearned her aGolden Raspberry Awardnomination for Worst Supporting Actress. The film was also nominated at the18th Youth in Film Awards(Young Artist Awards) for Best Family Feature Film: Musical or Comedy, and Eric Lloyd for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Actor Age Ten or Under. The film was successful at the box office in India, where it was dubbed inHindiand retitledEk Bandar Hotel Ke Andar(transl. A monkey inside the hotel).[10]
Home media
[edit]Dunston Checks Inwas much more successful inhome videothan in theaters. As of April 1997[update]the studio had an estimated $41.6 million in video sales, receiving 75%, greatly exceeding box office gross.[11]The film was released by20th Century Fox Home Entertainmenton VHS on May 28, 1996. It was released on DVD on May 28, 2002, and re-released on March 18, 2014.
References
[edit]- ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.com.
- ^Petrikin, Chris (February 18, 1998)."Fox renamed that toon".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2019.RetrievedMarch 31,2018.
- ^"Bob Bergen Official Web Site: Voice-Over Resume".bobbergen.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-01-29.Retrieved2020-10-12.
- ^"Dunston Checks In".Behind The Voice Actors.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-10-13.Retrieved2020-10-12.
- ^"Dunston Checks In (1996)".Rotten Tomatoes.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-09-03.Retrieved2022-07-06.
- ^'Dunston Checks In' (PG)Archived2016-03-05 at theWayback MachineRetrieved January 2012
- ^"MOVIE REVIEW: 'Dunston Checks In' Rates Five-Star Fun".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved January 2012.
- ^"Kids Should Go Ape Over 'Dunston Checks In'"Archived2014-10-16 at theWayback Machine.Chicago Tribune.Retrieved January 2012.
- ^"Cinemascore".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-12-20.Retrieved2020-07-21.
- ^Saikat Neogi (1996)."The dubbing craze started by Jurassic Park has become a major industry today".Rashtriya Sahara.Vol. 4, no. 7–12. Sahara India Mass Communication.
- ^Matzer, Marla (1997-04-16)."Direct-to-Video Family Films Are Hitting Home".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-05-16.Retrieved4 June2011.
External links
[edit]- 1996 films
- 1996 children's films
- 1996 comedy films
- 1990s buddy comedy films
- 1990s children's comedy films
- 20th Century Fox films
- American buddy comedy films
- American children's comedy films
- American slapstick comedy films
- Canadian children's comedy films
- English-language Canadian films
- Films about apes
- Films directed by Ken Kwapis
- Films scored by Miles Goodman
- Films set in 1995
- Films set in hotels
- Films set in New York City
- 1990s English-language films
- 1990s American films
- 1990s Canadian films
- Film and television memes