Where to watch Who’s Harry Crumb?
2 Stars
Harry is the latest generation of the Crumbs, famous and extremely talented detectives. Unfortunately talent seems to have skipped a generation and Harry is reduced to “gumshoe” work at a remote branch of the Crumb detective agency. Back at headquarters, Crumb executive Elliot Draison hatches an evil plan which requires the inclusion of an incompetent detective. With Harry Crumb on the case Draison thinks everything will run fine for him. Despite his best efforts Crumb actually makes some headway in the case…
In 1989, my parents had reconciled for the second or third time, and they implemented a ‘date night’. I recall them going to see Her Alibi and leaving me with a babysitter. A few weeks late, Harry Crumb was the movie they had chosen, and I begged them to come along. The oversized cardboard cutout advertising the movie was in the lobby for months preceding the opening, and it looked zany and starred one of my favorite funnymen, John Candy. Who’s Harry Crumb? is at best a mediocre comedy that works only when Candy dons disguises and accents.
When I saw the movie at 10 years old, I was in love with Shawnee Smith, and her presence alone elevated the movie in my mind. I had seen bits of the film on TV over the years, and it never played as funny as that memorable outing back in ’89. So, viewing it today in full, the truth is apparent: John Candy’s film career would have been a bust without the guiding hands of John Hughes and Chris Columbus.
Directed by: Paul Flaherty
Written by: Bob Conte, Peter Wortmann
Starring: John Candy, Jeffrey Jones, Annie Potts