A 1983 American comedy Buddy Picture directed by Michael Ritchie, which follows two men (Walter Matthau and Robin Williams) who become friends after losing their jobs and while being chased by a hitman (Jerry Reed).
The supporting cast includes Kristen Vigard, James Wainwright, Annie Mc Enroe, John Goodman, Marian Hailey, Meg Mundy, Marilyn Cooper, Skipp Lynch, and Joseph Carberry.
It was released on June 22, 1983.
Tropes in the film:
- Con Man: Wes, the leader of the survivalist camp Donald moves to, exploits the craze of the survivalists to get all their money and buy corporate bonds. You can guess what happens to him when his briefcase is smashes open at the climax and the survivalists see all of the bonds fly away on the wind…
- Crazy Survivalist: The movie made of fun of the survivalist craze (emphasis on "craze") that peaked in the mid eighties just before the end of the Cold War. Donald Quinelle, a hapless yuppie who turns into a rabid survivalist after losing his job and being threatened by a criminal.
- Polly Wants a Microphone: The movie starts with Quinelle getting fired by his boss's parrot.
- Post-Robbery Trauma: after losing his job, accidentally blowing up Sonny's gas station, and being shot in a robbery attempt, Donald becomes paranoid and convinced of the imminent collapse of society. He buys several guns, leaves his girlfriend, and goes to a Vermont "survival camp" led by a man named Wes.
- Tagline: "Your basic survival comedy".
