Dunston Checks In

I remember seeing this film with my entire middle school. Before Christmas holidays, we would get a private screening of a kids movie at the local theater. In my last year in middle school, we got to see “Dunston Checks In”. Sometimes it is not about how good the film is but whom you are seeing it with. With an entire theater full of kids, any joke feels funnier than it actually is. The film is for families but the comedy works even today for me. I feel that the acting and the editing are the biggest contributors to this show. Beware though, this movie was much better when I was younger.

Editing helps to tell a story and establish mood & setting. The opening montage and the sequence where preparations are made for the crystal ball are good examples of this. You feel the importance and glamour of the hotel and the ball thanks to montage and music. Timing is very important in a comedy and there are moments in this film that are very funny because of the editing. The scene when Kyle yells, “There’s a gorilla in the bathroom” and then we cut to Robert’s reaction is timed very well. I like how the black and white movie turns out to be King Kong or something. Another great use of comedic editing in the film is when Robert is looking in the greenhouse, he begin to scream and then we cut back to the room with the ladies where it is perfectly quiet but we see Dunston jump onto Robert in the background.

Jason Alexander plays a loving father and hard working hotel manager quite well but considering the genre and his fans, he throws in some George Costanza quirks. His character is fully illustrated in his first scene with Mrs. Dubrow in that we see that he is having a hard time balancing his life as a father and as a manager. We also see how he deals with his boss who has no heart. Consuelo is sent on a paid vacation but he makes it look like he is following orders. Other funny moments in the film include the line, “It was the smelly ledge monster!” and when Robert first sees Dunston and the ladies misunderstand his reaction. His panic attack is so funny as he tries to leave the room and all these moments are hilarious thanks to Jason Alexander’s acting. Robert’s line, “Have you tried the cake” and the subsequent cake throwing made the theater explode with cheering when I first saw the movie. Rupert Everett plays a bad man very well as usual but because of the genre, his comedic timing and acting is important. He is very funny in the comedy scenes but very scary when he needs to be. The fight between Rutledge and Robert is very comedic as they use what’s in the kitchen. The kitchen staff provides laughs too as they watch and react without helping. Buck Lafarge is such a funny character in that he does not belong at a 5 star hotel at all visually. I love how he uses a golf bag. His theme music adds so much to his comic performance. I grew up watching Pee-wee Herman and this character was a welcome performance because of contrast. Mr. Dubrow plays well against her husband whenever we see him and I like the nice twist that Spalding is the hidden representative from Lamonde.

The film is great for families because of its comic timing and acting. I don’t find monkeys all that funny most of the time but what makes this film humorous is the actors acting with the monkey.

3 Stars