Tommy Boy is a 1995 road comedy film directed by Peter Segal, written by Bonnie and Terry Turner, and starring former Saturday Night Live colleagues Chris Farley and David Spade. The film tells the story of a socially and emotionally immature man (portrayed by Farley) who learns lessons about friendship and self-worth following the sudden death of his industrialist father. The film did well commercially, but received mixed reviews from critics.^[2]

Plot[link]

After seven years, Thomas R. "Tommy" Callahan III (Chris Farley) barely graduates from Marquette University and returns home to Sandusky, Ohio. His proud father, industrialist and widower Thomas "Big Tom" Callahan, Jr. (Brian Dennehy), gives him an executive job at the family's auto parts plant, Callahan Auto. In addition to the new job and office, Big Tom reveals another set of surprises for his son: He plans to marry Beverly Barrish-Burns (Bo Derek), a woman he had met at a fat farm, and her son Paul (Rob Lowe in an uncredited role), will become Tommy's new stepbrother.

But, during the wedding reception, Big Tom dies from a sudden heart attack. After the funeral, the bank reneges on promises of a loan for a new brake pad division, the key to Big Tom's strategy for the company. Doubting the future of the company without Big Tom, the bank seeks immediate payment of Callahan Auto's debts. In a move that surprises even himself, Tommy suggests a deal: Tommy will let the bank hold his inherited shares and house in exchange for the bank giving him time to sell enough orders for brake pads to prove the new division's viability. If he sells the brake pads by the deadline, the bank will grant the loan. The bankers agree, and set Tommy's goal at proven sales of 500,000 brake pads. The bankers remind Tommy that if he should fail, the bank will use their ownership stake to convince the board to sell the company. Tommy sets out on a cross-nation sales trip with his father's former assistant, Richard Hayden (David Spade), a childhood friend and long jealous of Tommy's ability to be lazy and yet be rewarded.

Meanwhile, Beverly and Paul are shown kissing romantically. They are not mother and son, but married con artists with criminal records. Their plan to steal from Big Tom has paid off early. Instead of eventually suing for divorce and taking half of Big Tom's estate, Beverly has inherited controlling interest in the company. To turn that into cash, she seeks a quick sale to self-described "auto parts king" Ray Zalinsky (Dan Aykroyd).

On the road, Tommy's social awkwardness and hyperactivity alienate potential buyers. These failures lead to tension between Tommy and Richard, which eventually escalates into a fight between the two after a near-car accident that was indirectly and unintentionally caused by Tommy. Richard's classic 1967 Plymouth GTX is damaged in a series of comic pratfalls. But, when Tommy persuades a surly waitress to serve him after the kitchen has closed, he finds his confidence. The pair mend their friendship and make their sales goal.

However, Paul sabotages the company's computers, causing sales posted by sales manager Michelle Brock (Julie Warner) to be lost or rerouted. Customers cancel their orders. The bank, backed by Beverly and Paul, decides to sell Callahan Auto to Zalinsky. On the eve of the sale, Zalinsky does not hide his plans: He only wants the goodwill connected with the Callahan brand. He will close down the company and lay off its 300 workers. Tommy and Richard travel to Chicago see Zalinsky.

In Chicago, Tommy and Richard are removed from the Zalinsky board room since Tommy has no standing. After briefly wallowing on the curb in self-pity, Michelle arrives with Paul and Beverly's police records. Tommy devises 'a plan:' Dressed as a bogus suicide bomber, he attracts a live television news crew and then forces his way back into the board room. In Sandusky, Callahan workers watch the drama on a conveniently placed television. Having gained the attention of Zalinsky and the Callahan board, Tommy reveals his deception; the sticks of dynamite strapped to his chest are just road flares stolen from a construction site. In a final move of pure persuasion, Tommy quotes Zalinsky's own advertising claim to be on the side of the "American working man." As a TV audience watches, Zalinsky signs Tommy's purchase order for "half-a-million" brake pads. Workers in Sandusky cheer. The TV crew, thinking the story dramatically concluded, leaves.

With the cameras gone, Zalinsky says that the purchase order is meaningless, as he will soon own Callahan Auto. However, Michelle shows her police documents, which includes Paul's outstanding warrants for fraud. The group around the table works through the logic together: Since Beverly is still married to Paul, her marriage to Big Tom was bigamy, and therefore never legal. Thus, the shares actually belong to Tommy.

Since Tommy does not want to sell, the deal with Zalinsky is off. And, since Tommy still holds Zalinsky's purchase order, the company is saved. Paul attempts to escape, but is arrested. Zalinsky admits that Tommy outplayed him and invites Beverly to dinner. And, in a happy ending, Tommy is introduced to the employees in Sandusky as the new leader of Callahan Auto.

Cast[link]

• Chris Farley as Thomas "Tommy" Callahan III
• David Spade as Richard Hayden
• Rob Lowe as Paul Barish (uncredited)
• Bo Derek as Beverly Barish-Burns Callahan
• Dan Aykroyd as Ray Zalinsky
• Julie Warner as Michelle Brock
• Brian Dennehy as Thomas "Big Tom" Callahan Jr.
• William Patterson Dunlop as R.T.
• Sean McCann as Frank Rittenhauer
• Zach Grenier as Ted Reilly
• James Blendick as Ron Gilmore
• Clinton Turnbull as Young Tommy
• Ryder Britton as Young Richard
• Philip Williams as Danny
• David 'Skippy' Malloy as Sammy
• Roy Lewis as Louis
• Addison Bell as Mr. Brady
• Maria Vacratsis as Helen
• Colin Fox as Ted Nelson
• Jonathan Wilson as Marty
• Pat Moffatt as Mrs. Nelson
• David Huband as Gas Attendant
• Julianne Gillies as Brady's Receptionist
• Michael Ewing as Ticket Agent

Reception[link]

Tommy Boy opened as the No. 1 movie in the United States on March 31, 1995,^[3] eventually falling out of the Top 20 within seven weeks. Total U.S. box office gross was $32,648,673.^[3]

The film did well financially, but received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release. Rotten Tomatoes' index rates the film at 45%.^[2]

Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert wrote: "'Tommy Boy' is one of those movies that plays like an explosion down at the screenplay factory. You can almost picture a bewildered office boy, his face smudged with soot, wandering through the ruins and rescuing pages at random. Too bad they didn't mail them to the insurance company instead of filming them."^[4] The film is on Ebert's "Most Hated" list.^[5]

The New York Times'Caryn James said the film was "the very poor cousin of a dopey Jim Carrey movie".^[6] Bo Derek's performance in Tommy Boy earned her a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actress.

The film received positive reviews from the Lawrence Journal-World, the Los Angeles Times, and the Arizona Daily Star.^[2] Since its release, some critics have declared the film is a "cult classic."^{[7] [8]}

Soundtrack[link]

Warner Brothers soundtrack release[link]

1. "I Love It Loud (Injected Mix)" – written by Gene Simmons & Vincent Cusano, performed by Phunk Junkeez
2. Graduation – David Spade
3. "Silver Naked Ladies" – Paul Westerberg
4. Lalaluukee – Chris Farley
5. "Call On Me" – Primal Scream
6. How Do I Look? – David Spade
7. "Wait For The Blackout" – written by The Damned (Scabies/Sensible/Gray/Vanian/Billy Karloff), performed by The Goo Goo Dolls
8. Bong Resin – David Spade
9. "My Hallucination" – Tommy Shaw & Jack Blades
10. "Air" – written by Pamela Laws & Nancy Hess, performed by Seven Day Diary
11. Fat Guy In Little Coat – Chris Farley
12. "Superstar" – written by Leon Russell, Delaney Bramlett, & Bonnie Bramlett, performed by The Carpenters
13. Jerk Motel – David Spade
14. "Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago" – Soul Coughing
15. My Pretty Little Pet – Chris Farley
16. "Come On Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners
17. It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M.
18. "Eres Tú" – written by Juan Carlos Calderón, performed by Mocedades
19. Housekeeping – David Spade
20. "My Lucky Day" – Smoking Popes
21. Poop – David Spade

Other songs[link]

1. "What'd I Say" – written by Ray Charles, performed by Chris Farley and Brian Dennehy
2. "Maniac" – written by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
3. "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" – written by Eddie Holland & Norman Whitfield, performed by Louis Price
4. "Amazing Grace" – performed by The Pipes and Drums and Military of The King's Own Scottish Borderers
5. "Crazy" – written by Willie Nelson, performed by Patsy Cline
6. "I'm Sorry" – written by Ronnie Self & Dub Allbritten, performed by Brenda Lee
7. "Ooh Wow" – written by Sidney Cooper, performed by Buckwheat Zydeco
8. "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" – written by Pat MacDonald, performed by Timbuk 3
9. "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" – Cliff Friend & Dave Franklin

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Tommy Boy

• Tommy Boy at the Internet Movie Database
• Tommy Boy at AllRovi