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Going Berserk

  • 1983
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Going Berserk (1983)
A drummer/chauffeur engaged to a congressman's daughter encounters a sleazy film director, the leader of an aerobics cult, and other crazed characters during the days leading up to his wedding.
Play trailer1:45
1 Video
26 Photos
Comedy

A clumsy chauffeur is hypnotized by a cult to kill the father of his fiancée, a congressman who's suing the cult for fraud, and encounters several weird characters during the days leading up... Read allA clumsy chauffeur is hypnotized by a cult to kill the father of his fiancée, a congressman who's suing the cult for fraud, and encounters several weird characters during the days leading up to his wedding.A clumsy chauffeur is hypnotized by a cult to kill the father of his fiancée, a congressman who's suing the cult for fraud, and encounters several weird characters during the days leading up to his wedding.

  • Director
    • David Steinberg
  • Writer
    • Dana Olsen
  • Stars
    • John Candy
    • Joe Flaherty
    • Eugene Levy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Steinberg
    • Writer
      • Dana Olsen
    • Stars
      • John Candy
      • Joe Flaherty
      • Eugene Levy
    • 23User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:45
    Official Trailer

    Photos26

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    Top cast71

    Edit
    John Candy
    John Candy
    • John Bourgignon
    Joe Flaherty
    Joe Flaherty
    • Chick Leff
    Eugene Levy
    Eugene Levy
    • Sal DiPasquale
    Alley Mills
    Alley Mills
    • Nancy Reese
    Pat Hingle
    Pat Hingle
    • Ed Reese
    Ann Bronston
    • Patti Reese
    Eve Brent
    Eve Brent
    • Mrs. Reese
    • (as Eve Brent Ashe)
    Elizabeth Kerr
    Elizabeth Kerr
    • Grandmother Reese
    Richard Libertini
    Richard Libertini
    • Rev. Sun Yi Day
    Dixie Carter
    Dixie Carter
    • Angela
    Paul Dooley
    Paul Dooley
    • Dr. Ted
    Ronald E. House
    • Bruno
    Kurtwood Smith
    Kurtwood Smith
    • Clarence
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Muhammed Jerome Willy
    Gloria Gifford
    Gloria Gifford
    • Francine
    Frantz Turner
    • Wallace Jefferson
    Murphy Dunne
    • Public Defender
    Beans Morocco
    • Minister
    • (as Dan Barrows)
    • Director
      • David Steinberg
    • Writer
      • Dana Olsen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    5.22.1K
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    Featured reviews

    asidebside

    Laugh out loud movie! A guilty pleasure.

    It's not the most sophisticated movie in the world but if you can get past that (and if you can find a copy!), "Going Berserk" is loaded with laughs. Candy's portrayal is offbeat and hilarious. Steinberg's script has absurdities in it that are hysterical. I laugh everytime I watch it even though I know what's coming next. Worth your while to seek it out and turn off the high-brow expectations we assign to most movies and just laugh.
    9criticman2000

    Remarkably Stupid, On Purpose!

    You should not take what I am about to say lightly. I've seen many, many films and have reviewed a great deal of them, in print. So when I tell you that this film has the single funniest scene I have ever seen in a movie, you might want to listen to me. There's a lot of diversity of opinion as to what makes this INCREDIBLY stupid movie as funny as it is. And to those who just didn't get, well, I can't blame them, too much. The scene I speak of, comes at about the 30 minute mark and involves a dead convict shackled to John Candy. Up until that point, I had found the film dumb, confusing and it was beginning to lose me. When this scene came up, I laughed so hard, I peed my pants. No movie has ever done that to me before. When the project began, "Going Berserk" was supposed to be the SCTV movie. I remember it being announced. As time went on, the cast was whittled down To John Candy, Joe Flaherty & Eugene Levy. There also must have been a regime change at Universal, while it was being shot, because upon being released, it was shown in nearly ZERO theaters. When watching this a second time, I listened to the theme song (which actually flaunts how incomprehensible the plot is, in the lyrics), relaxed my logic nerve and figured out what was going on. Aside from the aforementioned routine, "Going Berserk" has many other hilarious scenes to recommend it. This is almost a 3 Stooges flick, except it's much funnier. Director David Steinberg has razor sharp timing, and he must have been laughing all through this. As for Candy, who's basically in charge here, he has NEVER been funnier. With all the plot devices and explanatory scenes thrown out the window, he absolutely runs wild. Flaherty and Levy follow him effortlessly. There is a plot, but it's a plot like "Animal House" had a plot, and yeah, the script is uneven, and a little slow to start. Once you know this, however, you can well appreciate the full SCTV style craziness that transpires. It IS stupid, but it's stupid on purpose, and you need to remember that when you see it. DO see it, and discover for yourself, if it has the funniest scene of all time in it.
    6gavin6942

    A 1980s Hidden Gem?

    A drummer/chauffeur (John Candy) engaged to a congressman's daughter (Alley Mills) encounters a sleazy film director (Eugene Levy), the leader of an aerobics cult (Richard Libertini), and other crazed characters during the days leading up to his wedding.

    If you want to see a very skinny Eugene Levy, or a young pre-ghost busting Ernie Hudson, this is the film for you. Obviously not as big as other John Candy films, but well worth a watch if you happen to be a fan. (As someone who is more familiar with "Freaks and Geeks" than "SCTV", it was a special treat for me to see a young Joe Flaherty.) That is really all I can say. A fun film to be sure...
    VivienLeighsnumber1fan

    John Candy's funniest

    Okay, so it is very predictable, but it still will provide a laughable hour and a half! This is one of my all-time favorite movies.

    John Candy was so funny and this is my favorite film that he has done in his short life! Watch for the phony "Father Knows Best" episode! Dixie Carter is also very awesome!
    5boblipton

    Second City Sketches Linked By Thin Plot

    It's not really a story film, despite the goings-on of John Candy, who's a limo driver with squirrelly acquaintances and his efforts to marry Alley Mills. She's the daughter of Congressman Pat Hingle. A cult led by Richard Libertini is trying to kill Hingle, and they figure to hypnotize Candy into doing it because why not?

    It's an excuse for the members of the cast who were members of Second City -- Candy, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty -- to do Second-City-style sketches. they range from mediocre to pretty funny. There's also the inevitable bit, when they have Candy hypnotized, that they seem to think it is very funny to have him do.... nothing. Film makers seem to think that this is funny. I do not.

    Your enjoyment of this film will depend on your taste in comedy and whether you enjoy Second City.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Candy was supposed to write the script but never finished it.
    • Goofs
      The rap song during the opening credits states that John and Chick's limousine is black. In the film proper, it is actually silver with a gray vinyl roof.
    • Quotes

      Grandmother Reese: You're fat! My husband was fat. He's dead now. You must eat like a pig!

      John Bourgignon: A pig. Yeah, yeah.

      Grandmother Reese: Cigarettes'll kill you. My husband smoked, you know. He died from smoking too much.

      John Bourgignon: I thought you said he died 'cause he was fat!

      Grandmother Reese: He was fat, with bad lungs.

    • Crazy credits
      The entire plot of the movie is told in a rap song during the opening credit:

      Well John's the lead in this meaty scene He's the Candyman, if you know what I mean. And he drives a long black limousine With his sidekick Chick! [car horn sound] Now John's the drummer out in the street, But the man can't even keep a beat So he spins his wheels to make ends meet. You got it? [Woman's voice: "Huh?"] Stay with me now! John's got a pretty little fiancée. When her daddy's trying to pull a power play, And if Big Daddy gets his way, Our man John will be wearing cement shooooooes!
    • Alternate versions
      Some television broadcasts have expanded scenes.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Barbara Walters/David Steinberg (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      AEROBICS THEME
      (Reach Higher for Beauty, Peace, Money, and Sucess)

      Performed by Dixie Carter

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Going Berserk?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 1983 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Drums Over Malta
    • Filming locations
      • Yamashiro Restaurant - 1999 N. Sycamore Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Kung Fu U campus)
    • Production companies
      • Les Productions Mutuelles Ltée
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $234,950
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $234,950
      • Oct 2, 1983
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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