Published Aug. 10, 2015
It's not at all coincidental that two of the '80s most endearing movies - Cocoon and Summer Rental - were both released in 1985 and both filmed in the waters of Tampa Bay. I grew up in Tampa Bay and spent most of my career there. The authenticity of its residents, the white sandy beaches, the kitschy tourist pockets and everything in between - they form the foundation of my memories of the '80s. It was a great place to grow up. It's still a great place to shoot movies.
Summer Rental, starring the late John Candy, was filmed in and around the beaches of Pinellas County. The story of a burned-out air traffic controller who is told by his bosses to take a long break is billed as a comedy. And there are plenty of laughs. But as with life, there are a couple tears tucked in there as well. Released on August 9, 1985, Summer Rental is now 30 years old. When I watch it today, I see it through the eyes of John Candy and Rip Torn, who share a moment take makes my heart ache.
"Do you know what it's like to peak when you're 18 years old?" Candy (as Jack Chester) asks Torn.
"Yes … Yes, I do," Torn replies.
Amen, brothers. Somedays I feel the same way.
Here are five more things to love about Summer Rental.
1. After years of playing the comic sidekick, this was John Candy's first leading role. It was one of seven movie releases for Candy in 1985, including both TV movies and big-screen appearances. Karen Austin, who played Candy's wife Sandy Chester, was less than 12 years older than Kerri Green, who played their daughter.
2. The movie was originally rated PG-13 - why, I have no idea - but was recut to give it a more family-friendly rating of PG.
3. Eagled-eyed viewers will notice that several '80s movies are featured at the theater the family visits during the movie, including Airplane!, Dragonslayer, Uncommon Valor, Footloose and Top Secret!. Only two of them - Footloose and Top Secret! were 1984 movies - would have actually been playing at the time this was filmed.
4. The fictional town of Citrus Cove is located in the Treasure Island/Madeira Beach area of Tampa Bay.
5. About 5 minutes was cut from the beginning of the movie during the editing process, which had originally given more backstory to the family. Among the moments lost: the dog farting in the car and chewing the leg off the couch at the "wrong" rental house. Good cuts.
