Caddyshack (1980)

Starring: Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O’Keefe, and Brian Doyle-Murray
Grade: Classic

If I had a time machine, you know what I would do? Go back to 1980 and get a job on the set of Caddyshack, just so I can experience the parties this crew threw once filming was over for the day.

Summary

Danny Noonan (O’Keefe) is a caddie at the Bushwood Country Club. He lives in a cramped house with a lot of family members and doesn’t have enough money for college. After telling his dad what he made recently, his dad tells him to put his tips in his college fund. As Danny puts some money in it and fields questions from his mother, his father questions the amount he put in. Danny admits he had some burgers and “four or five Cokes” (are you kidding me?) for lunch. As his parents argue about their son potentially working in a lumber yard, Danny heads out for work. There, he caddies for Ty Webb (Chase), the rich, laidback son of one of the founders of the country club. Danny discusses his future plans with Ty, how he didn’t get the scholarship he was applying for, and how he has to go to college. Ty tries to give advice, but it doesn’t really lead anywhere. As he puts on a blindfold, he tells Danny how there’s a force in the universe that makes things happen and to not worry. Additionally, Ty tells him to “Be the ball”. Following this, he hits an incredible shot across the pond and near the hole. This leads to Ty trying to turn this into a golf lesson for Danny. Though it doesn’t go well (“You’re not being the ball Danny”), with Danny hitting the ball into the water, Ty promises they will work on it.

Meanwhile, co-founder of the club Judge Smails (Knight) drives in and sees a gopher tearing up part of the course. Immediately, he finds greenskeeper Sandy McFiddish (Thomas A. Carlin) and tells him, who admits gophers have probably moved in because of the nearby construction site headed up by the Czervik Construction Company. An angry Smails promises to slap an injunction on the company and tells McFiddish to stop the gopher problem. Otherwise, Smails will get him fired. McFiddish says he’ll get his best man on the case. Unfortunately, his “best man” is the dimwitted and somewhat maniacal Carl Spackler (Murray), an assistant greenskeeper at the club. After some initial confusion between “golfers” and “gophers” because of McFiddish’s Scottish accent, Carl is given the green light to kill any gopher at the club and he revels in the opportunity. Little does McFiddish know, Carl is an uncaged animal himself.

Following this, we see the caddies going through their workday and Carl freaking people out with his unstable personality. Manager of the caddies and gambler Lou Loomis (Doyle-Murray) heads out for a bit and has Danny cover for him in his office. Meanwhile, fellow caddie Tony (Scott Colomby) has to deal with two older golfers who clearly have never played the game before. Afterwards, Tony tries to get his paycheck, but Danny can’t give it to him, only Lou can. Tony pivots and tries to buy a Coke but flips out at the new price, which only rose because Lou has been losing at the track lately. Danny antagonizes Tony a little bit, so Tony tries to reach through the window to grab him. Just then, Lou shows up and takes his spot back in his office. This frees up Danny, so Tony takes him outside to fight. All the caddies gather around to watch, but it never gets started as Tony’s brother jumps on Danny and knocks over a candy machine. As everyone scrambles for candy, Lou comes out and flips on everyone, telling them that their behavior lately has been noted by a lot of people at the country club. If they keep it up, they will be replaced by golf carts. Next, he changes the subject by saying that the caddie who won the caddie scholarship died from an anxiety attack during summer school. This means the scholarship is up for grabs. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to see Judge Smails. One kid jokingly says they’ll have to kiss his ass, but Lou only agrees with the statement. Privately, Danny asks what kind of grades you would need to have to get the scholarship, but Lou says they’re lenient if you’re a good caddy.

It looks like Danny has one last shot at going to college! However, it’s not going to be easy. Judge Smails is a real prick.

Further complicating things is the rich, loudmouthed new addition to the club in Al Czervik (Dangerfield), who becomes a nuisance to Smails and starts to divide the place on what is supposed to be proper behavior of a member of the country club and just having fun. Along with this, there’s Danny’s girlfriend Maggie (Sarah Holcomb), Judge Smails’s slutty niece Lacey (Cindy Morgan), and Carl’s war with the gopher that only increases in its outrageousness.

This country club won’t know what hit them.

My Thoughts:

Caddyshack is the most imperfect “Classic” on this website. From a technical standpoint, there are so many things wrong with the film. Truth be told, there’s a good chance that if you’re in a screenwriting class or are studying to be a filmmaker, this is one of those movies the teacher probably tells people not to emulate. With a loose plot structure, lackadaisical direction from first time director Harold Ramis, underdeveloped main characters who get completely overshadowed by the supporting cast, and a lot of plotlines that don’t really go anywhere, there’s so much going against it. Somehow, against all odds and through sheer will and talent, Caddyshack remains one of the best comedies of its time. Maybe its looser style is what makes it so endearing. Everyone looks to be messing around and having fun, and the audience can sense it. As soon as Kenny Loggins’s “I’m Alright” graces the film, we’re let in on the inviting and spirited atmosphere of this wacky country club, giving off a “party”, summertime vibe like no other. It’s welcoming, consistently funny, and there’s never a dull moment. In every scene, we are given a hysterical sequence involving one of our main characters, but to keep things moving and to add to the chaotic nature of all the different people at the club, we always cut to some random one-off moment that is just as funny. It’s a hard thing to pull off, and it almost never works on a high level, but Caddyshack is successful at it because of its colorful cast of heavy hitters. They fill in the cracks so well, they spill out onto the surface and take over the movie.

Essentially, the film is the personification of the phrase “the inmates are running the asylum”.

It’s been well documented how the caddies were much more important in the original script, but because of the improvisational skills of comedic legends and in-their-prime superstars like Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Rodney Dangerfield, they completely shift the focus of the film. We do feel bad for guys like Michael O’Keefe since he was supposed to be the driving force of the film but was forgotten about once the stars were let off their leashes. Even so, I don’t think anyone has a problem with how things turned out. In a perfect world, Michael O’Keefe’s Danny Noonan and the other caddies could have been more developed with a longer runtime, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as special in the long run. The anarchic vision of Caddyshack works because our stars helped cultivate the atmosphere of an unpredictable madhouse. It wouldn’t be what it was without the mayhem the stars bring and Harold Ramis letting them run wild all over the picture. If he stopped them, there’s a good chance we wouldn’t have gotten some of the most memorable lines of the movie. The caddies are mere bystanders to the action and rightfully so. The real madness stems from the crazy ass people who encompass the club. It’s not just Ty Webb who has “a screw loose”, it’s everyone. From the caddies to the wealthy members of the club, to the assistant greenskeeper, every last person is let loose to make Bushwood seem like this haven for havoc and weird personalities.

Golf has never been this fun.

Obviously, we can’t praise our stars enough for making the movie what it is. Bill Murray’s incredible work as the maniac assistant greenskeeper in Carl Spackler is the stuff of legends and gets regular praise to this day. If you’re wondering the type of comedic talent Murray is, it’s been said that Murry came up with a majority of the bits on his own and filmed the entirety of his scenes in SIX DAYS! Can you believe this? The talent of madman Murray cannot be stated enough. Though it’s unfortunate that he only has one scene with Chevy Chase and no scenes at all with Rodney Dangerfield (a major missed opportunity) because of the lack of time he spent on set, it only adds to the legend of who Bill Murray was as a comic actor. So, despite Carl Spackler’s “B” story being almost entirely separate from the main story, Murray only adds to the lawlessness of the production as a whole. Without him losing his fucking mind trying to kill this ever-elusive gopher in the relatively short time he’s onscreen, he’s a massive 1/4 of the pie who is crucial in completing the film.

With this being said, there’s never enough praise given to Chevy Chase for his role as Ty Webb, a role I would argue as being equal of importance. Despite all of the movies I have seen over the years, Ty Webb is still without a doubt one of my favorite movie characters ever. Effortlessly cool and a deadpan delivery that needs to be studied, Chase plays this enigma of a man who lives a Zen lifestyle and does not care about a single thing in life, including the people in it. When fans talk about how quotable Caddyshack is, a majority of the lines come straight from the mouth of Chase. He was untouchable in his prime. This is my favorite version of Chase as well. He’s cocky, he’s the coolest guy in the room, he’s sarcastic as hell, makes any and every joke work with his timing and perfect delivery, and his physical comedy was just as funny as his one-liners. Though he was still funny as the family man in the Vacation franchise, the young Chase was somebody everyone wanted to be, and Ty Webb exemplified this. His carefree aura, easygoingness, ability to rattle off insults to anyone listening or not, and an oddball approach to other people and life in general makes it seem like playboy Ty lives life to amuse himself (while keeping a straight face). He has no interest in making others laugh alongside him, and he never lets anyone know if he’s being serious or not. It’s almost as if he has no need or want for any new friends or acquaintances and is perfectly fine with getting in a round of golf and messing with people. It’s the carefree attitude of the rich. To explain his personality as a whole, he states early on that he owns two lumber yards but isn’t sure where they are.

This is Ty Webb in a nutshell.

He is very much a singular person but is also aware he’s the coolest guy in the room and attracts attention wherever he goes. Often, Ty will offend Judge Smails with a one-liner, but Smails will keep it to himself because he knows Ty’s a weird dude who’s also quicker than anyone with a snappy comeback. Actually, everyone knows Ty is off a little bit, but it’s like he revels in it. In one sequence, we see him in his bare feet pissing on the green. Right after, he knocks in ball after ball in one of the most iconic movie scenes of all time. You can’t watch a scene like this and tell me Ty Webb (or Chevy Chase for that matter) isn’t the absolute fucking man.

Even though Ty’s day-to-day adventures don’t concern Judge Smails, he still wants to know more about him, constantly asking about his golf game and trying to goad him into playing against him. Ty just laughs it off, insults the guy, and is cool with never keeping score, despite his masterful ability at the game. He’s a mystery and we never know his true self, only getting little insights to his personal life by seeing the inside of his house and how he has a bit of an Asian influence to it, having uncashed checks everywhere, and never being prepared for guests because he doesn’t really give a fuck. The audience is let in just enough to want to know more, but it stays just past the surface level to make it work and make the Ty Webb character this enigmatic presence you can’t help but want to see in every scene. Everyone wants to know or be acquainted with Ty, but he doesn’t care about anyone. It’s not malicious or anything. This is just who he is, and it makes him the epitome of cool. To make sure he keeps his understated, “cool guy” aura but also establish him as a good person, we see how he responds to the “summit” of sorts between Al and Smails to end the second act. Never the aggressor and trying to stay out of it, we see Ty’s true self come out when Smails says the line to Ty about how “Some people don’t belong” when referring to Al. In an instant, Ty is triggered into changing his tune and picks Al’s side on the spot, showing us how there’s more to him than meets the eye. In such a haphazardly put together film, moments like this show some of the secret genius of the screenplay that people don’t recognize as much as they should.

Going along with this, the ending almost made Ty look like Danny’s guardian angel. It’s as if he set this whole thing up himself, despite how careless he seems to play himself off to be. It’s really interesting the way they did it. It’s probably unintentional, but I can’t not see it when watching how things play out. When adding in Ty’s random philosophies on golf and life, his barrage of jokes mixed in with it, and his ability to cross so many topics in trying to “teach” that he almost says nothing, Chase hooks us with every setup. When you add in his smooth delivery and unexpected punchline with each joke, you’ll find yourself wanting to emulate Ty Webb, as well as quoting him for the rest of your life.

Another “plus” about this fabled film is that it’s the only movie to ever include Chase and Murray in the same scene. For the longest time, these two were comedy. It’s a shame they had their real-life feud when they were both at their most popular. The fact that we never saw these two in another film together is an absolute travesty.

Though Rodney Dangerfield may have been overacting a tad, the stand-up legend was also a major part the movie’s legacy. Dangerfield’s goofy voice, vibrant energy, and fun-loving attitude is contagious. This can’t be denied. Despite his unusual line delivery because of his noticeable unfamiliarity with film acting, he is sure to bring a smile to your face as he insults and offends everyone in this uptight club. If you’re a fan of his comedy, you quickly get past his over-the-top style and appreciate the vivacity he brings to this film. He’s a great foil for the proper, better-than-you, my-way-or-the-highway Judge Smails. Watching Smails flip out on a consistent basis because of the happenings in this club does not get old. Ted Knight was exactly what this movie needed as the consistently agitated villain. Playing the quintessential prude no one can stand, Ted Knight’s Smails seems to be the only one who’s trying to make sure the reputation of Bushwood is what it should be. However, because we love chaos, we love to hate him and want to see him lose on every occasion, something that happens a lot in this picture. Knight’s animated reactions and his ability to get infuriated in seconds while still being funny proves how underrated he is as a comic actor. Even with all of the comedy megastars involved in this production, this movie wouldn’t have been the same without him. Knight’s Judge Smails was the strong personality needed to go up against all of these outrageous “good guys”.

He does not take a backseat at all. He could have folded with ease, considering who he was up against, but it’s like he took it as a challenge and faced them all head on. Because of it, he’s arguably just as funny as the others (“Well, the world needs ditch diggers too“). I laugh every time he knocks that lamp off the table when he tries to talk convince Danny to not talk about the Lacey incident. Caddyshack needed Ted Knight just as much as they needed Chase, Murray, and Dangerfield. You can’t watch the film and tell me any different.

The only missed opportunity was never having Dangerfield’s Al and Murray’s Carl cross paths purely for the rarity of the occasion. shenanigans silly outrageous

Very rarely do you get a decade-defining film in the first year of a decade, but Caddyshack set the tone of the 1980s like no other. The heart of National Lampoon helped shape the comedy scene of the late 70s and 80s, and Caddyshack is one of the go-to examples of their style. Put together by so many of National Lampoon‘s most important performers and writers (Ramis, Douglas Kenney, Murray, Chase, Doyle-Murray), this group of irreverent, drug-fueled, immature maniacs represented and influenced generations for their outrageous humor and fun-loving shenanigans, broadening the scope of comedy past the Jewish-centric, New York influence that dominated previously. Endlessly quotable, funny as hell, and full of unforgettable characters, Caddyshack has earned its place as one of the best comedies of all time. It may not resonate with everyone, but if you’re a fan of this era of comedy, you’ll understand why this is such a timeless classic and also why it’s the undisputed king of repeated viewings.