This week we’re heading into the wilderness with John Candy and Dan Aykroyd in the 1988 comedy classic The Great Outdoors.

From the legendary “Old 96er” steak challenge and disastrous water skiing lessons to wisecracking raccoons and one unforgettable bald-headed bear, this lakeside family holiday has become a cult favourite of the 1980s. Written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch, The Great Outdoors is a movie that proves family vacations are never peaceful: especially when Bart the Bear crashes the party.

In this episode, we uncover 50 of the best facts behind the film. Discover how Bass Lake in California doubled for Wisconsin, how Annette Benning made her film debut, and what really went into wrangling raccoons, leeches, and one very patient grizzly. Whether you rented it on VHS, caught it on TV, or are revisiting it for the first time in years, this is the perfect summer throwback.

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The Great Outdoors is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Howard Deutch, written and produced by John Hughes, and starring Dan Aykroyd and John Candy with supporting roles by Stephanie Faracy, Annette Bening (in her film debut), Chris Young, Lucy Deakins, and Robert Prosky. The film is about two families spending a vacation at a fictional resort town in northern Wisconsin.