Nothing but Trouble is a 1991 American black comedy horror film written and directed by Dan Aykroyd in his directorial debut, based on a story by his brother Peter , and starring Chevy Chase , Dan Aykroyd (in a dual role), John Candy (in a dual role), and Demi Moore . It tells the story of two yuppies and the clients of one of them who are taken to court for running a stop sign in the bizarre, financially bankrupt small town of Valkenvania, which is dominated by a 106-year-old judge. Tupac Shakur made his acting debut as a member of the rap group Digital Underground .
54-427: " High Enough " is a song by American supergroup Damn Yankees from their self-titled debut album . A power ballad , it is their most successful single in terms of chart position and sales, rising to No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the group's first (and only) top-ten pop single. It also reached No. 2 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The success of "High Enough" helped send its parent album into
108-408: A "variation on The Rocky Horror Picture Show ". The film's humor was described by critics as deriving from gross-out and sketch comedy . Nathan Rabin interpreted the plot as "[tapping] into a fear common among wealthy Manhattan yuppies: that once they leave the cozy confines of the five boroughs, inbred hillbillies will try to kill them for being wealthy Manhattan yuppies." The story
162-579: A B-side for their album "Somewhere in California." In place of his original solo, Nugent plays a version of the guitar solo from "Stranglehold." In May 2017 Cartellone joined Night Ranger at the Wildflower Festival in Richardson, Texas for a performance of "Coming of Age." As far as a potential Damn Yankees reunion goes, Cartellone told Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC that he and other members of
216-471: A Brooklyn Gorilla , John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! and Which Way to the Front? as one of the worst attempts at comedy ever filmed". Roger Ebert famously hated Nothing But Trouble so much that he refused to write a review for it after giving the movie an emphatic "Thumbs Down" and actually wanted a few noisy teenagers to make even more noise so he would not hear any more of the movie while watching it in
270-514: A claim he orders them to verify with a performance. Delighted with the performance of their hit Same Song , Alvin drops all charges against the band, but asks them to stay as musicians and witnesses for the wedding. Chris initially goes through with the wedding in exchange for his life, but is later caught pleading with the band to help him escape. The band leaves without understanding the situation, and an enraged Alvin sentences Chris to die in "Mr. Bonestripper". The machine breaks down just before Chris
324-505: A daymare as the news broadcast of the Valkenvania disaster is shown where there is oil everywhere. Chris spots Alvin on a news broadcast, rummaging through the debris where he states to the reporter that he and his family survived. Brandishing Chris's driver's license, Alvin announces to the reporter that he and his family plan to move in with his "banker" grandson-in-law in New York. Chris flees
378-748: A hideous, grotesque nightmare world nobody in their right mind would want to visit the first time around, let alone return to." Thirteen years later however, Rabin stated that he came to appreciate the film, one that he felt worked best once he rejected seeing it as a comedy and instead saw it as "a nightmare-inducing, viscerally unsettling horror movie and meditation of the malevolent cult of Chevy Chase, formerly funny actor, sketch performer and famously terrible human being." IGN named Nothing but Trouble as Dan Aykroyd's worst film. The film has also received praise, with Complex listing Nothing but Trouble as one of "25 Underrated 90s Comedies"; staff writer Matt Barone called it "a strangely magnetic cluster-fuck of
432-628: A high-concept comedy". IFC listed Nothing but Trouble as one of "10 '90s Comedies That Really Need Sequels". In 1992, at the 12th Golden Raspberry Awards , Aykroyd received the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor . It also took home Worst Picture at the 1991 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards . Chevy Chase made negative statements against the film, saying he only accepted the role of Thorne because of his friendship with Aykroyd. Bertila Damas, who plays Renalda, said she enjoyed working with Demi Moore and Taylor Negron, but clashed with Chase, who has
486-426: A horror comedy together, since audiences wanted to laugh and be scared at the same time. Peter Aykroyd related an event in which Dan had been pulled over for speeding in upstate New York and was taken to the justice of the peace to stand trial in what Dan referred to as a " kangaroo court ", and after he was fined $ 50, the justice of the peace invited Dan to stay for tea, and he ended up staying there for four hours. It
540-548: A million dollars not to do another Damn Yankees record. We're like, 'Really? OK, we'll just take the check. Why not?' That was how it was because Damn Yankees had sold so many records and we were so recouped, so in our contract the next thing was like 'We get a million bucks to do an album,' and they just paid us the million dollars NOT to do the record. That's how much nobody wanted anything to do with that era and style of music. So after that, Nugent revived his solo career, leaving Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades to record their own album as
594-580: A release date was scheduled for Christmas 1990. The "Valkenheiser" mansion, Town Hall and other environments were constructed on two soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios; one of the set pieces, dubbed "Autohenge", was a garden constructed of scrap metal. Designer William Sandell was inspired by his previous experience as a kinetic sculptor. The production designers acquired props and decorations from "every prop resource in town", as well as Aykroyd's personal collection. The Greystone Mansion in Los Angeles
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#1732848374571648-413: A second review by Owen Gleiberman, writing: "Most of the jokes are so lame that Chevy Chase can't even be bothered to look nonchalant. A sadder excuse for a movie would be hard to imagine." Writing for People , Ralph Novak wrote that "after a few minutes, it's clear that this comedy is not enigmatic—just hopelessly confused". Empire writer Jo Berry wrote: "Unfortunately this isn't even half as fun as
702-442: A young drifter and his girlfriend who commit a series of robberies. However, their last one appears to have far more serious consequences as they become the targets of a manhunt by the local police. It is implied, but not specifically shown, that the drifter may have committed murder . The girlfriend is captured, but the drifter escapes and is cornered in his home by the police, who shoot the house full of bullets. The police invade
756-531: Is fed into it, and he escapes. Alvin attempts to lure in Chris by putting Diane in another murderous contraption known as the Gradertine, but Chris retrieves her at the last second and the two jump on a passing freight train. After the two report their ordeal to the authorities, the police prepare a large scale raid of Alvin's courthouse. Chris and Diane are asked to accompany the police to Valkenvania only to find out that
810-423: Is filled with IDs and news clippings, where they put together that Alvin and the house are a mechanism for capturing and terminating undesirables, especially bankers. During another escape down a series of slides, Chris and Diane become separated. Diane finds herself in the property's salvage yard, where she meets and befriends Alvin's severely deformed grandchildren Bobo and Lil' Debbull (who are barred from living in
864-473: The Deseret News wrote, "though Aykroyd seems to be having the time of his life as the judge, Chase, Candy, and Moore appear much less animated than usual [and] downright embarrassed in some scenes". Writing for The New York Times , Vincent Canby criticized Aykroyd's script, believing its narrative had "loose ends", and said "the movie looks less funny than expensive". The Hollywood Reporter criticized
918-717: The NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, the original members of Damn Yankees made a surprise appearance at the Taylor Guitars exhibit. Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw, Ted Nugent and Michael Cartellone performed an acoustic set on the Taylor Stage, including hits such as "Coming of Age", "High Enough" and the Ted Nugent anthem "Cat Scratch Fever". In 2011 Nugent joined Jack Blades' band Night Ranger to record an extended version of "Coming of Age" as
972-632: The Persian Gulf War , in which the band unfurled American flags and made patriotic statements. In 1992 Damn Yankees went gold with their follow-up album Don't Tread . The title song, sung by Blades, was included on the album Barcelona Gold , released in coordination with the Barcelona Olympic Games . Nugent also appeared on Rock the Vote , voicing support for the GOP against Bill Clinton . Although
1026-483: The yuppies are locked in a hidden room under the courthouse to be judged the next day. They later overhear Alvin executing a group of convicted drug dealers in a deadly roller coaster nicknamed "Mr. Bonestripper". Chris, Diane, and the Brazilians are invited upstairs for supper. They learn that Alvin is keeping them there as part of a deep and longstanding grudge he holds against "bankers", who generations ago swindled
1080-527: The "A Classic Rock Christmas" album by various Classic Rock artists in 2002. Both members still principally record and perform with their respective original bands. During a hiatus in both Night Ranger and Styx, Shaw and Blades met with Ted Nugent to record a new Damn Yankees album in 1999. However, the album, provisionally titled Bravo , failed to please either the band members or the prospective record labels. According to Blades, some of this unused material has since surfaced on various group and solo albums of
1134-751: The Amboy Dukes , and drummer Michael Cartellone (who would later join Lynyrd Skynyrd ). They are remembered for the songs " High Enough " and " Where You Goin' Now ", both Top 40 hits in the early 1990s. In the late 1980s, the US rock music scene witnessed a trend for supergroups; Bad English , Mr. Big and Badlands were all formed around that time. Shaw, Blades and Nugent were put together by big time Rock mover and shaker John Kalodner as Damn Yankees in 1989 in response to declining commercial success of their original bands. Produced by rock producer Ron Nevison ,
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#17328483745711188-640: The VH1 Classic show Power Ballads of 88 , Jack Blades commented about recent rumors regarding Damn Yankees. Jack said he, Ted, and Tommy had been talking and hanging out. Jack then said there would be new music and a tour from Damn Yankees in the future. In 2004 at Alice Cooper 's Christmas Pudding, an annual charity concert to benefit Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Foundation and Teen Center in Phoenix, AZ, Damn Yankees reunited on stage. The band played "Don't Tread", "High Enough" and "Coming of Age". On January 15, 2010 at
1242-522: The Valkenheiser family and put them into poverty. The group attempts an escape, but Alvin's massive granddaughter Eldona captures Chris and Diane. After being chased by Dennis's cousin Miss Purdah, the Brazilians escape by cutting a deal with Dennis, who, disillusioned with his life and career, decides to escape with them. A series of trick hallways and booby traps land Chris and Diane in an attic room that
1296-423: The attention of Warner Bros. , who wanted John Candy to costar. Aykroyd wanted to play the parts of Judge Valkenheiser and Chris Thorne, but the studio wanted Chevy Chase as Thorne, and Aykroyd agreed. With no director attached, Aykroyd said he would direct the film to secure the deal, even though he didn't want to. Aykroyd later agreed to play the giant adult baby Bobo as well, after no one else wanted to play
1350-495: The band have continued to meet and write over the years. While a new album has yet to materialize, he says that does not mean the Damn Yankees are finished. They never purposefully disbanded and are keeping a reunion an open door to this day. Nothing But Trouble (1991 film) Production began in 1990 under the title Git , which was changed in production to Valkenvania . Subsequently, prior to release, Warner Bros. changed
1404-419: The band members: That will never come out. It will always be the long lost record. Little pieces of that have dripped out on my solo record. Tommy had a song on Styx's Cyclorama record. Ted's done two or three of them. It's been hard to figure out, like, 'Oh yeah! That was one of our songs.' It's pretty wild. That record will never see the light of day, but the ones that came out are the best of it. While on
1458-431: The beginning of 1991. "High Enough" was Ted Nugent's first mainstream top ten single. The band's songs appeared on several Hollywood film soundtracks, such as Gremlins 2: The New Batch , Nothing But Trouble and The Taking of Beverly Hills . After the release of their debut, the Damn Yankees went on an 18-month world tour with the likes of a revamped Bad Company , Poison and Jackyl . Their US tour coincided with
1512-491: The bridge it's, (singing) 'The next thing I remember I was running back for more.' You know how you get scared at first when you fall in love, and everybody freaks out, and that can't be right. And then you go, Wait a minute, this is great, let's forget about the past. Can you fly me over yesterday? Can you take me high enough to fly me over yesterday? The music video was filmed on location in River Ridge, Louisiana , and depicts
1566-552: The duo Shaw Blades . Released in March 1995, Hallucination received very little support from its label as the personnel change brought in industry executives more sympathetic to alternative and grunge bands. Ultimately, the Shaw Blades album came out to some critical praise, but it vanished without major single support or a national tour (which had been cancelled by Warner Bros.). "I'll Always Be With You" did garner some AOR airplay and
1620-412: The film "nothing but trouble and agony and pain and suffering and obnoxious, toxically unfunny bad taste; it's nothing but miserable". Entertainment Weekly critic Michael Sauter wrote: "[Aykroyd and Candy] generate approximately four laughs. Chase adds maybe two. In movie-ticket terms, that's less than one laugh per dollar; as a video rental, it's a slightly better deal." The same publication printed
1674-589: The film as a horror comedy . The Los Angeles Times critic Peter Rainer wrote, "The intention seems to be a slap-happy cross between Psycho and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein ". Lou Cedrone, writing for the Baltimore Sun , said that the film "plays like a comedy version of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films." Candice Russel, writing for the Sun-Sentinel , called Nothing but Trouble
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1728-405: The film were not included on the soundtrack album: In December 1990, Warner Bros. changed the film's title to Nothing but Trouble . On December 20, Dan Aykroyd stated in a press release that he would always think of the film as Valkenvania . A promotional illustration by Boris Vallejo was commissioned in 1991. The film's release was delayed to recut for a PG-13 rating, removing the film's over
1782-496: The film's comedy, considering it to be "skit-level". The Los Angeles Times critic Peter Rainer wrote, "if you're in the mood to be clobbered with stale jokes, it might seem fitfully amusing. Occasionally, the talents of the cast burn through the haze of misfires and remembered routines". Lou Cedrone, writing for the Baltimore Sun , said that "if there is a laugh here, it goes by unnoticed". Chicago Tribune critic Dave Kehr wrote that " Valkenvania bids fair to become one of
1836-417: The house). Chris, still in the house, sneaks into Alvin's bedroom to look around, but Alvin discovers him and attacks him. While attempting to flee from Alvin, Chris runs into Eldona. Alvin ceases his attack and declares Chris must comply with "house policy" and marry Eldona. Meanwhile in the court room, Digital Underground are being brought in on charges of speeding. The group tells Alvin they are musicians,
1890-814: The house, but the drifter's fate is unclear (possibly died during the gunfire). The girlfriend is given the death penalty and at the video's slowing end is being read her last rites by a priest while she is being led out of her cell to the execution chamber. As the video ends, the priest is revealed to be the perpetually-gum-chewing Ted Nugent. 7-inch and cassette single 12-inch and CD single Damn Yankees Additional personnel Shipments figures based on certification alone. Damn Yankees (band) Damn Yankees were an American rock supergroup formed in New York City , in 1989. Consisting of singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx , singer/bassist Jack Blades of Night Ranger , guitarist Ted Nugent of
1944-621: The humor derived from sketch comedy and gross-out humor . Aykroyd received the Worst Supporting Actor Razzie at the 12th Golden Raspberry Awards . While hosting a party in his Manhattan penthouse, financial publisher Chris Thorne meets beautiful lawyer Diane Lightson, and agrees to escort her to consult a client in Atlantic City the following day. Two of Thorne's clients, boisterous but wealthy Brazilian siblings Fausto and Renalda Squiriniszu, overhear Chris making plans for
1998-467: The legendary disasters of the movie business, a movie so unfunny, so distasteful and so painful to watch that you can't take your eyes off it". Jay Boyar, writing for the Orlando Sentinel wrote: "The problem is that the neophyte director appears to believe that being gross, in itself, is enough. Even John Waters , in his Pink Flamingos period, realized that wit was also necessary. Besides, Waters
2052-462: The newly formed band's self-titled debut album was released in 1990 and went double-platinum in 1994. Jack Blades's leading single "Coming of Age" hit No. 60 on the U.S. Hot 100 and No. 1 on the AOR charts, while Shaw-penned "Come Again" received extensive AOR airplay. The power ballad " High Enough " became their best selling single rising to No. 3 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on AOR charts at
2106-528: The part, and found it stressful to play two parts in heavy makeup while simultaneously directing and producing. Warner Bros. had faith in Aykroyd, and gave him a $ 40 million budget. It ultimately went $ 5 million over, for a total of $ 45 million. Production commenced on May 7, 1990, in Los Angeles, California , under the title Trickhouse . Two months later, on July 12, the title was changed to Valkenvania , and
2160-480: The road trip with Diane and invite themselves along. Once underway, the Brazilians urge Chris to take a scenic detour off of the drab New Jersey Turnpike , which ultimately places them in the run-down village of Valkenvania. After running a stop sign and subsequently attempting to outrun pursuing chief of police Dennis Valkenheiser, the group is captured and taken before his 106-year-old grandfather, Judge Alvin Valkenheiser. At their hearing, Chris offends Alvin, and
2214-448: The scene in a panic, leaving a cartoonish hole the shape of him in the wall. Peter Aykroyd makes a cameo early in the film as the doorman Mike. Dan and Peter's father P.H. Aykroyd and Dan's daughter Danielle Aykroyd appear as porch people alongside Richard Kruk, producer Robert K. Weiss , and Dan's father-in-law Earl Dixon . Rap group Digital Underground has a minor role. Entertainment Weekly , Vibe and Den of Geek described
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2268-470: The second release was not as successful as the first album, it spawned several popular singles, such as "Mister Please," " Where You Goin' Now " and "The Silence Is Broken," a power ballad featured in the 1993 Jean-Claude Van Damme film Nowhere to Run . By 1994, there had been a changing of the guard at Warners. Jack Blades explained: The new regime came in, and they didn't want to do anything with that style of music. And in fact, they paid Damn Yankees
2322-518: The shortest bumper-car ride, with the cast lost in a sea of unfunny situations and badly executed antique jokes on loan from The Munsters all obviously puzzled about why they are actually there." A staff review in Variety opined, "it's a good bet a film is in trouble when the highlight comes from seeing John Candy in drag"; while TV Guide stated, "Aykroyd's film has a relentless imbecility that allows it to stand with films such as Bela Lugosi Meets
2376-726: The theater auditorium. His At the Movies partner, Gene Siskel , also gave the film an emphatic "Thumbs Down" on their program. On Rotten Tomatoes , the film has an approval rating of 15% based on reviews from 26 critics. The site's consensus states: "There's nothing good in Nothing But Trouble , a grotesque comedy that is more likely to make audiences ill than make them laugh". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave an average grade of "D+" on an A+ to F scale. Nathan Rabin , in his My Year of Flops segment for The A.V. Club in 2007, wrote: "Aykroyd here has lovingly, meticulously created
2430-574: The title to Nothing but Trouble ; in a press statement released in December 1990, Aykroyd said that he preferred the Valkenvania title. Upon release, the film was largely panned, with criticism directed at its humor, screenplay, tone and direction. The tone was compared by critics to films such as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein , Psycho , The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series and The Rocky Horror Picture Show , as well as The Munsters , and
2484-430: The title track was heard in the hit movie Tommy Boy , but after a brief West Coast tour, both Shaw and Blades went back to their respective original bands, Styx and Night Ranger. In 2007 Shaw Blades released their new album Influence , which consisted solely of cover songs that influenced them, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s. The pair also recorded a cover of the classic Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" on
2538-409: The top 20 on the US albums chart. According to songwriter and co-lead vocalist Jack Blades : 'High Enough' was about how you love someone so much and you just don't want to scare them away. And it's like, do I take the next step? And then she freaks out when you go, 'I love you.' And it's like, 'What!?!? I'm outta here!' And you're, 'Wait a minute! Come back!' But then the girl comes back, because in
2592-526: The top violence, and the studio rescheduled The Bonfire of the Vanities to the Christmas release date. The film was released on February 15, 1991. It opened at #8 in 1,671 theaters, grossing $ 3,966,240 opening weekend. The site lists its total gross upon completed release as $ 8,479,793, with a 50.5% drop-off in its second week of release. Nothing but Trouble was panned by critics. Chris Hicks, writing for
2646-532: The troopers involved are fully aware of and allied with Alvin due to his ability to swiftly take care of undesirables. Just as the combined forces are about to dispatch Chris and Diane for knowing too much, the massive underground coal fires roar out of control, finally destroying the courthouse. In the ensuing chaos, Chris and Diane are able to make another escape. In Brazil , Dennis becomes Fausto and Renalda's head of security as he vows that nobody will harm them on his watch. Back in New York, Diane wakes Chris from
2700-431: Was developed after a screening of the 1987 film Hellraiser that producer Robert K. Weiss attended with Dan and Peter Aykroyd . Weiss had a fractured rib and suggested the three attend a film to take his mind off his injury, but that it could not be a comedy because it hurt him to laugh, hence the choice of a horror film. Once the screening started and the three saw the audience laughing, Weiss suggested that they make
2754-431: Was genuinely outrageous in a startlingly original way. The grotesquerie of Aykroyd's film reminded me of a disturbed child trying to gross out a friend on the playground." Candice Russel, writing for the Sun-Sentinel , wrote that "this mean-spirited effort by Aykroyd proves that he cannot write an effective comedy; if he's acting, he should leave the direction to someone else". Washington Post writer Hal Hinson called
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#17328483745712808-414: Was having, and he set the story in the fictional town of Valkenvania, which was based loosely on the town of Centralia, Pennsylvania . Aykroyd offered the script to John Hughes , who, while interested in the story, ultimately turned it down because he only directed his own scripts; Hughes received a special thanks credit. John Landis disliked the script and immediately turned it down. The script caught
2862-477: Was suggested that a horror story be developed based on this event, and Aykroyd spent six months writing it as a screenplay titled Git , which was later changed to Road to Ruin ; Dan Aykroyd described the script as "a monster movie", comparing it to Beetlejuice and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre . Much of the bizarre characters and events, such as the giant mutant babies, were based on a series of dreams Aykroyd
2916-631: Was used to shoot the scenes depicting Chris Thorne's New York City apartment. Exteriors were also shot in the Lehigh Valley, 60 miles North of Philadelphia ; second-unit photography occurred in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York City. The film score is composed by Michael Kamen . Nothing but Trouble (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released in 1991 through Warner Bros. Records , with ten songs: Four songs used in
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