Dunston Checks In (1996)

Director:

Ken Kwapis

Writers (WGA):

John Hopkins (story)
John Hopkins (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 January 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Adventure | Family

Tagline:

He's about to turn a Five Star Hotel into a three ring circus.

Plot:

Young boy befriends larcenous orangutan in luxury hotel.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Son | Orangutan | Monkey | Happy Birthday To You

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jason Alexander	...	Robert Grant
Faye Dunaway	...	Mrs. Dubrow
Eric Lloyd	...	Kyle Grant
Rupert Everett	...	Lord Rutledge
Graham Sack	...	Brian Grant
Paul Reubens	...	Buck LaFarge
Glenn Shadix	...	Lionel Spalding
Nathan Davis	...	Victor Dubrow
Jennifer Bassey	...	Mrs. Dellacroce
Judith Scott	...	Nancy
Bruce Beatty	...	Murray
Danny Comden	...	Norm
Steven Gilborn	...	Artie
Lois De Banzie	...	Mrs. Winthrop
Natalie Core	...	Mrs. Feldman

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language and sensuality.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #34106) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Netherlands:6 | Netherlands:AL (original rating) | Australia:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | UK:PG

Company:

Joe Wizan/Todd Black

Trivia:

The interior New York hotel scenes were filmed in Los Angeles at the old Bullocks Wilshire Building, which is no longer open.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the Royal Suite scene, the shirt under Kyle's overalls changes. Even if one assumed that Kyle "packed an extra shirt" when they brought Dunston to the suite, the shirt change would still be an editing error as the shirt changes twice AFTER Kyle takes a bath.

Quotes:

La Farge: Dunston, I'm sorry. I was only trying to do my job. I didn't mean any harm. Do you forgive me?
[Dunston slaps La Farge]
La Farge: I deserved that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ultrachrist! (2003)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday to You

A triumph

1995 and 1996 were clearly the years for movies dealing with primates. "Ed "in 1996 taught us that heroes come in all shapes, and all sizes. Congo (1995) taught us that apes could be both intelligent and evil. Let's not forget 1995's "Born to be Wild", where a teenage boy and female gorilla's near bestiality captured all our hearts. However, not since the original "Planet of Apes" has a movie captivated our attention, and made us feel what it's like to be a monkey. "Dunston Checks In" set the bar for years to come.

Sam the orangutan's performance as Dunston is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Blockbuster actors such as Ben Affleck and James Franco could learn a lesson or two from Sam. You think Ben Affleck was emotional when he said "I love you" to Bruce Willis in Armageddon? Think again. When Sam looks at the picture of him and his now dead brother, his expression alone brings a tear to ones eye. You think James Franco was in pain in Spider-Man 2 when he realized his best friend was the man who killed his father? Try watching Sam when he is getting a piece of glass torn from his flesh. Sam's connection with the audience is so great you almost feel the glass being ripped from your own hand.

This is not to mention the other wonderful qualities this movie has. Amazing slapstick comedy, alcoholic older women, Jason Alexander cursing, Faye Dunaway's fall from grace, an orangutan spanking a prominent socialite, and a cameo from Paul Reubens that can only be explained with two words: Oscar worthy.

The fact that this film did not win any Academy Awards is shocking. Five for sure: Paul Reubens beating out Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Woods for Best Supporting Actor, "Dunston Checks In" narrowly defeating "The English Patient" for Best Picture, Ken Kwapis for Best Director, Best Music Robert Blackwell, and lastly, a landslide victory for Sam, the orangutan for Best Actor. It is criminal that the Academy shafted this great film in 1996 with no Oscars and zero nominations.

Although it was given no Oscars this much can be certain: it set the standard and paved the way for future primate movies. Where would MVP: Most Vaulable Primate and MXP: Most Xtreme Primate be without Dunston Checks In? In some Hollywood executive's trash, that's where. Because of pioneer movies like "Dunston Checks In" movies like MVP and MXP enjoy much commercial success. So grab your kids, round up the neighbor, pop some popcorn, and get ready to laugh, and cry at one of the best movies in the last twenty years: "Dunston Checks In".