🎬 The Great Outdoors 2 (2025)
👉 Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Stephanie Faracy
Chet Ripley (John Candy) is convinced he’s planned the perfect summer escape — a peaceful family trip to a scenic lakeside cabin where he can relax, fish, and enjoy the simple pleasures of nature with his wife and kids. But his idyllic vision of calm waters and quiet nights is shattered when his brother-in-law Roman Craig (Dan Aykroyd) unexpectedly barges in, dragging along his wife and daughters for an uninvited vacation of their own.
What was supposed to be a serene getaway quickly unravels into a chaotic clash of personalities. Chet, the easygoing everyman who just wants to unwind, finds himself in constant conflict with Roman, a brash, arrogant loudmouth whose big schemes and bigger ego disrupt every moment of peace. From disastrous water-skiing lessons and outrageous cookout disasters to feuds over sleeping arrangements and one unforgettable showdown with a bear, the vacation spirals into one hilarious catastrophe after another.
John Candy once again brings warmth, charm, and comedic vulnerability to Chet — the kind of guy audiences root for as he tries to hold his vacation, and his sanity, together. Opposite him, Dan Aykroyd unleashes his trademark fast-talking energy, turning Roman into the ultimate in-law nightmare whose antics create both tension and nonstop laughs. Stephanie Faracy shines as Chet’s supportive wife, grounding the madness with heartfelt moments that remind us this is still about family at its core.
Written by John Hughes and directed by Howard Deutch, The Great Outdoors 2 stays true to its roots as a summer comedy classic, combining slapstick gags, witty banter, and heartfelt family dynamics. Bursting with lakeside charm, outrageous misadventures, and a wilderness that’s anything but tranquil, the film reminds us that the hardest part of any vacation isn’t the weather, the wildlife, or the outdoors — it’s surviving your relatives.
