Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.0

Nothing But Trouble Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 23, 2021

Warner Brothers went hunting for another kooky, crazy horror-esque comedy with 1991’s “Nothing but Trouble,” hoping to deliver another “Beetlejuice” with its blend of nightmarish imagery and slapstick encounters. The studio gave writer/director Dan Aykroyd a lot of money to bring his vision to life, entrusting the “Ghostbusters” architect to create an approachable viewing experience for a wide audience, believing in his bottomless imagination for the bizarre. What eventually made its way to theaters is a feature that’s certainly out of its mind, with Aykroyd manufacturing a bizarre endeavor that revels in weirdness, offering unsettling extremity with what appears to be the helmer’s idea of a live-action cartoon. “Nothing but Trouble” ultimately bombed at the box office, but the movie remains a highly curious blend of wacky creative decisions and lumpy funny business.

Chris (Chevy Chase) is a financial publisher trying to impress his apartment neighbor, Diane (Demi Moore), eventually offering her a ride into New Jersey to sort out some legal entanglements. The pair are joined by two Brazilian millionaires (Taylor Negron and Bertila Damas), taking off to Atlantic City for a day trip. Unfortunately, the drive through New Jersey is complicated by a traffic violation in the village of Valkenvania, with cop Dennis (John Candy) putting the New Yorkers in front of Judge Alvin (Dan Aykroyd), a 106-year-old madman who’s turned his remote property into a circus of death. Kept as prisoners, Chris and Diane struggle to find a way out of the labyrinthine home, encountering all kinds of danger as they experience a full blast of Judge Alvin’s hot dog-loving insanity.

Aykroyd is no stranger to crazy ideas, using the bulk of his career to encourage as much big screen insanity as he can. However, “Nothing but Trouble” is fully under Aykroyd’s control, accepting big money to deliver a loopy take on a survival picture, creating a memorable antagonist in Judge Alvin. A decrepit man with a phallus-like nose and appreciation for warm Hawaiian Punch, Judge Alvin represents the nutso tone of “Nothing but Trouble,” with the character’s extreme appearance and silly behavior providing a full illumination of Aykroyd’s fascination with dark comedy, presented as the centerpiece of oddity in a feature that has more energy for ugliness than hilarity.

“Nothing but Trouble” has difficulty landing jokes, with the enormity of the production limiting looseness with humor, finding Chase often doing his own thing to make scenes at least somewhat amusing. He’s miscast as the hero of the feature, but acting isn’t really the point of the picture, with costuming, set design, and make-up efforts the real stars of the show, keeping the endeavor visually compelling throughout. Tours of Judge Alvin’s hellhole of junk and deathtraps are the highlights of “Nothing but Trouble,” with Aykroyd and his production team securing a defined look the movie, putting in the effort to make the nightmare as real as possible. The film is really something to see, and the writing eventually visits additional peculiarities, including two man-sized babies who act as muscle for Judge Alvin, and there’s Dennis’s twin sister (also played by Candy), who’s prepare for marriage to Chris against his will. And if that isn’t enough, there’s a random appearance from Digital Underground, with the rap group hauled in front of the Judge, winning him over with a musical performance.

Nothing But Trouble Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Nothing but Trouble" delivers a pleasingly film-like viewing experience, with grain nicely resolved. Detail handles the extreme decoration and costuming of the feature, exploring village particulars and housing decay. Distances are dimensional, exploring mazes of rusted steel and New Jersey ruin. Skin surfaces are clear, along with grotesque make-up work on Aykroyd and the babies. Colors are satisfactory, surveying the aged, woodsy interior of Judge Alvin's home, and the lighting of the yard, including the deep reds and yellows of the Bonestripper machine. Skintones are natural. Delineation handles shadowy events. Source is in excellent condition.

Nothing But Trouble Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Falling into the "this doesn't sound right" category, the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix for "Nothing but Trouble" features uneven audio, with warbling levels throughout the listening experience. Dialogue exchanges are intelligible, but consistency is off, creating a hollow sound for the stereo track. Scoring is also diminished, along with soundtrack selections, which don't carry expected emphasis.

Nothing But Trouble Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features pop culture historian Russell Dyball.

• "That's Valkenvania" (15:32, HD) is an audio interview with writer/director Dan Aykroyd, who explores the origin of the screenplay, inspired by an incident from his own life where he was held hostage for an evening by an elderly small-town judge. Supported by producer Robert K. Weiss, Aykroyd decided to make his helming debut, helping to secure his vision and save on the director fee. Surrounded by an ace crew of Spielberg and Zemeckis veterans, Aykroyd set out to make a horror comedy, emphasizing as much scary stuff as possible. The interviewee details the learning process of the job, and discusses his actors, remaining loving but candid about Chevy Chase and his difficult behavior. Technical achievements with monster making are highlighted, and Aykroyd assesses his own patience level while making the movie. Editing decisions are explored, and the failed release of "Nothing but Trouble" is recalled, with Aykroyd happy to see the picture develop a cult following.

• "Chasing Chevy" (8:47, HD) is an audio interview with actor Chevy Chase, who's a little scattered here, offering random thoughts on the making of "Nothing but Trouble." Chase still seems in awe of Dan Aykroyd's imagination, offering particular glee with the "penis nose" visual in the feature. Some memories of the shoot are shared, with Chase marveling over set design choices. Time with John Candy is recalled, along with the physical challenges of the picture, as he was forced to ride a roller coaster. The interviewee also offers an assessment of Aykroyd's directorial method, which involved getting into a car between scenes to discuss the work with his actors.

• "The Queen of Mardi Gras" (7:02, HD) is a video conference interview with actress Bertila Damas, who recalls her audition, boldly pushing back on Chevy Chase's aggressive antics, which initially angered the actor. Damas details her growing relationship with Chase, with the two becoming friends during the shoot, earning his respect. Memories of Dan Aykroyd are presented, and co-stars are celebrated, with Demi Moore personally pushing Damas to audition for "Hudson Hawk." First reactions to "Nothing but Trouble" are shared, and Damas marvels over the cult longevity of the movie, with fans recognizing her on the street.

• "Hoarder in the Court" (12:32, HD) is a video conference interview with production designer William Sandell, who recalls the sheer amount of work that went into the creation of "Nothing but Trouble." Living spaces for the characters are analyzed, including the Judge's property, which was located on a ranch owned by Warner Brothers. Sandell had to travel to Nebraska to find enough junk to fill the frame, continuing to shape the set while shooting commenced. The interviewee also remembers the particulars of the roller coaster, which was a working machine connected to the house.

• "A Perfect Fit" (7:25, HD) is a video conference interview with costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis. Already friends with Dan Aykroyd from his "Saturday Night Live" days, Landis was an easy hire for the production. The interviewee goes into detail about character development with fashion choices, and offers her pick for the best costume in "Nothing but Trouble."

• "Road to Ruin" (8:53, HD) is an audio interview with music producer Christopher Brooks. Offering excitement with the initial script for "Nothing but Trouble," Brooks was there to support composer Michael Kamen, who delighted in the chance to play with unusual instruments for the score. Brooks also details his time working with music groups Digital Underground and Damn Yankees, who contributed songs to the film.

• Still Gallery #1 (3:44) collects film stills, publicity shots, poster and home video art, and newspaper ads.

• Still Gallery #2 (3:01) collects set construction photos and costume design sketches.

• T.V. Spots (1:04, SD) offer two commercials for "Nothing But Trouble."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:04, SD) is included.

Nothing But Trouble Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Nothing but Trouble" isn't entirely successful as a goofy film, with the wackiness cranked much too high at times, including a Looney Tunes-inspired ending that's all wrong. It's more compelling when bathing in oddness, offering a tour of Aykroyd's fetishes and fears, watching him trying to piece together an impossibly strange viewing experience that was likely doomed from the start. "Nothing but Trouble" doesn't provide sustained laughs, but it never bores, and it's always interested in presenting unnerving images, keeping unbridled Dan Aykroyd energy flowing through the movie.