Scarecrow-88 While maybe not as funny as it once was for me when I was a kid, but Candy's dandy in this 80s star vehicle, overshadowed by Uncle Buck in the same year. He's a clueless (for the most part), bumbling private dick called on by kidnapping mastermind Jeffrey Jones who operates as boss of private investigation agency (Candy's ancestors started it but his Harry was working out of a modest Tulsa office with few clients) because he's considered so moronic he couldn't possibly solve the case. Jones wants Barry Corbin's gold-digger wife, Annie Potts (in rare sexpot role), and kidnaps the millionaire's model daughter for a hefty ransom. Shawnee Smith is Corbin's younger daughter, a wise young woman (she's gorgeous) who knows Potts is cheating on her dad, assisting Candy during the investigation. Tim Thomerson is dimbulb tennis pro lover of Potts, helping her plot to kill Corbin. Valri Bromfield is Candy's rival, an experienced cop who considers him out of his depth...their one-upsmanship, insults towards each other, and snarling glances make for fun moments. Candy gets to disguise himself in various characters in order to fish out the truth, including Indian air conditioning repairman, fried-spikey haired window washer, and bald European spa health inspector. Candy has good chemistry with Shawnee, and how he drives Jones crazy (pictures taken with him and Potts while in a ventilation shaft, and the incidents involving dinosaur bones, including pterodactyl egg) gets plenty of laughs. The ceiling fan, his problems with Corbin's fish and lures (and a dartboard mishap), incident involving mud bath and fake hair from his chest to face, trying to fit into a jockey phone booth, dinner table crotch footsies, pictures taken of folks in uncompromising situations that he fails to inspect, among other comedic goodies give Candy fans what they expect. Remember fondly a poster of this film on a rental store window when I was young. Candy made the most of these kinds of films, knowing exactly how to attack scenes where he's not the sharpest tool in the shed, while other times his uncanny memory and stumbling into the truth rescue him from total disaster. Plots for his comedies were average at best, but the cast for this one excels when opposite Candy. Thomerson steals his scenes as someone about as airheaded as Candy. Joe Flaherty, Candy's old pal from the SCTV days, directs this film and has a great cameo as a hotel proprietor who is surprised to find Candy flying at him out of ventilation shaft. The formula for many of these Candy comedies has him enduring slapsticky pratfalls and incidents that would embarrass most. His facial expressions, ad always, are priceless. He was a treasure.

namashi_1 'Who's Harry Crumb' rests on the shoulders of the brilliant John Candy. The late comedy legend rules the show, with a lovable, hilarious performance, that appeals entirely. 'Who's Harry Crumb' Synopsis: Harry Crumb is a bumbling and inept private investigator who is hired to solve the kidnapping of a young heiress which he's not expected to solve because his employer is the mastermind behind the kidnapping.'Who's Harry Crumb' is funny in parts. Some jokes are silly, some laugh-out-loud funny & some are pretty lame. But, in totality, the humor works for its targeted audience - the kids & the kids at heart. Its a passable one-time watch. The Screenplay is flawed, but some memorable moments do the trick. Paul Flaherty's Direction is decent. Cinematography is standard. Editing & Art Design are okay. Performance-Wise: Its John Candy all the way. As Harry Crumb, the late comedy legend doesn't miss a beat & delivers in every sequence. He's the soul of the film. Amongst the supporting cast, Jeffrey Jones is terrific. On the whole, 'Who's Harry Crumb' is a must for John Candy Fans.

raisleygordon To say that Harry Crumb is not your average detective would be an understatement. He's the sort a guy who doesn't really take anything seriously. Is this an ideal part for Candy? Of course. The film has many funny moments, and doesn't have a single character that's uninteresting. The movie might not always make sense, but it is never a boring one. And yes, it is predictable, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in a slapstick comedy. Shawnee Smith (from TV's 'Becker') isn't given much to do beyond assisting Candy. I do think the movie gets a little bogged down in trying to explain who the kidnapper actually is.*** out of ****

Einar Arnason The thing about this movie is that it is silly in a quality manner, it must be taken to account that it was made in the 80's. You really get the feel that it was made to entertain, not just to milk money. A great combination of acting, steady and not overdoing it, making it even funnier without awkwardness and well done, original "accident" scenes. It's a movie that makes you laugh out loud and have a great time. John Candy deserves the title legend, no one else could have done this part better. A great cast that keeps the spirit up. The fact that it's a forgotten gem makes it even more special... and that's why it's one of my all-time favorites.