Dunston Checks In
Seen it?1996 | 88 min | Family, Comedy, Adventure
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (17% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh, adventure fans and families. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Light and funny, feel-good.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 28 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
Hotel manager Robert Grant is forced by his boss to postpone his family vacation when a hotel critic checks in. Trouble is, the critic is really a villainous jewel thief with an orangutan assistant named Dunston. When Dunston gets loose and tries to escape a life of crime -- aided by Robert's sons -- havoc, hijinks and lots of laughs abound!
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
17% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
5.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$42 million worldwide on a $16 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 75K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Ken Kwapis
- Sam the OrangutanDunston
- Jason AlexanderRobert Grant
- Faye DunawayMrs. Dubrow
- Rupert EverettLord Rutledge
- Graham SackBrian Grant
- Paul ReubensBuck LaFarge
- Glenn ShadixLionel Spalding
- Nathan DavisVictor Dubrow
- Jennifer BasseyMrs. Dellacroce
- Eric LloydKyle Grant