Dunston Checks In (1996)

What makes Dunston Checks In such an easy yes is its old-fashioned, high-energy farce set in a fancy hotel where every polished surface seems designed to be disrupted—preferably by an orangutan with impeccable comic timing. The movie keeps a brisk, breezy pace, letting slapstick set pieces build like clockwork while Jason Alexander plays the increasingly frazzled manager with just the right mix of exasperation and heart. There’s a bright, mischievous vibe to it all, the kind of family comedy that feels like a live-action cartoon without ever turning mean-spirited. If you’re looking for subtle humor or realism, this isn’t that, but if you want a light, lively adventure that plays to kids and adults alike, it’s a charming check-in.

Dunston Checks In is aiming for breezy, kid-friendly chaos: a fancy hotel, a criminal mix-up, and an orangutan causing nonstop mayhem while a stressed dad tries to keep his job and his family intact. The problem is it plays like a checklist of ‘90s family-animal gags—loud, predictable, and often more reliant on monkey business than clever writing or real surprises. If you’re hoping for sharp comedy, a satisfying caper, or characters with much depth beyond “frazzled adult” and “mischievous kids,” this will probably feel thin and a bit dumb. Still, if your tolerance for slapstick is high and you just want a harmless, low-stakes distraction with a charming animal performer, it can do that job.