Quartile rating: 8/10 · 4 ratings
At an exclusive country club, an ambitious young caddy, Danny Noonan, eagerly pursues a caddy scholarship in hopes of attending college and, in turn, avoiding a job at the lumber yard. In order to succeed, he must first win the favour of the elitist Judge Smails, and then the caddy golf tournament which Smails sponsors.
Caddyshack is a beloved comedy classic more celebrated for its anarchic energy and memorable characters than narrative coherence. The plot is loose and episodic — Danny Noonan's scholarship arc is largely forgotten amid the Bill Murray gopher subplot and Chevy Chase's zen golfer bits. Acting shines in the comedic performances, particularly Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield, who elevate the material well above its script. Cinematography is functional at best — standard late-70s/early-80s comedy photography with no particular visual ambition. Novelty gets a bump for the irreverent class-warfare comedy set on a golf course, the anarchic improvisational feel, and the iconic character ensemble that still feels distinctive. The ending, capped by the explosive finale, is fun but slightly chaotic and unearned dramatically.