Who's Harry Crumb?

Directed by Paul Flaherty and released in 1989, this slapstick mystery comedy stars John Candy as the title character, a bumbling yet well-meaning private investigator. Harry Crumb is the last descendant of a legendary family of sleuths, but unlike his ancestors, he is spectacularly inept. The plot follows Harry as he is called back to Los Angeles by his boss, Eliot Draisen (Jeffrey Jones), to solve the kidnapping of a wealthy heiress. Unknown to Harry, Draisen is the mastermind behind the crime and has hired him specifically because he is expected to fail. The narrative serves as a vehicle for Candy's comedic versatility, featuring a wide array of zany disguises—from a Hungarian hairdresser to a hefty housewife—as Harry inadvertently stumbles toward solving the case. Supported by Annie Potts, Shawnee Smith, and a cameo by Jim Belushi, the film has earned a cult following for its absurdist humor and Candy's lovable portrayal of a detective with "nerves of steel, body of iron, and brain of stone."