Film Overview"Packin' It In" is a 1983 American made-for-television funny movie directed by Jud Taylor. It starred Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, known for their comical acting in different television and film jobs. The film is based around the urban-to-rural trope, where the main characters leave their city life behind and transfer to the countryside in pursuit of peace and joy, just to deal with unforeseen obstacles and funny predicaments.
Plot SummaryRichard Benjamin plays Gary Webber, a diligent advertisement executive, while Paula Prentiss represents his partner, Barbara, a strong-willed woman and caring mother. The couple live in New York city with their 2 children, played by Tony Roberts and David Hollander. They choose to uproot their comfortable city life after an unfortunate series of occasions highlights the risks and perils of the city life. Gary is robbed, their child has a frightening experience in the train, and their son is used drugs at school.
Choosing they have actually had enough of city danger, they move their family to rural Oregon, expecting a more tranquil and safer environment for their kids. However, what they imagined as a serene life ends up being a series of comic misadventures as they face the unanticipated obstacles and problems of rural life.
Encountering a New LifestyleIn the pleasant and relaxing Oregon countryside, they purchase a big, rustic house, which includes its own set of problems. They have a hard time to adjust to the slower speed and the unfamiliar way of life of the rural area. The kids come to grips with fitting into their brand-new schools, and Barbara misses out on the facilities they enjoyed in New York. Gary suffers a mid-life crisis as he tries to develop a self-dependent way of life, dealing with animals, farming, and learning carpentry.
One amusing subplot involves a feud with their brand-new next-door neighbors, who are unapproachable and have a large, daunting pet. The next-door neighbors' duplicated refusals to remove an old tree stump that sits on their typical home line becomes a main conflict producing numerous hilarious circumstances throughout the movie.
Finding Peace Amidst ChaosAmid the numerous comic mishaps they come across, the Webbers slowly comprehend the value and appeal of their brand-new lifestyle. They discover that in spite of the obstacles, their life in Oregon allows them to get in touch with each other and nature in a manner they couldn't in the city. The climax of the movie, while not without its share of amusing analytical, marks their shift into rural living.
Conclusion and ReceptionThe motion picture, a gentle satire on both city and nation life, was favorably received and praised for a great balance of laughter and thoughtful moments. The acting efficiencies of Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss bring heat and beauty to the movie, authentically representing a family navigating through extreme changes.
While the story of "Packin' It In" is essential fish out of water or city folk moving to the country, it differentiates itself with a well-written script and lighthearted execution that makes for an engaging motion picture experience about finding peace and joy, even in the middle of turmoil.
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