When his father - who owned a circus - dies, Oscar inherits 5 million dollars - and 3 orangutans. However there's a condition connected to the money: if he gives away the apes or just one gets sick or dies during the next 3 years, the zoologic society will get all the money. So he not only has to deal with 3 apes and an annoyed girlfriend, but also with a greedy zoologic society's president.
Acting
Danny DeVito's sweaty, desperate villainy steals every scene.
Practical Effects
Real orangutans! No CGI means genuine chaos on set.
Director
Jeremy Joe Kronsberg
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was director Jeremy Joe Kronsberg's only feature film; he later wrote 'Every Which Way But Loose' and its sequel, cementing his niche as Hollywood's go-to orangutan comedy guy.
Released in 1981, this rode the brief 'ape co-star' wave that included 'Cannonball Run' and Clint Eastwood's orangutan duology, proving audiences once couldn't get enough of primates in human situations.
US
