Those of us who are not as young as we used to be may remember having an enjoyable time watching Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz going on a disaster-filled holiday in The Long, Long Trailer.  But, that was fifty years ago and more.

What happens these days if a family (albeit quite unwillingly) goes off in a Recreational Vehicle?  And what happens if Robin Williams is playing the father?  Answers to be found in this amiable comedy, RV.

There is a very sweet opening with Robin Williams reading to his devoted little daughter who never wants to marry but stay always with Daddy.  Dear oh dear.  Then, suddenly she is 15 and can’t stand him!  We are now ready to see how Dad needs to keep his job with a soft-drinks company while he wants to be on vacation with his patient wife (Cheryl Hines).  Solution!  Hire an RV and everyone can go to Colorado where he has to make his presentation.

There are the usual jokes and slapstick of knocking over fences, lurching all over the road, van contents falling and smashing.  There is also a very long episode where they have difficulty with a clogged sewage system that becomes an event as campers pull up chairs to watch the process (with plenty of useless advice).  It doesn’t hit the fan but showers poor old Robin.

But this is the occasion for introducing the Kosnicki family, the most optimistic post-Brady Bunch family on the freeways.  Robin’s family can’t stand them but, of course, they are the nice ones who do help the family out of trouble and remind us that good old family values should not be ignored.  Jeff Daniels (who is very versatile when one thinks of his vain father in The Squid and the Whale) is marvellously genial as Mr Kosnicki.

There are some shots at greedy corporations and inept managers.  There are some shots at American love for sugar and fats.  There are some homely asides about family.  It is no masterpiece and a lot of it is fairly obvious - but it does produce more than a chuckle or two.

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