After his auto-parts tycoon father dies, the overweight, underachieving son teams up with a snide accountant to try and save the family business. (from Paramount Pictures)

Certain movies are just critic proof. A prime example is that, 30 years after the critically-panned Tommy Boy released, it has become a 90's cult classic that is remembered fondly. 2025 not only sees its 30th anniversary, but its debut on 4K Ultra HD format - and it makes the transition to ultra high definition quite nicely.

Tommy Boy was a movie I did not catch at the time it first released. And in the years that passed, I waved it off as not my particular cup of tea. However, I'd often hear good things about it from - and quoted by - peers, so I eventually caught it on streaming some time ago. While I wouldn't begin to list it among highlights from even the decade, I can definitely see some of the appeal. If anything, there's a good-naturedness to the film. SNL alum Chris Farley has a boyish charm about him, and in the midst of relentless jabs at his weight, he never loses a relentless hopefulness as the film's title character. It's an infectious trait that makes Tommy Boy a light affair -- even despite the loss of his father being a big part of the premise. You're constantly reminded, too, of the times in which the movie was first released, as David Spade's Richard is constantly poking fun at Tommy's girth, and is quick to use a word like "retard" to describe his behavior - something that has since become quite taboo. But as the story progresses, the bickering antics between the two blossoms into a true friendship, which only adds to the good will of the film.

The jokes of the movie rely heavily on Farley's brand of slapstick and dopey comedy. I feel as if this movie was an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the previous year's smash hit, Dumb and Dumber. Like that movie, Tommy Boy is a road movie, and the two hit the highway on a mission, hoping to do something good, and are faced with opposition and crazy situations the whole way. For Tommy Boy, it's his dad's new wife and his new "brother" who prove to be up to no good, trying to work against Tommy and Richard behind the scenes. Silliness on the road abounds, from a fateful (and hilarious) encounter with a deer, to the discovery of Tommy's successful, albeit bizarre, approach to salesmanship. Along the way, they run into all sorts of characters, including Dan Aykroyd playing a different kind of Ray, proving to be another antagonist for Tommy's efforts.

The content for Tommy Boy is quite PG-13. Some crude humor is sprinkled throughout, especially a sequence seemingly inspired by something similar in Christmas Vacation. In this instance, it's Spade's Richard ogling a beautiful woman in a bikini standing alone at the edge of a hotel pool. As he leers through his hotel room curtains, he quietly cheers her on to strip and skinny dip. As she inevitably does (and we catch a glimpse of her "sideboob" and bare back), we hear him unzip his pants. Tommy soon catches him doing this, causing Richard to dash under his bed covers. Tommy then proceeds to tease him about what he knew he was doing, making several different suggestive masturbation jokes. Other comments include references to losing virginity, and a glimpse at an older woman being seen in a small bikini and later in a skimpy nightgown (as she encourages a man to join her in bed). Profanity is frequent, but mostly lesser cuss words, however there are several uses of blasphemy, a couple uses of the "S" word, and a decent amount of incomplete "son of a---." Finally, there's some slapstick violence, but nothing too drastic, as well as some college drug and alcohol use, including seeing some guys taking hits from a bong while drinking beer.

The 4K transfer itself is pretty impressive. Sure, 90's movies are hit-and-miss in this format, and I can't say this movie begs to be viewed in this format, but the color and clarity get a significant boost with this transfer. You can tell Paramount took care in restoring this title. We were sent the steelbook release which includes a Blu-Ray and digital copy (You can choose between Apple or Fandango/VUDU), but the new 4K release is also available in a standard retail version.

While not among the cream of the crop for the decade in which it was released (not all the jokes land for more than a chuckle), Tommy Boy proves to still have its own merit as one of the lighter and fun offerings of the 1990's. Spade and Farley are great together, and their scenes are the best parts of the film. It's a shame we lost Farley less than three years later due to an overdose; it's roles like these that make me wonder what he could have contributed to films and shows in the following years. (He was actually the original casting for the voice of Shrek, too, which is crazy to consider. An early recording of his voice as Shrek can be found online with a little digging.) But 30 years later, Tommy Boy holds up pretty well as a fun buddy comedy, and its new 4K treatment is a great way for fans to take a trip down memory lane to see one of their favorites get a visual revival.

Newly remastered under the supervision of director Peter Segal, TOMMY BOY is presented for the first time on 4K Ultra HD in a 4K/Blu-ray™ Combo or in a Limited-Edition SteelBook®, both of which include hours of legacy bonus content and access to a Digital copy of the film.

Bonus content on Blu-ray is detailed below:

• Commentary by director Peter Segal
• Featurettes:
• Tommy Boy: Behind the Laughter
• Stories from the Side of the Road
• Just the Two of Us
• Growing Up Farley
• Storyboard Comparisons
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• Alternate Takes
• Gag Reel
• Photo Gallery
• TV Spots
• Theatrical Trailer