IMDb 5.4 1996 HD

Dunston Checks In

Dunston Checks In

1996
Adventure Comedy Family
88 min PG USA
5.369 / 10
5.4 IMDB

Hotel manager Robert Grant is forced by his boss to postpone his family vacation when a hotel critic checks in. Trouble is, the critic is really a villainous…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Ken Kwapis / Carole Keligian / Rodney Liber / John T. Kretchmer / Walter Scott
Starring
Sam the Orangutan / Jason Alexander / Faye Dunaway / Rupert Everett / Graham Sack / Paul Reubens / Glenn Shadix / Nathan Davis

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

charming predictable amusing silly lighthearted hectic fun uneven forgettable whimsical entertaining absurd

Reviews

P
Penelope Croft
May 14, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

There’s a disarming earnestness to Dunston Checks In that makes it hard to dismiss entirely. The film wisely places its faith in Sam the Orangutan, whose performance is the undeniable highlight, navigating the plot’s comedic turns with impressive…

A
Arthur Finch
May 14, 2026
2.0 / 5
2.0

Dunston Checks In leans heavily into its central gimmick, and while the orangutan's presence provides moments of genuine amusement, the film struggles to maintain momentum. Jason Alexander and Faye Dunaway are competent, but their performances feel somewhat constrained…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 14, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

For sheer, unadulterated silliness, Dunston Checks In delivers. It’s a film that fully embraces its absurd premise: a jewel thief with an orangutan accomplice. Jason Alexander and Faye Dunaway are game for the proceedings, their performances adding a…

M
Marcus Bellwether
May 14, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

This 1996 offering, Dunston Checks In, attempts to blend heist thriller elements with family-friendly slapstick, with mixed results. Rupert Everett hams it up as the villain, and the presence of Faye Dunaway adds a touch of class, but…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 14, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Dunston Checks In offers a rather predictable but undeniably charming family romp. Jason Alexander and Faye Dunaway anchor the human element, though it's Sam the Orangutan who truly steals the show with a performance that’s surprisingly nuanced for…

FAQs

Absolutely, Dunston is not merely a prop but a central character driving the plot. His escape from a life of crime and his subsequent interactions with the hotel manager's sons are the engine of the film's comedic engine. The narrative hinges on his ability to cause havoc and charm his way through increasingly absurd situations, making his presence essential to the story's progression and comedic payoff.