One thing that always bothered me

I know! He's so passive in this movie it kinda makes me mad. I just watched it on tv, and thought the same thing. He does explain to Ben (JTT) when they're in the woods running from the bad guys at the end that he didn't want to worry Ben or his mom. So he just told them he had "car trouble." Ben replies that Jack (Chevy Chase) should have told him the truth that day and then he wouldn't have gotten so upset that they missed the canoeing trip. But I still think it's stupid not to tell people you love how you almost died! But it's a silly family movie, what can ya do? Definitely a goodie though.

didnt want to alarm then
the teepee setting up scen was funny
but chase did some of his best ACTING in this one
the emotions on his face had a good range,and genuine
sequel please?

Well he did tell Ben that he didn't want to worry him or his Mother, whether or not it is true that is another story. Plus the fact is that they cut his brakes from behind, so he doesn't know actually what they did to cut his brakes other then bump into the back of his van. He did say that he had car trouble, he just didn't say just how big it was so it wasn't like he was lying to get out of the trip.

We watched again yesterday and I was thinking, okay, your brakes are cut. Why did you continue to drive downhill? Put the car in neutral and go UPHILL so that the car is slowing down with only being at an idle. Why would you continue to go toward the bay? He could have prevented his accident. Now maybe if you think about what you would do in a panic situation, but still. At LEAST put the car in neutral!

Made perfect sense to me. First of all you have to consider the film, it is family friendly and overall light hearted: if you're in a new setting, already having difficulty as a new family unit/step-parent, his explanation in the woods is logical and acceptable. It's already difficult by default and then you expect him to come home and tell his fiance and step-son that his breaks were tampered with by a violent criminal with a vendetta against him, and he lost control of his vehicle and had to swim to safety? I guess you would also expect him to throw in the fact that his boss wants to relocate him because his life is in danger, and who knows, due to the nature of his job he could have others that want to seek revenge as well. Of course in real life, you may expect that to happen, but in this film, the explanation given in the woods is perfectly fine and makes sense to me.

Also, I felt the car scene was fairly realistic, in panic mode, I don't see how you could expect him to safely put the vehicle in neutral and then magically find a uphill road and come to a safe stop as if nothing happened. That wouldn't happen in real life either.