Expectations were high. People stood in line readying themselves to laugh until their stomach muscles hurt.

Written by John Hughes, creator of Sixteen Candles, for one, and starring Dan Aykroyd and John Candy, who would think it could be anything but great? “The Great Outdoors,” though, turns out to be just good.

Like Hollywood movies (and Hughes’ films) tend to be, “The Great Outdoors” is an idealistic story line bringing two opposites and their families together in a wilderness resort area where, after numerous comic incidents, the characters learn a heartwarming lesson about the human condition.

Candy plays Chet Ripley, the down-to-earth, easy-going father-type who likes the wilderness for its trees, and Aykroyd portrays his brother-in-law, Roman Craig, the slick, investment banker who envisions the economic possibilities of stripping the environment of its natural resources.

As in “Tom and Jerry” cartoons or “Abbott and Costello” reruns, the comedy in this film revolves around their clashing ideas and lifestyles (Ripley prefers hot dogs and pontoon boats to Craig’s Maine lobster and speed boats) and around Ripley being made a blundering fool by Abbott, oops, I mean Craig.

Dampening the humor, a sentimental end comes when Craig resists the urge to finagle $10,000 out of his good-natured brother-in-law, and in turn pays Ripley the respect he deserves. One big, happy family.

And, in a “why is it there?” tangent to the story line, Ripley’s son wins a committment with a beautiful local girl, who finds him to be more than a “love her and leave her” vacationer.

“The Great Outdoors” is a funny movie, but to save hard-earned money, just watch the previews for the good parts.