Protraph
Lack of good storyline.
Ezmae Chang
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Taha Avalos
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
ElMaruecan82
A colleague once told me a funny anecdote: while he had successfully passed his 4th grade exam, his cousin, of the same age, didn't have the same luck, so his father made him work as a mechanic. Thirty years later, this colleague was twice my age with half my wage, while his cousin turned out to be the successful manager of six garages all over the town.So much for the merit of education! So when Alan Metter's "Back to School" came to its fifth minute, I was immediately thinking of this story. The film opens with young Thornton Meloni, decided to leave school and work with his father, an Italian immigrant who's obviously failed to communicate about the virtue of education. Was that a loss? Not quite: the opening sequence is a brilliant illustration of the American Dream, showing Meloni's ascension, becoming Melon, the head of a 'Fat and Tall' tailor-made costumes empire. Whether it's Melon, or the garage owner, are typical self-made men who didn't wait for any certificate to work hard, they had the talent, the personality, and luck did the rest.And Rodney Dangerfield, with his bulging eyes, obnoxious mannerisms and self-deprecating one-liners, proves that you can be wealthy and successful in business without being corrupted by a snobbish etiquette or pompous arrogance. You can be among the city's top businessmen and speak people's language. There's also no doubt that 'education' isn't his strong suit: he's not comfortable with tuxedos and his driver (played by Burt Young) looks like a truck driver crossed with a moving mug-shot from "America's Most Wanted". So, it doesn't come as a surprise that the dinner organized by his gold-digging socialite second-wife gets as disastrous as Mr. Burns presenting his son Larry in the "Simpsons" episode that guest-starred Dangerfield. The divorce is quickly set and Melon had one urge, visiting his son, Jason, played by Keith Jordan.Jason is an interesting character, in a frustrating way, despite obvious diving skills inherited from his father, he's just the locker boy, and despite his only friend's encouragement to talk to the girl of his dreams, he's more or less resigned to give up (the friend is played with delightful zaniness by a young Robert Downey Jr., and you could tell the promising talent rising even from a secondary role). Melon can't believe Jason is not some fraternity member or just more popular, much more, that he's about to drop college. But the father's experience doesn't convince on the necessity of education, but like any father, he wants the 'best' for his son, and if it can set an example to his son, he'll also study with him, and pass the same exams.The set-up is as simple as that, but it says something very nice about the film, it's moved by the love of a father for his son, and all Melon's good intentions are built on that, no matter how over-the-top and sometimes disastrous they end up. But Dangerfield plays such a charming, positive, cheerful character that it's impossible to resist to his appeal, he makes everything fun and enjoyable, like a never-ending party, and the embarrassing moments cause more harm to him than his son. And what I liked about the film is that the son likes his father and doesn't mind his presence. In a lesser comedy, the father-and-son relationship would've been the source of predictable gags consisting on one ruining another's fun, but the dynamics is more subtle and touching, and makes the conflict more serious when it happens.And the conflict says a lot about the film's commentary on money and education. The class's jock and Jason's rival accuses him of being an opportunistic nouveau riche benefiting from his father's helps, including him being part of the diving team. Jason thinks his father bribed the coach (played by M. Emmet Walsh, oddly enough, a role he also played in "Ordinary People"). But the bribe accusation isn't that irrelevant as Melon literally bought his way to the school, through a generous donation, that left the spineless Dean speechless (Ned Beatty makes a funny pairing with Dangerfield) and that didn't please the Business Professor and main antagonist, Professor Barbay, played by Paxton Whitehead. But Melon thinks money is the answer.Melon is actually a pragmatic guy, and in what constitutes the best scene of the film, he deconstructs the whole theoretical approach of Barbay's business course, reminding him there are many extra-costs to count, from the politicians to grease, to the waste disposal, to the unions (and you see students taking notes). Melon has made his way by learning how to make things simple and quick, and if he can buy people to ghostwrite his work, if he can hire someone for the NASA to work on his son's project, he doesn't see any harm to it. Melon is ignoring the basis of education, which, as worthless as it can be (and it can) for a man's success is also the builder of a positive state of mind, something that allow people to surpass their level and learn things that go beyond practicality….like a beautiful English teacher, played by Sally Kellerman, who'd unveil the man's sensitive side.As the fun comedy as it is, "Back to School" has the merit to keep constantly in line with its message, not much an hymn to education, but an invitation to enjoy the time that is given to have fun and learn, before getting to the real world. And on a personal level, it reminded me of my preppy and school years which ultimately made me realize that education is like Karate, we study things not to have to use them.Not sure this one-liner would have done well in this comedy… but there's one that I immediately put in my Top 10 funniest ever: "Say hello to my nieces" (especially when you know the context).
succeed-564-773870
One of the truly, funny if irreverent modern comedies and Dangerfield's best. A fun way to take the load off your new students by showing this. Rodney and Sally Kellerman make a great pair with Rodney his usual bumbling 'no respect' self. Yet he somehow gets the girl, for awhile anyway as the oldest student on campus. Favorite scene is at the swimming pool where Rodney takes quite a dive.This was Rodney's first movie, from 1986 but holds up well, better than most current movie fare.(Surprised at the 6.5 rating). For us, it's almost a 10. Show your kids/students along with this great poster gift: ROAD TO SUCCESS Famous 100-Yr- old Motivational Poster -Great back to school gift or Business Promo http://buff.ly/1i5SocU #success #backtoschool
FloodClearwater
If it were the mid-1980s, and you were casting a formula-driven, broad-premise comedy film, and you needed two actors to play a tweedy pair of college professors, my God, you couldn't have done better than Sally Kellerman and Paxton Whitehead. Or if it were the 1980s, and you needed a rapid-fire quipster who could credibly laugh in the face of a muscled goon and get away with it, how about an SNL-era Robert Downey, Jr.? And what if your comedy was about the college underdogs, the smaller, slighter, offbeat undergraduates, and you wanted to inject a love interest that was gorgeous but also had a little, you know, geek cred? What about (then future) DS9 heart-throbber Terry Farrell?And what if, after you had signed your comedy's straight men, your sidekick, and your love interest, you also landed Ned Beatty, Adrienne Barbeau, Burt Young, Sam Kinison, and Kurt Vonnegut-yes THAT Kurt-freakin'-Vonnegut (to play himself, naturally, it's a film about higher learning) for minor roles and cameos?Pretty ding-dang good, right? But wait, it's a college film, so for the heavy, you need a classic, turned-up collar, sneering, "bro" type. And you go get William Zabka--yeah, the 'Cobra Kai' kid from The Karate Kid. Ring the bell (wait, do colleges use 'bells?'). This movie, an absolute mid-1980s gem, exists, with this cast, and it stars Rodney Dangerfield. It is the best comedy and best film he ever starred in (Caddyshack excepted, but was he a lead there, really?). It is called Back to School. Rodney Dangerfield is "Thornton Melon," captain of industry, millionaire. Thornton's normal-guy son Jason has started college, but it's been a bumpy ride, and he wants to drop out. Thornton, who never went, offers to enroll in college with him so the loving father and son can tough things out together. He enrolls, both son and father face down their natural rivals, and a wonderfully acted feel-good comedy ensues. Back to School is, it seems, permanently underrated and under-viewed since most people who haven't seen it will mistake it for a Dangerfield yuck-yuck schtick groaner, and never press 'Play.' This movie is worth your time on a quiet evening, and it is extra fun for parents and older teenagers to watch together.
SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain
Rodney Dangerfield is one of the greatest stand up comedians ever. His timing and delivery are simply perfect. This films shows that he also had some great acting talent. Nothing that pushes him too far, but certainly enough to propel the story along. Dangerfield decides to attend his son's college to help his son through the hard times. Obviously they each learn a little about each other along the way. There are many sequences and characters you will be familiar with, but Dangerfield is particularly lovable. He's supported by a strong supporting cast. The best moments are when Dangerfield proves himself as more than just a one-liner comedian.
