Back to School

Rating:
Summary: This film stinks
Review: This "comedy" isnt so funny because the acting reeks- Both Keith Gordon (Rodney's son in this film) and Sally Kellerman (the teacher) cannot act, will not act, or refused to do alternate takes, because they are the worst most unconvincing performances ever put on film. Try Easy Money 1983 instead. This is better than Animal House which says absolutely nothing since Animal House is the worst film ever released to the public since motion pictures with sound were invented back in 1929.

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME MOVIE
Review: This is my all time favorite movie. I watch it over and over again, and never get tired of it. It's just the kinda movie that makes you feel good when you watch it. I dont know of anyone who does not enjoy watching Back to School! I just ordered the DVD. I would recommend this to anyone !

Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC! Dangerfield's best!
Review: This is one of those movies I can watch every six months because of the great humor and story Dangerfield stars in. Dangerfield goes back to college to be closer to his son and the funny one-liners and humor really come together in this funny and intriguing comedy. I also enjoyed Dangerfield's acting in which he has to earn the respect of his son at school and how he cares about father-and-son issues. I think Dangerfield is at his best here and it's unfortunate we haven't seen another film like this from him and I simply have to call this film a comedy classic!

Rating:
Summary: Rodney, we all love you!
Review: This is one of those movies. Everything is good about it, I love Rodney because as an actor you get the feeling that's really him. I have seen this movie literatly dozens of times. There are so many funny moments, it's not even funny. Rodney is great, he's rude, he's funny, he's loud but hay, he's Rodney! That is what makes him so charming. The story here is actually pretty good, when you look past the obvious humor. You have Rodney trying to get close to his son, which doesn't seem to work well, well because he's obnoxious and too care free. Where his son is focused and serious. I think the chemistry between them is a thing of beauty. There are moments where you almost believe they are father and son, and moments where you feel the son's embarrassment of his "pops" Lots of slapstick here, there's not really much bad langauge, and only about 1 second of nudity. I wouldn't say it's the best movie for kids, but I would have no problem letting my kids watch it. Lou, Rodney's limo driver, and body guard is WONDERFUL! Some of his lines blow me away
"your fathers tough, but a good guy. Like me, I'm good but I'm tough. I put one of my kids through college, and I put the other threw a wall" haha priceless. This is a must own for everyone if you ask me. As Thorten Mellon Rodney shines, I can't get enough of this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Its Up There with Austin Powers
Review: This movie is absolutely hilarious. It isn't as 'dumb-hilarious' like Austin Powers, but it is hilarious.
Here's an overview:
Mr. Mellon (Rodney Dangerfield) owns a 'Big and Fat' store. His son goes to college, however, he tells his dad that he is going to drop out. Mr. Mellon is distressed and says, "I'll do it with you." Mr. Mellon has a personality that is hilarious. He keeps giving things away, and gives money away too. He also gets in trouble with the professors. See the movie to see how it ends.
Now I had a very dull description of what was actually going on in the movie. Rodney Dangerfield is absolutely hillarious. This is a must see movie.

Rating:
Summary: Really Funny
Review: This movie was very funny. When Dangerfield puts a multi-million dollar bet on a golf game is really cool. The dive that he does is spectcacular. I'd buy this movie as soon as you can because it is really cool and funny.

Rating:
Summary: The Triple Lindy
Review: This was a great movie. It's funny but it's there's a certian sweetness to the story as Thorton Melon goes back to school to help his son, Jason, stay in school. It takes a turn when Thorton was there for himself and loses his objective to help Jason. In the end they help eachother out to foil the plans of the evil teacher. Get it it's funny every step of the way.

Rating:
Summary: Thornton Goes To College
Review: Thornton Melon has a head for business. Even though he never went to college, he took the family tailoring business and transformed it into a chain of successful clothing stores. It's made Thornton (Rodney Dangerfield) a wealthy man who can send his son Jason (Keith Gordon) to the elite Grand Lakes University. Thornton also shares his wealth with his unfaithful second wife, Vanessa (Adrienne Barbeau), who is unsatisfied with the life Thornton's money could bring her. She not only wants his money, but she wants to control Thornton. The last straw between Thornton and Vanessa comes one evening at one of the parties Vanessa insists on throwing, when he catches her in the act of cheating. Not only does he serve her divorce papers, but he shows her photos of her cheating. Both Jason and Thornton's driver, Lou (Burt Young), say how much better a person Thornton's late first wife was.

Thornton uses the divorce to make a trip to Jason's college to visit him. Thornton discovers that Jason's been lying about how well he's been doing in school. Thornton offers this fatherly advice: "You don't lie to me. You lie to girls." Jason had claimed he was on the school's diving team when he was only good enough to be the towel boy. When Jason admits he's getting mostly Bs and Cs, Thornton is happy that his son is in some of the top three grades. Thornton decides he'd like to see Jason do better in both academics and athletics, and have some fun in the process. In "Back To School," Thornton decides to go to college with Jason in an effort to not only be with Jason, but also to get a formal education himself.

To get into the college without the benefit of SATs, Thornton makes a deal with Grand Lakes dean David Martin (Ned Beatty) to make a sizeable donation to the university - a business building dedicated to Thornton himself. The actions of Thronton and Dean Martin draw the ire of business professor Philip Barbay (Paxton Whitehead), who thinks Thornton's presence undermines the ideals of the university. Thornton further upsets Barbay by taking an interest in English professor Diane Turner (Sally Kellerman), whom he's been dating. Thornton's knowledge of business is merely an extreme distraction to Barbay, who insists on teaching his class how to conduct business legitimately.

Meanwhile, with Thornton's help, Jason makes the diving team. Team captain Chas Osborne (William Zabka) is certain that Jason's father bought Jason a spot on the roster. Coach Turnbull (M. Emmet Walsh), however, is more interested in Thornton's diving experience. Jason also takes an interest in Valerie Desmond (Terry Farrell), a student that Chas also likes. Thornton uses his money to make life as full of ease and fun as possible. However, Thornton takes that too far when he brings his people (and special consultant Kurt Vonnegut, in a cameo appearance) to the school to write papers for himself and Jason. Not only does Jason reject the work, but Barbay also believes Thornton isn't doing the work for class he's been assigned, and demands Dean Martin expel Thornton. Martin, instead, makes Thornton take oral exams with all of his professors. Expulsion awaits if Thornton fails the orals.

"Back To School" is one of the best college comedies I've seen. It's not quite in the same league as "Animal House" or "Horse Feathers," but it's close. The story is filled with Dangerfield one-liners that could easily have been preceded by his trademark line, "I don't get no respect." Thornton certainly doesn't get respect from Philip or Vanessa, but they are people who don't like Thornton as a person. Both have issues that involve Thornton's money. Everybody else sees beyond his money and knows him to be a generous, fun-loving businessman. When he's in the bookstore, he not only insists on buying Jason new textbooks, but he announces to the other students, "It's on me. Shakespeare for everyone." A host of writers, including Dangerfield on the story and Harold Ramis on the screenplay, maximize the joke potential of every scene. Some of the story is a bit stereotypical, but the film's good nature and consistent humor compensate more than adequately for the stereotypes.

In addition to all of the jokes, the actors make the relationships credible. Thornton may not offer Jason tpyical fatherly advice, but Thornton generally offers advice that is beneficial. Diane first takes notice of Thornton at the campus bookstore, and enjoys his enthusiasm. Philip simply dismisses Thornton as "the world's oldest living freshman." It's Philip's stuffiness and dismissiveness that creates trouble between himself and Diane, as well as between himself and Thornton. Dangerfield is not a great actor, but he does well here because the humor is tailored to his comic persona. One of the highlights of his performance is his recitation of Dylan Thomas's famous villanelle, "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night," and the interpretation of the poem he gives to Diane. In addition to the performers I've already mentioned, three others deserve mention for their comic support. First, Robert Downey, Jr., is hilarious as Derek Lutz, the dormmate of Jason's who puts blue streaks in his hair and stands against any conformity. Sam Kinison is just as funny as Professor Terguson, a history teacher who's not afraid to get sarcastic and loud with his students. His verbal exchange with Thornton is another of the film's best moments. Jason Hervey also makes the most of his brief appearance as young Thornton, doing a good job of copying Dangerfield's mannerisms.

The eighties were a time where Rodney Dangerfield took his brand of comedy to the big screen with great success. College will change Thornton Melon, but not as much as Thornton will change college. He may be one of the oldest people in the school, but his behavior is just like that of the much younger students. "Back To School" stands as Dangerfield's biggest achievement on the big screen. He stayed true to his brand of comedy, with very humorous results. He's the regular guy who found his niche in life, and made a fortune as a result. He's also the family man looking to prove a point to his son, as well as to himself. Thornton Melon is a man of means, yet he knows money isn't everything.

What's not to respect about that?

Originally published on Epinions.com.

Rating:
Summary: more than a comedy
Review: While indeed a very funny film, it is also a biting commentary on the unjustified arrogance of many academicians: those who know do, those who don't publish! (Yes publish not just teach.) In addition, the film cleverly binds the generations and inspires one and all to avoid myopic ageisms. If Rodney Dangerfield is ever to be credited as anything more than the "very-well known comic," Back To School, then, is clearly his defining moment.

Rating:
Summary: Back to School
Review: You know, the only reason I keep watching this movie that everyone else fails to remember, is that Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo have an appearance in this film....it's a dead man's party who could ask for more...