Back to School (1986)

Lack of good storyline.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Oh man, Back To School is one of my most watched comedies from the 80's era. This is the film that transformed Rodney Dangerfield from stand up comedy guy to a comedic actor and star. This is one of his finest performances in front of the big screen and Back To School made a lot of money. With the solid direction of Alan Meter, the screen writing by Harold Ramis and an excellent supporting cast, Back To School is a non stop party from start to finish, but also a solid well made movie that holds up after repeated viewings. In my opinion, this is Dangerfield's best film by far and the incredible support cast of Sally Kellerman (as Rodney's love interest), the criminally underrated Keith Gordon(as his son, and Keith always gave a memorable performance and good in everything I have seen him in),Burt Young,Ned Beatty, M Emmet Walsh,William Zapka(who previously was seen as a bully in The Karate Kid and Just One Of The Guys), the lovely Terry Farrell, an early performance from Hollywood wildman Robert Downey Jr. Plus cameos from maniac comedian Sam Kinison, Adrienne Barbeau and Kurt Vonnegut appearing as himself. Back To School is a great film and cinematic gold, an absolute comedy classic.

"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.Rodney was at the top of his game here. He was cleary having a good time making the movie, and that good time works its way to the viewer. The supporting cast is also excellent. Paxton Whitehead is perfect as an aloof Economics professor who serves as Thornton's diametrically opposed antagonist. Robert Downey Jr, an actor who normally annoys me to end, is hilarious as Jason's punked-out diver-heckling best friend. The late Sam Kinison is especially memorable as a psychotic History professor/Vietnam veteran. You even have a cameo by Kurt Vonnegut Jr (yes, the same Kurt Vonnegut Jr who wrote Slaughterhouse Five). Back to School is a textbook (bad choice of words) example of how great comedy films used to be before the comedy genre became hijacked by disgustingly unfunny toilet humor mavens like Rob Schneider and bland rom-com chick flicks. Everybody is great in this mid-80's comedy classic. Lastly, you have to love a Rodney Dangerfield movie that features a university dean by the name of Dean Martin (the always-wonderful Ned Beatty). "Back to School" really takes us back to school on what a great film comedy should be.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Millionaire businessman Thornton Melon is upset when his son Jason announces that he is not sure about staying at college. Thornton insists that college is the best thing for him, and to prove his point, he agrees to enroll in school along with his son. Thornton is a big hit on campus: always throwing the biggest parties, knowing all the right people, but is this the way to pass college?.....Here in the UK, Dangerfield is a drama that was shown on the BBC back in the nineties starring some bloke your mum used to fancy, because he looked trustworthy, not a stand up comedian.So the only thing I've ever seen him in is Natural Born Killers. I knew of him, but the only films of this that had anything near a prolific release here were, Ladybugs, Rover Dangerfield, and this.And if it wasn't for him, this would have been your average fish out of water comedy,that would have had mild success, because during this stage of the eighties, college movies were the fashion, so to speak.But he lights up every scene he's in, treating the film like a stand-up routine rather than a narrative, and this kind of hides the predictable fish out of water cliché.But you find all the regular tropes that you would expect....The Professor who wants him to fail.... The Love interest who just happens to be seeing said professor..... The Jock who causes trouble..... The make or break exam..... And of course, the last minute act that saves the day......But it's never dull, there are a lot if laughs, and it's always good to see Downey Jr.A good addition to the sub-genre..

Back to School (1986) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Box office hit has Rodney Dangerfield playing Thorton Melon, a millionaire who decides to go back to school when his son (Keith Gordon) talks about dropping out. Melon is a hit on campus and even hits it off with one of his teachers (Sally Kellerman) but soon all the attention begins to push his son away. BACK TO SCHOOL is certainly a charming movie and it certainly has some funny moments but overall I don't think it works as well as it could have. For the most part the entire story is poorly written and there's really not too much that happens. The entire father-son relationship just comes off fake and especially towards the end when they have a falling out. This here leads to some scenes that are meant to be touching but they just come off rather melodramatic. Another problem I had is that there really aren't any funny moments that just happen. In other words, all of the funny material comes from Dangerfield's one-liners that he basically just looks into the camera and says. Some of these are certainly funny but the way they're filmed it really takes you out of the movie. With all of that said, yes, there's no question that seeing Dangerfield back at school contains a certain cuteness that can't be denied. The actor does a good job in the role as he has no problem throwing out the jokes and he handles the more dramatic moments just fine even if they are melodramatic. Burt Young does his typical good performance as does Kellerman in her role. Robert Downey, Jr. isn't too bad in his brief role and we get brief but entertaining spots by M. Emmet Walsh, Ned Beatty and Adrienne Barbeau. I found Gordon's performance somewhat annoying and the same with the quick cameo by Sam Kinison. BACK TO SCHOOL is pretty much pure 80s in term of its style and comedy. The cast makes it much better than it actually is but fans of Dangerfield will still want to check it out.