Sick Product of a Sick System

Just perfect...

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

"Summer School" (1987) is a solid mid-80s teen dramedy in the tradition of 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", 1985's "Just One of the Guys" and many others. Although it's no where near as good as "Fast Times" -- since that's the pick of the litter -- it's still a solid high school comedy-drama.Likable Mark Harmon plays a hip gym teacher, Shoop, who gets stuck teaching remedial English in Summer School. His students don't want to be there and neither does he, but at some point he develops fatherly concern for the kids. Meanwhile, Kirstie Alley plays another teacher at Summer School who catches Shoop's eye. Can Shoop get these kids to learn? The first act plays out in a fairly leisurely, languid manner, but somewhat amusing. It wasn't until around the mid-point of the movie that I really started to see Shoop's goodheartedness. Yes, he's a bit too irresponsible to be an effective teacher, but he makes up for it in that he cares about the kids and they, in turn, begin to care about him, and care about learning too.The group of teens consist of a jock, a stud, two horror film geeks, a prego girl, a cute blond, a hot foreign student, a nerd, a spirited Hispanic and a token black dude. It's to the film's credit that quite a few of these characters -- mostly rebels of one sort or another -- are fleshed-out enough that you begin seeing them as real people and actually like them. Take, for instance, the brief subplot about the jock and the prego girl. It's surprising touches like this that lift "Summer School" from mediocrity.Although Fabiana Udenio -- the foreign babe -- is certainly beautiful, Courtney Thorne-Smith steals her thunder as the cute blond, Pam. Speaking of Pam, there's a subplot that shows the naiveté and goodheartedness of Shoop when Pam asks to stay at his place. Anyone with a brain could see that Pam has the hots for him, but Shoop just sees her as a student in need and innocently allows her to (temporarily) stay. Alley's character, however, sees the obvious problems of the situation and opens Shoop's eyes.The reason I'm not giving "Summer School" a very high rating is because I don't want to mislead people into thinking that it's better than what it is. It's a second-tier 80s teen dramedy, but it's solid if you can handle the laid-back vibe and sometimes amateurish editing. What makes it so likable is its mid-80's soundtrack, warmheartedness and lack of raunch.The film was shot in the greater Los Angeles area and runs 97 minutes.Grade: B-

This is just a great comedy/summer movie. It's light -- though with some serious moments -- and just a lot of fun. Mark Harmon as Freddie Shoop is so believable, and likable, as the lost-at-sea-but-with-a-good-heart teacher forced to teach summer school. His class of misfits is great, believable and likable too; a cluster of perhaps damaged souls and "outsiders" going through a tough time in anyone's life – high school. Shoop is a bit of a slacker, in his own right, and manages to get himself into some awful situations, that in real life could go horribly wrong. But in the film world he's allowed to work them out and turn them -- and his young charges -- right. The situations are hilarious -- some, painfully so. And Robin Thomas as the sneaky-bastard vice principal Mr. Gills is truly unlikeable, in a very fun way. Kirstie Alley's Ms. Bishop is sedate and sensible -- the perfect foil for Shoop. And, of course, there's Wondermutt. What a great dog – and the perfect "mascot" for this film. Everything about this movie works, and I highly recommend it. It will make you laugh and feel better about life.

Seriously. Today's comedy is pure crap. This movie is long lost gem I tell you. It might not be a very good movie, but it's not meant to be. It meant to be funny and that's exactly what it gives - lot of funny moments.Characters are likable, with two horror fanatics Chainsaw and Dave being the funniest of them all. Things they do and say in this movie are nuts. You can actually find a now-(in)famous names in this movie, then unknown.If you are a horror\comedy fun, check this one out for sure since this movie gives some tribute to Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, since we are talking about characters who looooves horror and are experts in FX make up.This movie is OK for a family watch or watching with lot of friends\girlfriend. Its one of my favorite B comedies of all time.

I have never been a fan of teen comedies for many reasons that I can't possibly list here. Most are menial, mediocre movies that have little or no effort put into them and usually just fall down the pits into low brow comedy including but not limited to scatological humor and/or perverse sexual jokes. Am I saying all comedies of this nature are like that? No, absolutely not. I really enjoyed "American Wedding". Though there are others like "The New Guy" that are just plain awful. While "Summer School" has nothing to offer the film medium in terms of new stuff, it manages to be an enjoyable romp.The story concerns a gym teacher, who goes by the name "Shoop" (Mark Harmon). School has ended for summer vacation and students and teachers alike are eager to get out. The exception is for the teachers who have to teach the summer school students. When the original English teacher supposed to teach the summer school students bails out, the Vice Principal (Robin Thomas), puts Shoop on the job. If all goes well, Shoop will get tenure. But considering the type of kids Shoop will have to deal it, it will be a long road ahead. Shoop also strikes an unsuccessful string of dates with another summer school teacher, Ms. Bishop (Kristie Alley). Will Shoop be able to get the kids to study and not only get a date with Ms. Bishop? It's one of the hardest to things to review a film that is good, but offers little in being able to be discussed. The actors overall seem to be having a fun time with the characters they portray. They aren't dull for a moment and everyone brings they're own amounts of energy to the roles they play. Mark Harmon in particular has not only a lot of energy, but has charisma that helps to add to his characters enjoyable nature. This not only helps with his on-screen chemistry with Kristie Alley's character. They play well off one another in key scenes very well, and are overall fun to watch. Robin Thomas also does well as the stereotypical evil principal.The comedy works for the most part in this movie because it deals with clichés and stereotypes, and plays exactly off of both. The students all have "Breakfast Club-like" stereotypes including a jock, nerd, losers, and outcasts. The writers and director Carl Reiner seem to enjoy these clichés and go far to make them funny, but not crossing that edge into annoyance and stupidity. All of this culminates into somewhat of a non-stereotypical which satisfied me and partly surprised me, which I'd prefer not to give away as it help adds more to this funny movie.Overall, if you just want to see a movie that you know you will have a goodtime at, "Summer School" might just be the selection for. Just don't go in any with any expectations. I went in with bad and came out with good. As Alfred Hitchcock would say "It's only a movie."