AboveDeepBuggy Some things I liked some I did not.

Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Sharkflei Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

david-sarkies I never realised how great this film actually is, and that even after all these years there are still some absolutely classic laugh out loud moments. Okay, while this film is clearly a product of the eighties, there is a part of it that could literally put it in any time, and in many cases could still be enjoyed in this post modern, overtly sensitive modern age. Sure, there are some aspects of it, such as when he accidentally wonders into the Sorority and into the girl's showers that would probably not go down all that well here, but there is still a lot of charm about this film. It is about a business man named Thornton Melon who made his millions off of selling oversized clothes. He never went to college, and barely finished high school, but he still succeeded. Anyway, he gets rid of his second wife because, well, she was asking for it, and goes to visit his son at college to discover that he wants to drop out. So, to encourage him to slug through to the end he decides to sign up as well and attempt to complete college. There is so much to love about this film, yet there is so much that honestly doesn't make all that much sense as well. Yet that's the beauty of this film and that is that there is a lot that really doesn't make sense. For instance, he is in his first economics class and starts sprouting out his own business experience to challenge the professor's own academic, and somewhat unrealistic, theories. In a way it is clearly poking fun at academia, particularly the disconnect between the real world and the class room. In fact he even points out at the end that it is better to stay in the class room, and in one's parent's house than to deal with the cut throat nature of the real world. However, the idea of a baby boomer coming back to University isn't all that odd these days. I encountered it the first time I was at university, and I encounter it again today. Sure, there is this element of universities only accepting people with a certain grade into their doors, but if there is one thing that Melon has learnt, and that is that there is not necessarily much that a few dollars in the right hand can solve. Yet, what seemed to be quite amusing back then - a nouveux riche guy throwing money around like there is no tomorrow, is something of a concern today. When he throws a few bucks to the cop at the beginning, this simply seems to be Melon just being himself, yet this is nothing short of bribary. As for funding a new business school simply so that he can get into college, well, I'm not sure to what extent it happens, but a part of me isn't all that surprised, particularly with rumours that some universities simply want to attract people from wealthy backgrounds to ensure regular donations. In a way it also seems somewhat ridiculous as to how fast he is actually throwing his money around, but that is the nature of the movie. In reality, anybody that free and easy with their money is generally not going to have all that much money for all that long. Yet, as I mentioned, this is the nature of the character - a free and easy guy that is simply friends with any and everybody. In fact, the people who don't like him tend to be those who are jealous of the fact that he has entered a world where he isn't supposed to be - I guess this is the nature of the conflict that seems to exist between the old and new money. Yet he throws big parties, and even goes as far as bringing in Kurt Vonnegut to write his English Lit paper. Which is another thing that is really interesting - 'who ever wrote that paper on Kurt Vonnegut doesn't know the first this about Kurt Vonnegut'. Well, I guess that is just a barbed point towards modern academia - some of them wouldn't pick up the fact that an author has written an essay on their own book. There is a story I heard where this actually happened, and in a way I'm not surprised. While this film may be a little dated, there is still just a huge amount of charm about it, and it is, surprising, quite funny. In fact some of the lines that Dangerfield comes out with, such as 'how about Fantasy land', are nothing short of brilliant. This is certainly one to get your hands on, even if only once, just to experience one of the hidden gems of the 80s.

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.

utgard14 Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) enrolls in college to help his son (Keith Gordon), who's having trouble fitting in. Doesn't take long before Thornton is the big man on campus, which doesn't sit well with everybody. Very funny comedy that never gets old. The cast is wonderful. Rodney Dangerfield is hilarious and his one-liners come one after the other. His best starring role, for sure. Sam Kinison is a riot. Loved every scene he was in. A young Robert Downey, Jr. is also lots of fun. Not for those who overthink their movies. This is for people who like to have fun and laugh. They got Kurt Vonnegut to appear in this! How cool is that? An '80s classic you have to see.

Maziun Rodney Dangerfield (RIP) has got a specific and recognizable sense of humor. Some like it , some not . I happen to like it , so I also liked "Back to school" . The whole movie is basically Dangerfield's tour de force . He's almost constantly making a snappy comments or fun jokes. He's rarely not on the screen. This doesn't mean the movie not offers him support.Sam Kinison is fun as professor Terguson history teacher . The first lesson of history of America is HILARIOUS . I was crying from laughter. I wish they give him more screen time. I was surprised by appearance of young Robert Downey Jr. as Derek . He's quite a colorful character with his weird clothes , hairstyles and beliefs. I also loved Burt Young (Paulie from "Rocky") as Lou - Thornton's driver and best friend. His strong and street wise. Paxton Whitehead (Philip Barbay) makes for a nice snobbish economy teacher. Keith Gordon is likable as shy Jason Melon – Dangerfield's son. Sally Kellerman (Diane) and Terry Farell (Valerie) are both lovely ladies. M. Emmett Walsh plays coach Turnbull . William Zabka (the bully from "Karate kid") once again plays bully (Chas). There is also special guest appearance, but I won't spoil the surprise. There are some great songs here : Jude Cole "Back to school" , Oingo Boingo "Dead man's party" , Aretha Franklin "Respect" and Rodney Dangerfield's version of "Twist and shout" .Harold Ramis ("Groundhog day" , "National lampoons vacation" , "Ghostbusters") is one of the writers . He and Dangerfield worked earlier together in "Caddyshack" . There is even a picture from "Caddyshack" in the opening credits of the movie.This is Dangerfield's best movie from the 80's and best overall. It's one of best 80's comedies. It was one of the first comedies to earn 100 millions worldwide . That tells you something. Oh , and don't forget about the famous jump at the pool.I give it 7/10.