Back to School (1986)

Back To School is where Rodney Dangerfield is going. Heeding the advice of his father who said that no matter how successful you are, you are not a well rounded person without some education. Wish his dad was running the Department Of Education today. Dangerfield who is a multi-millionaire tycoon in the clothing business knows that money talks and he gets it to speak volumes. It's called an endowment and Ned Beatty as Dean Martin admits him.Dangerfield thinks it would be nice if he and his son Keith Gordon did the college thing together. But Keith resents dad just moving in and taking over. So does business teacher Paxton Whitehead. Whitehead is one of those who lives up to the motto, those who can't teach. Whitehead is also jealous that Dangerfield making time with English teacher Sally Kellerman.In her own way Kellerman conveys the same message to him, but it sure is packaged better. It's a Dangerfield production and all in the cast kind of play his straight men. Some of the others include Burt Young who knew Rodney way back when and is his chauffeur and general fixer of all things, Robert Downey, Jr., as Gordon's friend and roommate who is loving being part of a faster lifestyle and William Zabka, bad kid in the Karate Kid who makes life miserable for Gordon.Two small but indelible roles are Sam Kinison as a most unorthodox history professor and Adrienne Barbeau who is brilliant as the cheating trophy wife of Dangerfield. How he handles her is priceless.A must for Rodney Dangerfield fans.

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).

back to school is a great movie,and it would be nice if they made the soundtrack available to buy,because I would buy it.I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to see the soundtrack on compact disk.if anyone has heard anything please post.I have looked all over the internet.I came up empty.I checked amazon,nothing.it must be a hard compact disk to find.I don't think that they have put it on compact disk yet.I'm hoping they will.it would be nice.it's a great movie and has a great soundtrack.I have watched it many many times,it gets better each time.not sure if it will ever go to blu-ray,but that would be nice also.lots to like about the movie,and good actors.rodney dangerfield is always funny,as well as Sam Kinnison.they are both missed.I had no idea that Jim Carrey was considered for the movie.it's definitely one of the top comedy movies of all time.it would have been nice to see Sam Kinnison in more movies.this movie will be remembered as a great comedy,and will make anyone laugh.one of my favorite movies for sure.

Blithely loud and vulgar self-made millionaire Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield in terrific lovably crass form) goes back to college to complete his education and help out his son Jason (a fine and likable turn by Keith Gordon). Thornton discovers that college is harder than it looks and must learn to be more responsible for his academic studies or he'll get expelled. Director Alan Metter, working from a bright and witty script co-written by Harold Ramis, keeps the pace hurtling along at a constant zippy rate, maintains a winningly wacky tone throughout, and, most of all, gives Dangerfield free reign to really strut his hilariously hearty and obnoxious stuff. The supporting cast are likewise on the money excellent and effective: Sally Kellerman as sexy and passionate English professor Dr. Diane Turner, Burt Young as Thornton's grubby, loyal chauffeur/bodyguard Lou, Robert Downey, Jr. as Jason's sarcastic misfit roommate buddy Derek, Paxton Whitehead as stuffy, pompous economics professor Dr. Phillip Barbay, Ned Beatty as the jolly, unprincipled Dean David Martin, Terry Farrell as the sweet, fetching Valerie Desmond, Sam Kinison as crazed, irate history Professor Terguson, William Zabka as mean, cocky frat jerk Chas, M. Emmet Walsh as nice guy diving Coach Turnbull, Severn Darden as the flaky Dr. Borozini, and Adrienne Barbeau as Thornton's shrewish adulterous second wife Vanessa. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. has an amusing cameo as himself. Comic highlights include a wild barroom brawl, a rowdy frat bash (Oingo Boingo appear as themselves singing the great "Dead Man's Party"), and Thornton doing his famously dangerous Triple Lindy dive. Danny Elfman's jaunty score, Thomas E. Ackerman's slick cinematography, and the cool rock soundtrack are all up to speed. But it's Dangerfield who makes this picture such an always enjoyable and often sidesplitting treat to watch: The Rodman's obviously having a ball in a tailer-made lead role and brings a positively infectious sense of incredibly lively and zany fun to the whole film that's impossible to either resist or dislike. An absolute hoot.