thejcowboy22
The laid back slacker of a Physical Ed teacher Mr.Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon)is really looking forward to his summer recess. In anticipation of spending his time in Hawaii with his lovely girlfriend, Shoop and his class watch the gymnasium scoreboard clock as they count down the the seconds to the final bell. Meanwhile in another part of the building a determined Mr. Dearadorian, English teacher, (DIRECTOR/ACTOR)Carl Reiner is rubbing scratch offs from the roll of California lottery tickets he purchase in hopes of winning his way out of his lousy job as Summer School Teacher. Our elated and exasperated English professor looks in shock as he realizes that he has won the big money prize and tells his boss good bye and runs off leaving the lone teacher poor Mr.Shoop holding the proverbial ball. No vacation, no Hawaii, just long days in the classroom teaching remedial English to a bunch of the strangest group of students you'll ever try to teach. From a hay fevered nerd Alan, Pregnant Rhonda,Larry the Chippendale dancer,Anna Maria Italian Beauty Queen, Dyslexic Denise and Wannabee House guest of Mr. Shoop Pam. The two stand out characters in this whole movie are students Francis Chainsaw (Dean Cameron) and his side kick Dave (Gary Reilly). With their array of disgusting props and viewing of their favorite Movie the Texas Chainsaw Massacre those two bring classroom participation to a comedic fever pitch. Shoop is basically clueless in teaching English and asks for Neighboring teacher (A SLENDER Miss Robin Bishop) Kirsty Alley for help on how to teach.At first Robin is standoffish due to the fact that she's dating cutthroat Assistant Vice principal Phil Gills(Robin Thomas) but Mark Harmon gives the Shoop character a special endearing charm and despite his transitional methods of teaching, he takes his misfits students to the beach, petting zoo and viewing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Shoop is so taken in by his class that he makes deals with them by helping Denise with her driving exam,working with Larry at his football skills Lamaze coach for a pregnant Rhonda (Shawnee Smith) and hosting a party at his beachfront home for his rowdy pupils. The summer moves swiftly as the goal here is getting these kids ready for the English remedial exam. Just when it looks like all is lost as Mr. Shoop feels he's been taken advantage of because his Students over time didn't live up to their end of the bargain. Shoop storms out of his class, quits and the antics of his students rise to a higher level of comedy.You won't be disappointed in the outcome. Great period piece with no shortage of comedy but make sure you bring back the pass you used to go to the bathroom. I rate this movie 7 teacher's apples here!
lil-wellsy-lfc
Best Film I have ever seen. Comedy from start to finish. Some small but obvious bits of romance. A Dog and a load of teens up to there necks in trouble. Brilliant. The fact that chainsaw and Dave are completely and utterly crazy and all the others act so stupid makes this film the best film I have ever seen. The best part is the scene in court where the judge is taking the fake ID off of Dave and his answer to the judges obvious dismay at how he got served with the ID was so stupid I'd hate to spoil it for you so if you want to know what it is so you'll have to watch this Brilliant film. This is the only film I know worthy of a 10 out of 10.
shneur
This is a really silly teen movie, where all the teens are well into their twenties, as usual for Hollywood. I guess it was trying to hitch a ride on the success of "The Breakfast Club" two years earlier, but it lacks that cult classic's poignancy and dark humor. This one, about a gym teacher shanghaied into teaching remedial English instead of going to Hawaii, has its amusing moments, but basically is entirely predictable, and the characters are so shallow it's hard to care what happens to them, even for an hour and a half. I doubt that Phys Ed teachers, who have to graduate from college just like every other teacher, and who've always seemed to me like a decent bunch of people, would much appreciate the implication that they are all dummies. Oh well... For all you J.A.G. fans, you get to see Patrick Labyorteaux a decade before he became Bud Roberts.
Josh Roche
Summer School is a great movie. I am a very big fan of Mark Harmon and this is one of his best films. In most of his movies he plays a strict but sometimes funny man but in this movie he acts very stupid and makes this such a good movie. Hope you will rent or by this movie if you haven't seen it yet. ***Must Watch Movie***If you like this movie you may like some of Mark Harmon's other movie like The Presidio, Local Boys, and Casulties. Also if you liked this movie you may like NCIS on CBS which Mark plays the boss and can be very strict at times but very very funny at others. This is my comment on Summer School hope you enjoy/enjoyed the movie.