BACK TO SCHOOL

(June 1986, U.S.)

This is one of those films that was all about personal timing, as well as laughs. In the summer of 1986, I had just completed my freshman year of college. So it goes without saying that BACK TO SCHOOL holds a lot of youthful memories for me. But even almost 25 years later, the comedy styles of Rodney Dangerfield still holds up well. I mean, if YOUR father was going to attend college with you just to show you that a good education could be achieved while partying your ass off, wouldn't you want him to be a guy like Dangerfield?? Even Robert Downy Jr. in one of his earliest roles is funny as a dorky, trouble-making freshman.

By the way, the story of BACK TO SCHOOL is allegedly based on a real father-and-son team that attended law school together. You see - no matter how ridiculous and far-fetched a plot of any film may seem, at least part of it can be tied to something that happened to someone in real life. Ain't that funny?

Favorite line or dialogue:

Professor Turguson: "You remember that thing we had about 30 years ago called the Korean conflict? And how we failed to achieve victory? How come we didn't cross the 38th parallel and push those rice-eaters back to the Great Wall of China? Then take the fucking wall apart brick by brick and nuke them back into the fucking stone age forever? Tell me why! How come? Say it! Say it!"
Thornton Melon: "All right. I'll say it. 'Cause Truman was too much of a *pussy wimp* to let MacArthur go in there and blow out those Commie bastards!"
Turguson: "Good answer. Good answer. I like the way you think. I'm gonna be watching you."
Melon: "Good teacher. He really seems to care. About WHAT I have no idea."