And it isn't Paxton Whitehead as a snooty economics professor or Sam Kinison as an ill-tempered history professor. It's Rodney Dangerfield, the king of insults (sorry Mr. Rickles) and self depracating humor. He's the son of a poor tailor who urged him as a youngster to get a college education, advice he did not take. Years later, Dangerfield is the king of tall and fat clothing stores, advertising with insults which could never be utilized in a film script today. His marriage to the trashy Adrienne Barbeau is obviously doomed so he decides to head to son Keith Gordon's college and enroll as a freshman. This creates instant animosity from the dull Whitehead, furious when he loses the affections of potential girlfriend English professor Sally Kellerman who enjoys Dangerfield's outrageous view of life. The hysterically named Dean Martin (Ned Beatty) is reluctant to accept Dangerfield as a freshman at first, but when Dangerfield makes a huge donation to a new campus building, he seems to have no choice. when Dangerfield is accused of cheating, he is given an oral exam by all of his professors, threatened with expulsion. Meanwhile, he takes up with son Gordon on the school swimming team, pudding campus brat William Zabka in his place.
This typical 1980's popcorn comedy is a reminder of how much fun movie going used to be, showing off Dangerfield at his best and giving Sally Kellerman a terrific character to sink her breathy voice into. Kinison is funny in small doses, and that is exactly what he is giving here. Whitehead is the typical uppity villain, a staple of 1980's comedies and one the audience loves to see taken down. Burt Young also has some very funny moments as Dangerfield's chauffeur, and character actress Edie McClurg is funny in her one scene as Dangerfield secretary who shows up to take dictation while daingerfield is skipping class. the film isn't realistic in any sense, but with Dangerfield around, who really cares?
This typical 1980's popcorn comedy is a reminder of how much fun movie going used to be, showing off Dangerfield at his best and giving Sally Kellerman a terrific character to sink her breathy voice into. Kinison is funny in small doses, and that is exactly what he is giving here. Whitehead is the typical uppity villain, a staple of 1980's comedies and one the audience loves to see taken down. Burt Young also has some very funny moments as Dangerfield's chauffeur, and character actress Edie McClurg is funny in her one scene as Dangerfield secretary who shows up to take dictation while daingerfield is skipping class. the film isn't realistic in any sense, but with Dangerfield around, who really cares?