Summer School

1987 Comedy

On the eve of his Hawaiian vacation, irresponsible high school teacher Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) is forced into teaching a summer-school class. His students are all malcontents and layabouts with the standard repertoire of teenaged hang-ups and hostilities (two of the kids, who can't see enough slasher movies to suit them, are hilarious precursors to Beavis and Butt-Head). Harmon would rather spend his time with history teacher Robin Bishop (Kirstie Alley), but she doesn't think much of his laziness and lack of dedication. Shoop finally begins to take his job seriously when he realizes his students' problems are not all of their own making.

Director: Carl Reiner

Starring: Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas, Dean Cameron, Patrick Labyorteaux

Reviews

  • It's no thigh-slapper like the Rodney Dangerfield's "Back to School," but it's exceptionally good-natured and perceptive, and Harmon, in his first starring screen role, is a real charmer.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    27 April 2013

  • Proud to be junk food, but it still tackles the serious subjects of illiteracy, teen-age pregnancy and young adult alcoholism.

    Rita Kempley - The Washington Post

    27 April 2013

  • Summer School is like summer school: you go, then quickly realize you would much rather be doing something else.

    - USA Today

    27 April 2013

  • The film's only bright idea is a duo named Chain Saw (Cameron) and Dave (Riley), who love horror films and instigate grisly but imaginative practical jokes, like pretending to be attacked by bunnies when the class makes a field trip to a petting zoo.

    Elvis Mitchell - The New York Times

    27 April 2013

  • Harmon proves that he can act stupid, and that's not enough to make the movie funny... You're supposed to like Freddy (Harmon), and you're supposed to like his brainless students... But you hate everybody.

    Mick LaSalle - The San Francisco Chronicle

    27 April 2013

Awards

No awards