What better way to spend the wee hours of Sunday Morning watching a movie with Rodney Dangerfield, Sam Kinison, Ned Beatty, William Zabka and Robert Downey Jr.? There is no better way, or at least I couldn't think of any, so I watched Back to School just a few minutes after watching a totally different film, The Third Man. Will I like this movie better? Well, let's see.
The movie's plot is rather simple, as Rodney Dangerfield's character (Thornton Melon) is a rich owner of over 100 tall and fat clothing stores nationwide. After getting a divorce, Thornton decides to pay his son Jason (Keith Gordon)a visit at Great Lakes College. When Jason wants to quit, Thornton implores him to stay, and then decides, since he never went to college, to attend school with his son. In order to get in, Thornton makes a huge donation to the school, which will go to the new school of business. This pleases Dean David Martin (Dean Martin, get it?) but the head of the buisness school, Philip Barbay,(Paxton Whitehead) is not amused. For the rest of film, hyjinx ensue, and Thornton starts to get cozy with the English professor, Diane Turner (Sally Kellarman), who Philip is also interested in Meanwhile, Jason has his own feud with fellow diving teammate Chas Osbourne (Zabka) over a girl named Valerie (Terry Ferrell). Robert Downey Jr. plays the strange roommate of Jason, Derek Lutz. Got all of that? Good. A few notes.
- Originally, the plot called for Dangerfield's character to be poor, but they decided to change that and make him rich. Which is great, because it was quite funny seeing Thornton throw all of his money around by buying books for everyone, having his personal bodyguard Lou whoop up on the football team, and get his paper about Kurt Vonnegut by none other than Kurt Vonnegut. It was even funny hearing Thornton tell off Vonnegut after he failed the paper.
- Robert Downey Jr. was all over the place as Derek Lutz. He had a different hairstyle in nearly every scene he was in, and was talking about 100 mph. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Downey was under the influence of something during the filming of the movie.
- I have a hard time believing that Jason Melon could knock out the much larger Chas Osbourne. I kind of wished that Zabka, the actor playing Osbourne, had whipped out some Karate moves he learned while playing the main bad guy in The Karate Kid. Zabka the's perfect jock jerk, not just in this movie, but in Karate Kid 1 and 2 and in Just One of the Guys. The guy was born to play a jerk. Too bad he's been stuck in movies like Shootfighter 2, Hyper Sonic, and The Man in the Silo since this movie.
- Sam Kinison is also in this movie, as the crazy history professor Mr. Terguson. Not surprisingly, Kinison yells for most of the few minutes he's on the screen. It's quite an interesting scene, I would say, so check it out for yourself.
- The ending might be one of the most ridicolous in cinema history. Not only does Melon have to take an oral exam and pass it (which, obviously, he does), he's also asked to do the world famous Triple Lindy dive after Chas fakes a leg injury just because he's a jerk. The scene is one of the most ricockulous scenes I've ever seen, but because it's such a crazy plot to begin with, it does fit in nicely.
Overall, this movie was never going to win an Oscar, and it was never meant to do that. But as a comedic farce, it does quite well for itself. There are many laughs to be had while watching this movie, and if you in the mood for that, than Back to School will do just fine. I'll give it an 8.1 out of 10. Well, thanks for reading.
Showing posts with label Rodney Dangerfield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rodney Dangerfield. Show all posts
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Canon Review List-A-Mania: Top Eight Stand Up Comedians
Today's post comes from an idea by reader Maggie W. who wanted a list of the top stand-up comedians of all-time. So here is the list of The Canon Review's Top Eight Stand-Up Comedians. Why eight, you ask? because eight was the first number that popped into my mind. Like other lists of this ilk, this list is just my personal opinion, so if your favorite comedian is left off or you want to create a list of your own, than feel free to do so. I must warn you that some of the accompanying video clips will have some strong language.
8. Denis Leary
This may be a controversial selection, but when he was doing stand-up, Leary was one of the funniest comedians around. I know that people have accused Leary of stealing Bill Hicks' routine, but it's not as if Hicks was the only angry comedian to ever exist. Yes, there may have been some similarities, but there are also a lot of differences and Leary's material and ranting style gives him a unique style all of his own.
7. Chris Rock
Rock's taste in movie roles may leave something to be desired, but there's no doubt that he's one of the most popular stand up comedians of the past 20 years, and for good reason. Rock is edgy, perhaps a bit too in-your-face for some audiences, but he also is a very entertaining comic.
6. Jerry Seinfeld
I will admit that my love for the show Seinfeld has influenced his placing on this list, but it is my list so oh well. Besides, if Seinfeld wasn't so good at stand-up, he never would have gotten his own sitcom in the first place. Still, judging by his stand-up alone, Jerry Seinfeld is quite humorous.
5. Bill Cosby
One of the few comedians on this list that doesn't swear a lot, Cosby has built a legendary career with his wit and excellent storytelling skills. A true legend, even if he did star in Leonard Part 6.
4. George Carlin
Nearly every stand-up comedian over the past 40 years, including a lot of people on this list, were heavily influenced by the wit and style of George Carlin. His biting, angry style often dealt with social issues and language, and about how much he despises people and their rules and regulations. A hell of a funny man, I even read a book of his (Brain Droppings) and it was probably the funniest book I have ever read, although I haven't read many funny books, so take that with a grain of salt.
3. Bill Hicks
A little like Carlin, although Hicks talked more specifically about the government and the media's negative influence on society. Hicks would often make people think, as well as laugh. Unfortunately, Hicks died young at 32 in 1994. One must wonder what material Hicks could have come up with during the George W. Bush presidency.
2. Rodney Dangerfield
The man still gets no respect, as he only gets number two on the list. Dangerfield's schtick is probably the most imitated comedy act ever. Dangerfield's routine was self-depreciating and pessimistic, but he told his jokes and one-liners in such a snappy fashion that you couldn't help but laugh at them. Plus, he was Al Czervik in Caddyshack, the funniest character in one of the most hilarious movies of all time.
1. Sam Kinison
Our number one comedian made a name for himself at a show for young comedians hosted by our number two comedians. Like Dangerfield, Kinison was also self-depricating, but unlike Dangerfield's use of snappy one-liners, Kinison would rant and rave and often sounded like a "fire and brimstone" preacher, which, oddly enough, he was before becoming a comedian. Kinison was also known for his trademark yell and his anti-religious rants. Unfortanetly, Kinison died young in a car accident at the age of 38 in 1993. Nevertheless, he's number one on The Canon Review list of top stand-up comedians.
Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any ideas for future posts on The Canon Review, than by all means let me know about them so I could get cracking on them, either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
8. Denis Leary
This may be a controversial selection, but when he was doing stand-up, Leary was one of the funniest comedians around. I know that people have accused Leary of stealing Bill Hicks' routine, but it's not as if Hicks was the only angry comedian to ever exist. Yes, there may have been some similarities, but there are also a lot of differences and Leary's material and ranting style gives him a unique style all of his own.
7. Chris Rock
Rock's taste in movie roles may leave something to be desired, but there's no doubt that he's one of the most popular stand up comedians of the past 20 years, and for good reason. Rock is edgy, perhaps a bit too in-your-face for some audiences, but he also is a very entertaining comic.
6. Jerry Seinfeld
I will admit that my love for the show Seinfeld has influenced his placing on this list, but it is my list so oh well. Besides, if Seinfeld wasn't so good at stand-up, he never would have gotten his own sitcom in the first place. Still, judging by his stand-up alone, Jerry Seinfeld is quite humorous.
5. Bill Cosby
One of the few comedians on this list that doesn't swear a lot, Cosby has built a legendary career with his wit and excellent storytelling skills. A true legend, even if he did star in Leonard Part 6.
4. George Carlin
Nearly every stand-up comedian over the past 40 years, including a lot of people on this list, were heavily influenced by the wit and style of George Carlin. His biting, angry style often dealt with social issues and language, and about how much he despises people and their rules and regulations. A hell of a funny man, I even read a book of his (Brain Droppings) and it was probably the funniest book I have ever read, although I haven't read many funny books, so take that with a grain of salt.
3. Bill Hicks
A little like Carlin, although Hicks talked more specifically about the government and the media's negative influence on society. Hicks would often make people think, as well as laugh. Unfortunately, Hicks died young at 32 in 1994. One must wonder what material Hicks could have come up with during the George W. Bush presidency.
2. Rodney Dangerfield
The man still gets no respect, as he only gets number two on the list. Dangerfield's schtick is probably the most imitated comedy act ever. Dangerfield's routine was self-depreciating and pessimistic, but he told his jokes and one-liners in such a snappy fashion that you couldn't help but laugh at them. Plus, he was Al Czervik in Caddyshack, the funniest character in one of the most hilarious movies of all time.
1. Sam Kinison
Our number one comedian made a name for himself at a show for young comedians hosted by our number two comedians. Like Dangerfield, Kinison was also self-depricating, but unlike Dangerfield's use of snappy one-liners, Kinison would rant and rave and often sounded like a "fire and brimstone" preacher, which, oddly enough, he was before becoming a comedian. Kinison was also known for his trademark yell and his anti-religious rants. Unfortanetly, Kinison died young in a car accident at the age of 38 in 1993. Nevertheless, he's number one on The Canon Review list of top stand-up comedians.
Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any ideas for future posts on The Canon Review, than by all means let me know about them so I could get cracking on them, either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
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