Back to School

For other uses, seeBack to school.

Back to School
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alan Metter
Screenplay by	Steven Kampmann Will Porter Peter Torokvei Harold Ramis
Story by	Rodney Dangerfield Greg Fields Dennis Snee
Produced by	Chuck Russell
Starring	Rodney Dangerfield Sally Kellerman Burt Young Keith Gordon Adrienne Barbeau Robert Downey Jr. Sam Kinison Ned Beatty
Cinematography	Thomas E. Ackerman
Edited by	David Rawlins
Music by	Danny Elfman
Production company	Paper Clip Productions
Distributed by	Orion Pictures
Release date	June 13, 1986(1986-06-13)
Running time	96 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$11 million
Box office	$91.3 million

Back to Schoolis a 1986 Americancomedy filmstarringRodney Dangerfield,Keith Gordon,Sally Kellerman,Burt Young,Terry Farrell,William Zabka,Ned Beatty,Sam Kinison,Paxton Whitehead,Robert Downey Jr.,M. Emmet Walsh,andAdrienne Barbeau.It was directed byAlan Metter.The plot centers on a wealthy but uneducated father (Dangerfield) who goes to college to show solidarity with his discouraged son Jason (Gordon) and learns that he cannot buy an education or happiness.

Kurt Vonneguthas a cameo as himself, as does the bandOingo Boingo,whose frontmanDanny Elfmancomposed the score for the film. TheUniversity of Wisconsin–Madisonwas used as a backdrop for the movie, although it was called "Grand Lakes University". The diving scenes were filmed at the since-demolishedIndustry Hills Aquatic Clubin theCity of Industry,California.

Before the end credits, the message "For ESTELLE Thanks For So Much" is shown in dedication to Estelle Endler, one of the executive producers of the film, who died during production. She was Dangerfield's long-time manager, who helped him get into films such asCaddyshack.

Plot

Thornton Meloni, a child of Italian immigrants, returns from school one day to his father's tailor shop, bearing a report card with poor grades. His ambition is to go into his father's line of work, but his stern father warns Thornton "If a man has no education, he's got nothing."

As decades pass, ThorntonAnglicizeshis surname to "Melon" and becomes a self-made corporate giant, with a successful chain ofplus-size clothingstores and numerous other business ventures. A series of photographs show him acquiring property and having a son named Jason. In the present, Jason is now a college student who has been avoiding his father despite their previous closeness. Thornton is now widowed from Jason's mother, and has remarried to agold diggernamed Vanessa. Thornton has reached his breaking point when Vanessa splurges on an expensive party and decides he wishes to see Jason. He divorces Vanessa for adultery and instructs Lou, his bodyguard and chauffeur, to take him to Grand Lakes University.

On the campus, Thornton learns that Jason's distant attitude with his father was that he is a C-student, unhappy with college life, and intends to drop out. He is a towel boy for the diving team instead of a member, was rejected by the fraternities, is antagonized by diver and jock Chas Osborne, and has no friends except for his roommate Derek Lutz. Thornton motivates him to stay in college by deciding to enroll alongside him. Despite Thornton's lack of academic qualifications, the dean David Martin admits him when he bribes Martin with a donation for a new campus building.

Thornton's bribery earns him the wrath of Dr. Philip Barbay, dean of the business school. His displeasure is further exacerbated by Thornton's canny practical experience clashing with Barbay's hypothetical theorizing in class, andivory towerways. Thornton also develops a romantic interest in Barbay's girlfriend, the literature professor Dr. Diane Turner. Meanwhile, Jason begins to attract the interest of Valerie Desmond, a girl that Chas has been trying to impress. Thornton instantly becomes a popular man on campus, throwing huge parties and exhibiting generosity to the fellow students. Jason earns a spot on the diving team, after Thornton, a former diver himself, convinces the diving coach to reconsider his abilities. Despite all this, Jason still feels he is living in his father's shadow.

As a student, even though Diane is inspiring a deeper appreciation of literature, Thornton prefers partying to studying. He hires a team of professionals to complete his assignments, includingKurt Vonnegutto write a paper on Vonnegut for literature class. To Thornton's surprise, Diane gives the paper a failing grade for obviously not being his own work, and she becomes disillusioned by his frivolous behavior. Jason is also upset with Thornton for trivializing education, while mistakenly believing Thornton bribed the diving coach into accepting him on the team.

Dr. Barbay accuses Thornton, in the presence of Dean Martin, of academic fraud. He challenges Thornton to an oral examination conducted by all of his professors, facing expulsion if he fails any part of it. Believing he has no chance of passing, Thornton packs up and prepares to leave. Jason stops Thornton and successfully encourages him to stay and prepare for the challenge.

With limited time to prepare, Thornton crams for the examination with help from Jason, Derek, Lou, and even Diane. When the big day comes, Barbay begins by intimidating Thornton with a single, 27-part question. Nevertheless, Thornton answers every part, though the effort was so much that he wants to forfeit. Diane inspires him to finish by asking him to recite aDylan Thomaspoem, which he does.

At the championship dive meet later that day, Thornton and Jason reconcile, while Grand Lakes University takes the lead. To spite Jason for his performance and for winning over Valerie, Chas fakes a cramp in an attempt to make his team lose. The coach decides to recruit Thornton as a last-minute replacement. Thornton helps the team win by performing the extremely dangerous, but legendary "Triple Lindy" dive. Afterwards, Thornton learns from Diane that he has passed the examination with all D's, except for a single A from her. At the end of the school year, Thornton gives the commencement speech, advising the new graduates that the real world is vicious, and the best course of action is to "move back in with your parents; let them worry about it!"

Cast

• Rodney Dangerfieldas Thornton Melon
• Sally Kellermanas Dr. Diane Turner
• Burt Youngas Lou
• Keith Gordonas Jason Melon
• Robert Downey Jr.as Derek Lutz
• Paxton Whiteheadas Dr. Phillip Barbay
• Sam Kinisonas Professor Terguson
• Terry Farrellas Valerie Desmond
• M. Emmet Walshas Coach Turnbull
• Adrienne Barbeauas Vanessa Melon
• William Zabkaas Chas Osborne
• Ned BeattyasDeanMartin
• Severn Dardenas Dr. Borozini
• Robert Picardoas Giorgio
• Jason Herveyas Young Thornton
• Edie McClurgas Marge Sweetwater
• Kurt Vonnegutas himself (cameo)
• Danny Elfmanas himself (cameo)

Production

Harold Ramissuggested a rewrite to the script.The producers originally wantedJim Carreyto play the role of Professor Terguson, but he was later rejected as he was deemed too young for the part.

Reception

Back to Schoolwas the 6th highest-grossing film of 1986, as well as the second highest grossing comedy film of the year, behindCrocodile Dundee(records state that in addition to the rental and theatrical gross it received, it went on to gross $108,634,920 globally).

OnRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an 87% rating based on 38 reviews, with an average rating of 6.90/10. The site's consensus reads, "Back to Schoolgives Rodney Dangerfield plenty of room to riff -- and supports the freewheeling funnyman with enough of a story to keep things interesting between punchlines. "OnMetacriticit has a score of 68 out of 100 based on reviews from 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.

Kevin Thomasof theLos Angeles Timesnoted that "Dangerfield seems to be setting the film's brisk pace and flawless timing himself."Nina Darnton wrote inThe New York Timesthat "the film is a good-natured potpourri of gags, funny bits, populist sentiment and anti-intellectualism."Roger Ebert'sChicago Sun-Times3-star review described the film as "routine but pleasant", yet elevated by Dangerfield's persona: "This is exactly the sort of plotMarxorFieldscould have appeared in. Dangerfield brings it something they might also have brought along: a certain pathos. "

Soundtrack

Back to School
Soundtrack albumby Various Artists
Released	1986
Genre	Pop rock soul
Length	35:34
Label	MCA

The soundtrack was released onMCA,available in LP or Cassette (no CD), but cues from the score were released that year with selections from the score ofPee-wee's Big Adventure(both re-recordings made in London) on CD.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"Back to School"	Richard Wolf& Mark Leonard	Jude Cole	4:16
2.	"Educated Girl"	Bobby Caldwell & Randy Goodrum	Bobby Caldwell	4:07
3.	"Learnin' and Livin'"	David Tyson & Eddie Schwartz	Tyson & Schwartz	3:25
4.	"Everybody's Crazy" (fromEverybody's Crazy,1985)	Bolton	Michael Bolton	4:37
5.	"I'll Never Forget Your Face"	Richard Wolf & Wayne Perkins	Phillip Ingram	4:07
6.	"Twist and Shout"(Isley Brotherscover, original 1962)	Phil Medley,Bert Russell	Rodney Dangerfield	2:51
7.	"Dead Man's Party"(fromDead Man's Party,1985)	Danny Elfman	Oingo Boingo	6:17
8.	"On My Way"	David Tyson & Eddie Schwartz	Tyson & Schwartz	3:30
9.	"Respect"(fromI Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You,1967)	Otis Redding	Aretha Franklin	2:24

In popular culture

The competition scene was parodied in the music video for Canadianrock bandSum 41's 2001 single "In Too Deep".

See also

• High Time
• List of American films of 1986

External links

• Back to SchoolatIMDb
• Back to SchoolatAllMovie
• Back to Schoolat theTCM Movie Database
• Back to Schoolat theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
• Back to SchoolatBox Office Mojo