Themes: Underdogs, Teachers and Students, High School Life
Main Cast: Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas, Patrick Laborteaux, Courtney Thorne-Smith
Release Year: 1987
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
On the eve of his Hawaiian vacation, irresponsible high school teacher Mark Harmon is forced into teaching a summer school class. His students are all malcontents and layabouts with the standard repertoire of teenaged hangups 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 Kirstie Alley, but she doesn't think much of his laziness and lack of dedication. Harmon finally begins to take his job seriously when he realizes his students' problems are not all of their own making. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The minor Carl Reiner laugher Summer School was an odd place for makeup effects wizard Rick Baker to ply his trade between his more traditional genre gigs, as it centers mostly on low-level high school slacker jokes and soft romantic comedy. In fact, the Fangoria-type gore that punctuates the students' practical jokes is of such better quality than the rest of the production, it makes the film deceptively memorable. Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley do the standard relationship two-step, with flirting rejections transforming into genuine affection, and the students are mild, two-dimensional delinquents who are easily redeemable. But it's a lot of fun to see them dabble with open wounds and severed body parts, even if it drastically outstretches their resources as backward high school students. If Summer School is ultimately pleasing to watch, it's more for the lightness of tone and geniality of characterization than for having much humor, mature or otherwise. The talents of Baker and Reiner make more of an impression than the script or the performers. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Dean Cameron - Francis "Chainsaw" Gremp; Gary Riley - Dave Frazier; Kelly Minter - Denise Green; Ken Olandt - Larry Kazamias; Shawnee Smith - Rhonda Altobello; Lillian Adams - Grandma Eakian; Jack Blessing - Student; Vivian Bonnell - Denise's Mom; Duane Davis - Jerome Watkins; Lucy Lee Flippin - Substitute Teacher; Leigh French - Student; Courtney Gebhart - Surfer Girl; Richard S. Horvitz - Alan Eakian; Andrea Howard; Prince Hughes - Scary Inmate; Gary Imhoff - Student; Christopher Kriesa - Beach Cop; Carlos Lacamara - Beach Cop; Michael MacRae - Kevin's Dad; Frank McCarthy - Principal Kelban; Dee Dee Rescher - Woman at Strip Joint; Tommy Ryan - Examiner; Lora Staley - Student; Beau Starr - Chainsaw's Dad; Lynne Stewart - Student; Amy Stock-Poynton - Kim; Darwyn Swalve - Scary Inmate; Tom Troupe - Judge; Fabiana Udenio - Anna-Maria Mazarelli; Nels Van Patten - Tommy; Gigi Vorgan - Student; Laura Waterbury - Chainsaw's Mom; Carl Reiner - Mr. Dearadorian; Jeff Silverman - Examiner; Terry Logan - Cop at Police Station; Dottie Archibald - Dave's Mom; Conroy Gedeon - Mr. Winnick; Robin Kaufman - Chainsaw's Sister; John Stark - Student
Credit
Joe Wood - Art Director, Jeff Franklin - Associate Producer, Penny Perry - Casting, Ray Summers - Costume Designer, James Dillon - First Assistant Director, Marty P. Ewing - First Assistant Director, Carl Reiner - Director, Bud Molin - Editor, Marc Trabulus - Executive Producer, Danny Elfman - Composer (Music Score), Rick Baker - Makeup Special Effects, David Snyder - Production Designer, David M. Walsh - Cinematographer, George Shapiro - Producer, Howard West - Producer, John Warnke - Set Designer, Joe Kenworthy - Sound Mixer, Jeff Franklin - Screen Story, Stuart Birnbaum - Screen Story, David Dashev - Screen Story, Janice Fischer - Screenwriter, Jeff Franklin - Screenwriter, Peter Krikes - Screenwriter, Steve Meerson - Screenwriter, Carl Reiner - Screenwriter, Roger Schumacher - Animal Trainer/Wrangler
