MovieChat Forums > Class (1983) Discussion > Must-see 80s film!

Must-see 80s film!

posted 15 years ago by mail-2775
5 replies | jump to latest

This film is a must-see 80s film, not because it is the best or even very good, but because it is a decent film that gives context to the careers of a lot of important 80s actors with an early showing of Rob Lowe, John Cusack, Virginia Madsen, and Casey Siemaszko.

This film was made in the NBC Movie Of the Week directorial style, but has some of the funniest 80s gags in it, really, really well executed physical comedy. The score music is good, too.

The problem, and I think this has been well noted by all reviewers, is that the story has no moral baseline, and very, very serious issues are dealt with unevenly. There is no way to know who is in the right, nor when anyone is in the right.

I never thought of Rob Lowe as being any kind of great actor, but his acting was truly excellent in this film, especially considering his young age. If you can get over his Mary Lou Retton hairstyle here, you will enjoy this film.

[–] sabalon1 14 years ago

and dont forget alan ruck before he snagged Ferris Buehlers Day Off.

but i do agree with you about some things morally uneven. i had read that the origins of Animial House was to be set in a high school before they upped it to college due to subject matter.

now i can get beyond the under aged drinking and easily getting served in the bar on rush street. it was the 80's, hell i was old enough to drink while still in high school, but at 18.

the one thing i am really surprised with is the age definition with the love affair. the movie states that andrews character is 17 in the advertising, which would make bissets character seducing a minor and i never notice any mention of a birthday during the film.

PS
and as for the rob lowe mary lou retton hairstyle, the 80's were the big hair decade, the transition from the 70's shaun cassidy shaggy shoulder length hair and the 90's achy breaky heart mullet LOL

PPS
you are right about rob lowes acting chops. i am reminded a bit of his west wing when i see this film, and in a way think of the two characters sort of a continuation of each

if it wasn't for my horse, i wouldn't have spent that year in college

[–] Lokisgodhi 11 years ago

In the early 1980s there were a lot states that still had an 18 year old drinking age. I was able to drink during my junior and senior years of high school as were a couple of my friends.

We actually used to hang out at the same bar the headmaster of my high school went to. We used to buy him drinks to amuse ourselves in order to see if we could get him drunk. Since there were five of us doing it, he was at a considerable disadvantage.

[–] ChrisCuda 11 years ago

I was in a state where it was 21 but it didn't really matter. I used to go to this tavern with my father that had the best burgers in town. He'd order a small pitcher of beer & they'd automatically bring 2 glasses for us every time. I rarely got carded much past the age of 18.

[–] gabby_bm 11 years ago

Lowe is not a great actor but he always had great screen presence and charisma. And when he started playing darker characters is when he really caught my attention as being more than a pretty boy.

"De gustibus non est disputandum"
#3

[–] Mr.Big 11 years ago

Agreed.

All this time I thought it was a John Hughes movie, (oops!) :-)