MovieChat Forums > How I Got Into College (1989) Discussion > Unjustifiably obscure

Unjustifiably obscure

posted 16 years ago by WarpedRecord
15 replies | jump to latest

This is an overlooked gem, with an excellent script and some terrific sight gags.

The jokes hit the mark almost all of the time without relying on cheap sex gags or mean-spirited humor. And what a cast -- Anthony Edwards, Corey Parker, Lara Flynn Boyle, Philip Baker Hall, Brian Doyle-Murray, Nora Dunn, Bob Eubanks, Taylor Negron, O-Lan Jones and the late Charles Rocket and Phil Hartman.

This film ranks alongside the best teen comedies of the '80s. It's a crime no one remembers it!

[–] Racerg 16 years ago

I love this movie too. Richard Horvitz plays a/the young Energizer in it. I'll look for the dvd of it.

[–] SenileFelines 16 years ago

Totally agree. It was such a great movie. Exactly the kinda SSH movie that I love. Everything worked!

I might even like this more than Better Off Dead. If only Cusack was in this one as well. Though I don't have anything against Corey Parker. He was awesome! Anthony Edwards rocked it too!

[–] WarpedRecord 16 years ago

You know, I think I liked this more than "Better Off Dead," and I'm a big John Cusack fan. "How I Got Into College" had a better ensemble cast, while "Better Off Dead" seemed to lag when John wasn't on the screen. I'll have to watch that again to decide.

[–] SenileFelines 16 years ago

I'm starting to feel the same way! I think the only reason I loved Better Off Dead as much as I did was because of Cusack. So yeah, I think I like How I Got Into College better too.

[–] TimmyElkinson 16 years ago

How I Got Into College is a great movie. It's nostalgia overload. And no, it's not the deepest, most insightful, important film ever committed to film, but it certainly brings a smile to my face. Savage Steve seems to have gone a bit overboard in the last few years, which is really sad, because I KNOW he has the talent to do something amazing. I loved his relationship with Fox too, he directed this, BOD, and created Eek! The Cat. When you watch this one, you can't help but thing Eek! was only a few years away.

And yes, this movie is cheesy, incredibly cheesy at points, but thats why we GO to the movies. We want to see a world where a daydreamers thoughts can become reality. Good times and a good movie. Yes, an unfairly obscure movie.

"That's the karma again, I didn't help Kenny so she beat me up with a telephone"

[–] cubearcub 16 years ago

This movie is so true to life. Silly at times, but very real.I went to a small private college instead of the big university because I wanted a school with character. The admissions team at Ramsey was almost exactly like my college. Very good movie. and yes it is an overlooked gem.

[–] slicedbread 15 years ago

I saw this movie when I was going through the college application process, and I thought it was absolutely ridiculous just how realistic it was. Just about everything that relates to college admissions in the movie is 100% true (with the exception of the SAT having word problems that yell at you).

It was amazing how they seriously had just about every aspect of college admissions, the athletic/minority recruiting, the SAT/admissions advice people, the concept of aggressive guessing on the SAT, the anxiety of waiting for the letter (is it fat or skinny? pretty true-to-life).

[–] MyShia919 15 years ago

I was thinking the SAME THING. This movie is a classic! It should be played in senior English classes across the nation haha. Why haven't I heard about it until now?

[–] Bishop_of_Battle 13 years ago

I wouldn't put it above Better off Dead but it's definitely more interesting than One Crazy Summer, which felt bland for a Savage Steve flick.

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

It's also better than "Hot Pursuit," one of John Cusack's weaker '80s films in my book.

[–] activista 13 years ago

I remember seeing this on VHS at college back in the day, and actually laughing at one scene in it, and being scared by one (when the girl suddenly has this wind flaring up all around her out of nowhere,like a horror movie) and I just remembered the crazy tiny guys all crammed inside the mailbox and hollering advice at the characters from within it. I found it kind of weird/hilarious at the time---plus this was the first film I'd seen the talented Nora Dunn (what the heck happened to her---I'll look it up) of SNL fame in---she was good as usual. For some reason,it didn't really get the promotion it should have gotten at the time at all, which explains why it's so obscure in the first place. If John Cusack had starred in it, it definitely would have been out on DVD now! Nice to know I'm not the only one who's seen it/even heard about this film---and a lot of people,from what I can see on this board, still like this crazy flick!

[–] WarpedRecord 13 years ago

You were lucky to have seen this in college, which is the perfect venue for a film like this.

Yes, if this had John Cusack it would be out on DVD, and it probably would have done better at the box office. I've always loved Nora Dunn, and I saw her one-woman show at a comedy club several years ago. She's a brilliant comic and actress, and it's great to see her in an early role here.

[–] Dan_Garten 9 years ago

I have always been familiar with this movie, but I cannot recall if I actually watched it.

[–] Bobby Briggs Briganza 9 years ago

It IS really accurate -- Seems like that had inside knowledge of college admissions staff.

I would guess, wildly, that the reason it is pretty forgotten is that it was different than other movies in the genre: It’s actually quite “clean,” with no really dirty jokes or criminal antics or sex scenes. Almost like a “classy” version of an 80s teen movie.

Your film gods: Lee Van Cleef and Laura Gemser
http://tinyurl.com/pa4ud44

[–] WarpedRecord 9 years ago

Good points about the possible reasons for this film's obscurity. It was just too smart and dignified for its own good.