The Freshman (1990)
Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 45
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 3
Buoyed by the charm of Matthew Broderick in the title role and Marlon Brando as a caricature of his Godfather persona, The Freshman benefits from solid casting, a clever premise, and sweet humor.
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 16
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 2
Buoyed by the charm of Matthew Broderick in the title role and Marlon Brando as a caricature of his Godfather persona, The Freshman benefits from solid casting, a clever premise, and sweet humor.
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Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 11,383
Movie Info
In this farcical comedy, Matthew Broderick plays Clark Kellogg, an aspiring director who arrives in New York City to attend film school. However, moments after he arrives in the city, he's robbed by Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby), leaving him no money for the $700 in books required by his instructor, Arthur Fleeber (Paul Benedict). A few days later, Clark runs into Victor and demands his money back, but Victor has already lost it (on a horse race in which he wasn't entirely sure the animal he bet on
Jul 20, 1990 Wide
Jun 30, 1998
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Watch It Now
Cast
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Matthew Broderick
Clark Kellogg -
Marlon Brando
Carmone Sabatini -
Bruno Kirby
Victor Ray -
Penelope Ann Miller
Tina Sabatini -
Frank Whaley
Steve Bushak -
Paul Benedict
Arthur Fleeber -
Jon Polito
Chuck Greenwald -
B.D. Wong
Edward -
Maximilian Schell
Larry London -
Kenneth Welsh
Dwight Armstrong -
Richard Gant
Lloyd Simpson -
Pamela Payton-Wright
Liz Armstrong -
Leo Cimino
Lorenzo -
Bert Parks
Himself -
Gianni Russo
Maitre D' Gourmet Cl... -
Andrew Airlie
Mall Patron -
Patricia Andrews
Mall Patron -
Drake Arden
Student in Fleeber C... -
Trivett Christina
Mall Patron -
Warren Davis
Fr. Frank -
Daniel DeSanto
Mall Patron -
Daniel Dion
Gas Attendant -
Fifi Donahue
Grand Central Statio... -
Marnie Edwards
Mall Mother -
Adrienne Howe
Mall Patron -
Joe Ingoldsby
Waiter in Restaurant -
Tex Konig
Leo -
Vera Lockwood
Aunt Angelina -
Jefferson Mappin
Hunter -
J.H. Millington
FBI Man -
Derek Mitchell
Student in Fleeber C... -
Geraldine Quinn
Student in Fleeber C... -
Roy Edward Disney
Mall Patron -
Doug Silberstein
Mr. Glassman -
Amanda Smith
Mall Patron -
David Stratton
Student in Fleeber C... -
Wendy Dickson
Mall Patron
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The Freshman Trailer & Photos
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (3) | DVD (5)
Andrew Bergman's The Freshman is a charmed comedy, the kind of seemingly effortless movie in which everything falls neatly into place, as if ordained by nature.
Top CriticBrando does a wonderful sendup of Corleone that manages to play off the Don's entrenched place in pop culture. But The Freshman is no copycat comedy.
Though writer-director Andrew Bergman sets up potentially funny situations, the payoffs aren't nearly as clever as they need to be. Many situations don't pay off at all.
Just when you've had it with the mistimed scenes and the clunky direction, writer-director Andrew Bergman comes through with an inspired piece of lunacy.
It's the kind of material that could easily fly apart into silliness, yet Brando and Broderick help the director to keep it anchored in a certain emotional reality, which is always the source of the richest comedy.
Marlon Brando returns to the movies with one of his funniest performances as, in essence, Don Corleone with a screw loose.
The Freshman is like no other comedy. Just when you think you've figured it out, it ambles away.
Here's a chance to see a mellow Marlon Brando in his greatest comedy performance.
The Freshman has dead spots, certainly, but makes up for them with its moments of inspired craziness.
In the case of this inspired comedy, the plot is a dignified bonkers combination of The Graduate, The Sting, The Godfather and The Producers.
It's fun to watch Marlon Brando parody one of his most justly celebrated roles.
An underrated hidden treasure.
It's a nice premise, film informing life, and Bergman's film succeeds thanks to its sprightly pace, modest but fully realised ambition and the ever affable Broderick.
Great.
Broderick is his usual charming self, and there are occasional moments of inspired whimsy or absurdity.
A truly genial and delightful comedy.
Audience Reviews for The Freshman
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
Movies Like The Freshman
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- Clark Kellogg: I'm getting too old for this nonsense.
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- Victor Ray: [hands Clark a fake passport] Is that a piece of work or what?
- Clark Kellogg: What is this? 'Rodolfo Lasparri'?
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- Clark Kellogg: You promise?
- Carmone Sabatini: Every word I say, by definition, is a promise.
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- Clark Kellogg: It's a crime.
- Carmone Sabatini: Now you're speaking in generalities.
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- Clark Kellogg: But it's an endangered species!
- Carmone Sabatini: Not any more. It's in New Jersey, it's fine.
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- Clark Kellogg: [narrating] There's a kind of freedom in being completely screwed... because you know things can't get any worse.
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August 16, 2006:
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Foreign Titles
- The Freshman (1925) (DE)
- The Freshman (UK)
