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Back to School (1986)

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Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 0

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User Ratings: 31,349

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Movie Info

Self-made wealthy guy Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) decides he needs a better education -- and also to spend some time away from his cheating new wife. Thornton joins his son, Jason (Keith Gordon) at college. Dad hopes to gain his son's respect (isn't that always Dangerfield's motivation?), while his son tries to fit in with his snobbish and brutish fellow students. English professor Diane Turner (Sally Kellerman) forms a strong bond with Thornton, encouraging both father and son to stick

PG-13, 1 hr. 36 min.

Comedy

Directed By: Alan Metter

In Theaters: Jun 13, 1986 Wide

On DVD: Jun 26, 2003

HBO Video

Back to School Trailer & Photos

Cast

Rodney Dangerfield
Thornton Melon
Sally Kellerman
Diane
Burt Young
Lou
Keith Gordon
Jason Melon
Robert Downey Jr.
Derek
M. Emmet Walsh
Coach Turnbull
Paxton Whitehead
Philip Barbay
Adrienne Barbeau
Vanessa
Terry Farrell
Valerie
William Zabka
Chas
Ned Beatty
Dean Martin
Severn Darden
Dr. Barazini
Sam Kinison
Prof. Terguson
Robert Picardo
Giorgio
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Himself
Edie McClurg
Marge
Nora Boland
Agnes
Kimberlin Ann Brown
Girl in Dorm Hallway
Bob Drew
Bob/Contractor
Leslie Huntly
Coed
James Ingersoll
Judge
Becky Le Beau
Hot-Tub Girl
Michael McGrady
Player
Santos Morales
Bartender
Phil Rubenstein
1st Executive
Tim Stack
Trendy Man
Steve Sweeney
Security Guard
Stacey Toten
Hot Tub Girl
John Young
2nd Executive
Brad Zutaut
Petey
Danny Elfman
Oingo Boingo Band Membe...
Curtis Stone
'Twist & Shout' Band
Sarah Abrell
Sorority Girl
Kristen Aldrich
Student in Diane's Clas...
Dana Allison
Young Woman
Eric Alver
Student at Fraternity P...
Boris Aplon
Tony Meloni
Kimberlee Carlson
Rodette
Lisa Denton
Lisa
William Grauer
Drunken Student
Holly Hayes
Girl in the Crowd
Jason Hervey
Young Thornton
Tricia Hill
Lisa's Friend
John William James
Man in Stands
Lisa LeCover
Rodette
Theresa Lyons
Cashier
Jill D. Merin
Girl at Dorm Party
Beth Peters
Mrs. Stuyvesant
Josh Saylor
Student in Diane's Clas...
Dallas Winker
Rodette

Critic Reviews for Back to School

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (3) | DVD (11)

It's a good character for Dangerfield, one that veers him away from the 'I don't get no respect' pathos that comes too easily to him, and enough attention is paid to the minimal plot to integrate Dangerfield's classically constructed one-liners.

February 27, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The film is a good-natured potpourri of gags, funny bits, populist sentiment and anti-intellectualism.

May 21, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Nina Darnton

New York Times

Top Critic

This is exactly the sort of plot Marx or Fields could have appeared in. Dangerfield brings it something they might also have brought along: a certain pathos.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

One of the brightest (and least pretentious) comedies of the past quarter-century, the 1986 box office hit Back to School is the sort of film that's easy to watch repeatedly over the years.

August 27, 2010 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing

| Comment

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

The result is unsophisticated, unilluminating, unambitious, and hilarious.

February 27, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Observe, and offer cod psychological analysis to your friends.

February 27, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

This Rodney Dangerfield vehicle is a lot better than it should be.

February 27, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Dangerfield dominates most the film, happily upending everything around him.

August 18, 2007 Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk

| Comment

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

[An] acceptable time-passer.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Time Out

Dangerfield's best cinematic offering, but it's the late Sam Kinison's cameo that steals the show.

October 28, 2005 Comment

Bill Clark

FromTheBalcony Source: FromTheBalcony

Dangerfield at his feature film best--and no, really, I do mean that as a good thing.

March 24, 2004 Comment

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

Ba-da-bing, punch line, ba-da-boom.

December 22, 2003 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Greg Muskewitz

eFilmCritic.com

Rodney Dangerfield's funniest film

July 15, 2003 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

Hilarious Dangerfield vehicle.

February 7, 2003 Comment

Gerry Shamray

Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Back to School

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Rodney Dangerfield is one of the greatest stand up comedians ever. His timing and delivery are simply perfect. This films shows that he also had some great acting talent. Nothing that pushes him too far, but certainly enough to propel the story along. Dangerfield decides to attend his son's college to help his son

September 10, 2011

Luke Baldock

Super Reviewer

A very funny, but somewhat stupid, comedy starring Dangerfield. There are a couple of really funny jokes, but there are also some not very funny jokes. My favourite part is when Oingo Boingo plays at the party.

September 6, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

Back to School Quotes

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1. Diane: Whoever wrote that doesn't know the first thing about Kurt Vogenegut!
2. Thornton Melon: And another thing Vogenegut, I'm stopping payment on the check!!
– Submitted by sean b (22 days ago)
1. Thornton Melon: Class huh? Let's talk about class ok Vanessa. There's you and Gorgio in the guest room. Very classy. There's you and Gorgio in the rumpus room, another classy one. Whoo this one i can't figure out! There's you, there's Gorgio, what's with the midget? Hey wait I've got more!
– Submitted by sean b (22 days ago)
1. Thornton Melon: Call me sometime, when you have no class.
– Submitted by sean b (22 days ago)

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