Back to School (1986)

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (2) | DVD (11)

In this very funny Rodney Dangerfield comedy, there has been an important shift in Rodney's entertainment persona, a shift that has made this small film a monster hit.

January 16, 2013 Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

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

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

[An] acceptable time-passer.

January 26, 2006 Full Review

Time Out

Top Critic

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

May 21, 2003 Full Review

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

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

Matt Brunson

Creative Loafing

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

February 27, 2008 Full Review

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Observe, and offer cod psychological analysis to your friends.

February 27, 2008 Full Review

Film4

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

February 27, 2008 Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

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

August 18, 2007 Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

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

October 28, 2005

Bill Clark

FromTheBalcony

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

March 24, 2004

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

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

December 22, 2003 Full Review

Greg Muskewitz

eFilmCritic.com

Rodney Dangerfield's funniest film

July 15, 2003

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

Hilarious Dangerfield vehicle.

February 7, 2003

Gerry Shamray

Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

• 1. Thornton Melon: With the shape my body is in, I could donate it to science fiction.
  – Submitted by rick b (13 months ago)
• 1. Thornton Melon: Bring a pitcher of beer every seven minutes until someone passes out, then bring one every ten minutes.
  – Submitted by rick b (13 months ago)
• 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 (16 months 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 (16 months ago)
• 1. Thornton Melon: Call me sometime, when you have no class.
  – Submitted by sean b (16 months ago)

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