This is geared toward the preteen set, but director Marcos Siega proves inept at executing the most basic dramatic and comedic setups, and Cannon's mugging and preening quickly grow tiresome.
Underclassman (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:25
Fresh:1
Rotten:24
Average Rating:2.8/10
Consensus: Despite the appealing presence of Nick Cannon, Underclassman is a shopworn Beverly Hills Cop/ 21 Jump Street knockoff.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violence, sexual references, drug material and some teen drinking
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Sep 2, 2005 Wide
Box Office: $5,567,645
Synopsis: Nick Cannon plays Tracy "Tre" Stokes, a streetwise LA cop in 'Underclassman' which combines frenetic action with sharp-eared comedy. When a student at an elite private school gets murdered, the... Nick Cannon plays Tracy "Tre" Stokes, a streetwise LA cop in 'Underclassman' which combines frenetic action with sharp-eared comedy. When a student at an elite private school gets murdered, the rough-edged rookie, Stokes gets assigned as the undercover detective to track down the killer. The resulting culture shock is only one of his difficulties. The ever-resourceful Stokes resorts to using his unique blend of sharkish good cheer and rakish charm to woo his beautiful teacher Karen Lopez (Roselyn Sanchez) to help him pass Spanish and his arrogant athletic prowess to make the school streetball team. Once Stokes gets "in" with the edgy team captain and lead suspect Rob Donovan (Shawn Ashmore) he discovers that Donovan is being coerced into participating in a student car theft operation. Using his talent for hunches, Stokes wastes no time employing unorthodox methods of investigation. Although disapproving of Stokes behavior, Captain Victor Delgado (Cheech Marin) is worried for his safety and assigns two of his detectives as back up - Detective Lisa Brooks (Kelly Hu) and Richard Gallecki (Ian Gomez) to keep an eye on him. With their help,Stokes is able to track down the killer, Headmaster Powers (Hugh Bonneville) who turns out to be trading the stolen cars as payment for drugs. -- © Miramax [More]
Starring: Nick Cannon, Roselyn Sanchez, Shawn Ashmore, Cheech Marin
Starring: Nick Cannon, Roselyn Sanchez, Shawn Ashmore, Cheech Marin, Kelly Hu, Hugh Bonneville, Don McManus, Geoffrey Pierson
Director: Marcos Siega
Director: Marcos Siega
Screenwriter: David Wagner, Brent Goldberg
Producer: Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, Andrew Panay
Studio: Miramax Films
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Release:
Jan 17, 2006
Reviews for Underclassman
This is one of those movies where at the end of the year you’ll say, 'Underclassman, what was that about? I don’t even remember it.'
Less an original product than a shoddy tribute to other mediocre cop movies.
If it weren't for the racist and puerile humour and the general laziness of the production, you could almost understand a movie like Underclassman. And maybe even forgive it.
The film is of little use to anyone except casting directors, fixed on selling a performer rather than telling a story.
This feeble Beverly Hills Cop knockoff will give audiences burned repeatedly by crummy movies this summer yet another reason to avoid multiplexes for the Labor Day weekend.
It's off to detention for Underclassman, a remedial comedy for idiots.
Underclassman is squarely aimed at a teen audience, but will be best appreciated by those who have never seen a TV cop show or, better yet, never attended school.
It gets a failing grade even by the low standards of late-August Hollywood releases.
Thanks to his charm and wit, Cannon's character eventually finds himself in with the school's in crowd, but his movie runs out of fresh ideas in the first 15 of its 95 minutes.
Within that worn formula of cop-shop banter and implausible car chases, lanky Nick Cannon offers some mild entertainment for teenagers looking for a safe bet at the multiplex.
Let me float the suggestion that it be rated PG-13-only, since anyone older than that will quickly realize he or she has better things to do than attend this pitiful Beverly Hills Cop retread.
The latest bit of damaged goods offered up in the Miramax clearance sale, Underclassman plays like the longest episode of 21 Jump Street ever made.
If you saw 21 Jump Street back in the '80s, or any of a number of shows featuring cute and cuddly cops, you pretty much know where this flick is heading.
That sound you hear is from jet engines gassing up, about to zoom Underclassman to DVD-ville.
Marcos Siega's direction is well-paced, but writers David T. Wagner and Brent Goldberg haven't brought anything sufficiently fresh or original to a formula plot.
Screenwriters David T. Wagner and Brent Goldberg don't have tin ears, exactly; they've just recycled every movie quip they've ever overheard.
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