A been-there, done-that snoozer.
Underclassman (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:77
Fresh:6
Rotten:71
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
It's straight off the assembly line with no surprises, but pleasantly entertaining thanks to Cannon's being almost as charming as he thinks he is.
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.
Nick Cannon is too likable an actor to be stuck in junk like Underclassman.
If unbelievable scenarios were against the law, Underclassman's filmmakers would be under lock and key.
So far-fetched as to make Kindergarten Cop look comparatively austere.
A goofy puppy that just wants to be loved -- and knows only how to make an unimaginative mess.
It's not horrible, but it's not worth rescheduling your Labor Day barbecue around.
The script, by David T. Wagner and Brent Goldberg, is breathtakingly bad.
Cannon bounces through every frame hopped up with excess energy, rolling his eyes, spitting off rotten one-liners and overselling his blunt reactions to eye-splitting excess.
Siega's hackneyed, by-the-books action-comedy exhibits few intelligent thoughts in its dunce cap-deserving head.
Latest News for Underclassman
August 31, 2006:
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August 29, 2005:
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