Heaven Help Us

1985

Heaven Help Us (1985)

TOMATOMETER

40%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

74%

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Movie Info

Charles Purpura scribed this semi-autobiographical tale about his experiences in a Brooklyn Catholic school of 1965. The film focuses on several Catholic school boys who get into ever increasing amounts of trouble with the presiding priests of the Catholic school, St. Basil's. Andrew McCarthy plays Michael Dunn, a newly arrived student who latches onto the class egghead Caesar (Malcolm Danare), who is constantly picked on by the class bully Rooney (Kevin Dillon). Rooney intimidates Michael and Caesar to become his erstwhile chums and, along with a few other quiet students, they receive corporal punishment for minor infractions, disrupting communion and confession and, ultimately, their antics inspire changes in the strict school hierarchy.
  • Rating:
    R (adult situations/language, nudity)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Michael Dinner
  • Written By:
    Charles Purpura
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    HBO Video

Cast

Andrew McCarthy
as Michael Dunn
Donald Sutherland
as Brother Thadeus
John Heard
as Brother Timothy
Mary Stuart Masterson
as Danni
Kevin Dillon
as Rooney
Malcom Danare
as Caesar
Malcolm Danare
as Caesar
Jennifer Dundas
as Boo
Kate Reid
as Grandma
Wallace Shawn
as Father Abruzzi
Jay Patterson
as Brother Constance
George Anders
as Brother Augustus
Dana Barron
as Janine
John Bentley
as 1st Man
Imogene Bliss
as Cook
Philip Bosco
as Brother Paul
Donald Breitman
as Brother Gregory
Nolan Carley
as Bartender
Al Cerullo
as Pilot
Calvert DeForest
as Bridge Operator
Patrick Dempsey
as Corbet
Christopher Durang
as Priest
William Eustace
as Brother William
Henry Fehren
as Priest Celebrant
Janice Fuller
as Passenger
Pamela Galvin
as Sister Thomasina
Stephen Geoffreys
as Williams
Richard Hamilton
as Grandpa
Jody Jensen
as Girl
Kachina Myers
as Girl
Mary Koch
as Cafeteria Lady
Paul Marchand
as Perrin
Vic Polizos
as Police Officer
Douglas Seale
as Brother Dominic
Yeardley Smith
as Cathleen
Sherry Steiner
as Social Worker
Jimmie Ray Weeks
as Danni's Father
Mel Winkler
as Willie
Ed Zang
as Confessor
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Critic Reviews for Heaven Help Us

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (1)

The strange thing about the movie is the way the moments of inspiration raise our hopes, and then disappoint them.

Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic

Fitfully amusing, mostly juvenile.

Apr 17, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
eFilmCritic.com

A partly funny and occasionally toucing coming-of-age flick

Aug 22, 2004 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Spirituality and Practice
View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for Heaven Help Us

½

An all-time favorite that I don't mind watching excessively. It leaves me laughing hard each and everytime. FAVORITE SCENE: Kevin Dillon's character along with four others making out in a car on a tow bridge. As things heats up, the bridge starts to open and leaving the four to escape and watch the car fall apart.

Leo L
Leo L

Super Reviewer

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Heaven Help Us Quotes

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