Recess: School's Out (2001)

TOMATOMETER

61%
59%

Critic Consensus: Though basically a TV cartoon stretched out to movie-length, Recess has enough successful jokes and smart writing to make it a worthwhile view.

AUDIENCE SCORE

55%

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Movie Info

The characters from the popular Saturday morning TV cartoon series move out of the schoolyard and onto the big screen in this animated feature. New kid Gus (voice of Courtland Mead), nice guy TJ (voice of Andrew Lawrence), tough girl Spinelli (voice of Pamela Segall), cool kid Vince (voice of Rickey D'Shon Collins), overly enthusiastic Mikey (voice of Jason Davis), and brainy Gretchen (voice of Ashley Johnson) are grade school best friends who are psyched about the end of the school year and the arrival of summer vacation. But Principal Prickly (voice of Dabney Coleman) is less than enthusiastic about letting the kids goof off all summer, and evil school administrator Dr. Benedict has come up with a plan to do away with summer vacation by using a super-powered laser to create permanent winter. Teen-pop singer Myra contributes a new version of "Dancing in the Street" to the soundtrack, and Katey Sagal also contributes to the voice cast.

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Cast

Andrew Lawrence
as T.J. Detweiler
James Woods
as Dr. Benedict
Dabney Coleman
as Principal Peter Prickly
Ashley Johnson
as Gretchen Grundler
Pamela Adlon
as Ashley Spinelli
Robert Goulet
as Mikey Blumberg (singing)
Melissa Joan Hart
as Becky Detweiler
April Winchell
as Miss Muriel Finster
Peter MacNicol
as Fenwick
Allyce Beasley
as Miss Alordayne Grotkey
Rickey D'Shon Collins
as Vince LaSalle
Paul Willson
as Coach Kluge
Courtland Mead
as Gus P. Griswald
Jason Davis
as Mikey
Dan Castellaneta
as Guard No.1
Diedrich Bader
as Guard No.2
Gregg Berger
as Tech No.1
Ron Glass
as Dr. Lazenby/Tech No. 2
Klee Bragger
as Digger Sam
Clancy Brown
as Bald Guy
Toran Caudell
as King Bob
Rachel Crane
as Ashley Q
E.G. Daily
as Cap'n Sticky
R. Lee Ermey
as Colonel O'Malley
Tony Jay
as Dr. Rosenthal
Clyde Kusatsu
as Mr. Yamashiro
Charles Kimbrough
as Mort Chalk
Andrea Martin
as Lunch Lady No.1
Tress MacNeille
as Lunch Lady No.2/Opera Director/Dr. Steinheimer
Anndi McAfee
as Ashley A
Mark Robert Myers
as Technician
Ryan O'Donohue
as Digger Dave/Randall
Jack Riley
as Golfer No.1
Phil Proctor
as Golfer No.2/Scientist No.2
Patrick Renna
as Jordan
Nicholas Turturro
as Cop No.1
Kevin Michael Richardson
as Cop No.2
Justin Shenkarow
as Soldier Kid/Wrestler Kid
Michael Shulman
as Hustler Kid
Fancesca Marie Smith
as Ashley B/Swinger Girl/Upside-down Girl
Kath Soucie
as Counselor
Robert Stack
as Superintendent
Ken Swofford
as Coach
Erik Von Dettin
as Captain Brad/Lawson
Katey Sagal
as Mrs. Flo Spinelli (uncredited)
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Critic Reviews for Recess: School's Out

All Critics (70) | Top Critics (22)

The kids will like this animated romp about summer vacation, and so will the adults sitting next to them.

Jan 18, 2018 | Full Review…
Associated Press
Top Critic

Its well characterised comedy of playground manners and teasing social awareness rings confidently through.

Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
Time Out
Top Critic

Whimsical, engaging.

Feb 16, 2001
Miami Herald
Top Critic

Refreshingly subversive.

Feb 16, 2001
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic

About as exciting as a lunchbox full of carrot sticks.

Feb 16, 2001
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic

Passably speedy on the level of other TV retreads that seem miscast on the big screen.

Feb 16, 2001 | Full Review…
USA Today
Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (70)

Audience Reviews for Recess: School's Out

An extended episode with a rediculous plot that will have the kids laughing and the adults sleeping.

Dillon Lupky
Dillon Lupky

Super Reviewer

½

While it is formulaic when stacked up to its television show counterpart, School's Out provides an ambitious plot line noted with a strong antagonist performance by James Woods

Jackson Walsh
Jackson Walsh

Super Reviewer

absolutly original. a terrific big screen film to a terrific t.v. show! the jokes are funny and the film is too close to it's creators. fun for kids and kids at heart. a delightful, funny, smart animated comedy. A

Juan Charqueno
Juan Charqueno

Super Reviewer

This is better than the tv show.

erika bruhns
erika bruhns

Super Reviewer

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