Up the Academy

1980

Up the Academy

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

0%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 5

42%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 823
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Movie Info

A teen comedy that does not quite rise to the level of that age group, this uninspired story features Ron Liebman as the Major, a sadistic instructor at a military school. Ralph Macchio (before his 1984 hit, Karate Kid) and other teens of every stripe suffer through the indignities heaped on them by the Major and do their best with the sexual, ethnic, and racial stereotypes that the script gives them to handle. Robert Downey directs, Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses wrote the screenplay. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Cast

Wendell Brown
as Ike
Tom Citera
as Hash
Tom Paston
J. Hutchinson
as Oliver
Ralph Macchio
as Chooch
Ron Leibman
as Major
Harry Teinowitz
as Ververgaert
Tom Poston
as Sisson
Ian Wolfe
as Commandant Caseway
Stacey Nelkin
as Candy
Barbara Bach
as Bliss
Leonard Frey
as Keck
Antonio Fargas
as Coach
Luke Andreas
as Vitto
Candy Ann Brown
as Nubia
King Coleman
as Rev. MacArthur
Rosalie Citera
as Mrs. Bombalazzi
Yvonne Francis
as Commandant's Wife
James G. Robertson
as Mayor Holt
Rosemary Eliot
as Mayor Holt's Wife
Louis Zorich
as Sheik Amier
Robert Lynn Mock
as Burly Cook
Tyrees Allen
as Assistant Cook
Eric Hanson
as Tough Upperclassman
Ken White
as Chester
Patrick McKenna
as Henchman #1
Robert Scopa
as Henchman #2
Robert Downey Jr.
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Critic Reviews for Up the Academy

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (2) | Rotten (5)

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for Up the Academy

  • Sep 26, 2010
    More transgressive than almost any teen comedy, but not funny enough -- though it's funnier than Cracked, funnier than the Lighter Side Of... And it's funnier than Police Academy and more visually interesting than Stripes. Ron Liebman may have taken his name off, but really, his role isn't well-written and his performance is lacking. The movie isn't bad. Also, the soundtrack is hipper than it should be and so is Ralph Macchio.
    Adam M Super Reviewer
  • Sep 06, 2010
    I really liked this movie, it's very funny and goofy, and it's a good teen story too. If you like teen comedies I highly recommend it, and it's brought to you by Mad Magazine!
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Jul 10, 2010
    Since Up The Academy had MAD Magazine in the title I couldn't wait to see it & expected it to be hilarious.It wasn't bad at all & had real funny moments here & there where I couldn't help but laugh but it just wasn't as great as I thought it was gonna be.I grew up with MAD Magazine so I was disappointed that they just seemed to put their name on the movie to get people to watch it.What a jip!
    Brody M Super Reviewer
  • May 25, 2009
    Now here is a juvenile, frivolous teen-age boys' film from three decades ago that is humorous and kind of cute. It has a few good jokes, and the overall tone is parody, which while mild mannered by today's standards, is funny enough to compensate for a rather tame plot. As funny as Caddyshack (which isn't saying much) but with a more cohesive storyline, and not a mindless retch-fest like American Pie.
    Pamela D Super Reviewer
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