Up the Academy

1980

Up the Academy (1980)

TOMATOMETER

0%

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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

43%

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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)

I can't remember anticipating the end of a film with such exuberance.

Apr 28, 2018 | Full Review…
Boston Globe
Top Critic

Cheerfully and rudely haphazard.

May 30, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/5
New York Times
Top Critic

In an attempt to follow National Lampoon, it was the first and only film produced by MAD Magazine. One viewing reveals why.

May 30, 2007 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Combustible Celluloid

Notable only because its star, Ron Liebman, sued the studio to have his name removed from the credits and advertising.

May 30, 2007 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…
TV Guide

I can plainly understand why several involved parties lobbied to get their names removed from this film.

Feb 13, 2006 | Rating: 1.5/5 | Full Review…
DVDTalk.com
View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for Up the Academy

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
Aj V

Super Reviewer

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 Mahler
Adam Mahler

Super Reviewer

This was Mad magazine's first and only attempt to emulate National Lampoon's film success is dull and not-so-hilarious comedy I ever watched.

Dean McKenna
Dean McKenna

Super Reviewer

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