Making the Grade (1984)
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50% of users liked it
(1,107 ratings)
The time-worn clash between the rich and poor, brought out by switched identities, is the ploy used here to put a streetwise kid into an upper-crust prep school. Palmer (Dana Olsen) does not want to stay at school for his final year, but he needs to graduate in order to receive his mega-buck trust… More The time-worn clash between the rich and poor, brought out by switched identities, is the ploy used here to put a streetwise kid into an upper-crust prep school. Palmer (Dana Olsen) does not want to stay at school for his final year, but he needs to graduate in order to receive his mega-buck trust fund. Eddie (Judd Nelson) is a New Jersey native, used to the streets and handling trouble when it comes -- except Eddie's bookie is after him for a bad debt, and when Eddie jumps the prep school's fence to escape his creditor, he almost knocks down Palmer. From that serendipitous meeting, the two decide to swap identities -- or partly so. Eddie will become Palmer and get good grades in the last year of school, for the sum of $10,000 at graduation. And Palmer will go off on his own planned vacation. Eddie soon learns the ways of the rich and famous, but he is quickly back to crap games and porno movies, this time initiating his new schoolmates into that lifestyle and gaining popularity along the way. What follows is a series of misadventures as the bookie shows up at the school to demand his due from Eddie, Eddie falls in love with the daughter of the school's patron, and Palmer comes back. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Directed By
- Dorian Walker
- Genres
- Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- May 18, 1984 Wide
- On DVD
- Oct 2, 2001
Critic Reviews
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Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
The filmmakers had studied other teen comedies, but not closely enough to pick up any real feeling for their subjects.
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Cast
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Judd Nelson
as Eddie Keaton
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Jonna Lee
as Tracey Hoover
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Gordon Jump
as Mr. Harriman
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Walter Olkewicz
as Coach Wordman
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Ronald Lacey
as Nicky
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Dana Olsen
as Palmer Woodrow
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Carey Scott
as Rand
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Scott McGinnis
as Bif
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Andrew Dice Clay
as Dice
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John Dye
as Skip
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Lucille Ewing
as Mrs. Hoover
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Mattie Grayson
as Maid
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Ray Hill
as Dr. Mueller
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Robert Meltzer
as Mr. Townsend
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Moses Peace
as Regis
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Chris Williams
as Thomas
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Emilio Estevez
as Mike
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Steve Wilkerson
as Passing Senior
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Jack Ray
as Chauffeur
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Dan Schneider
as Blimp
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John Stevens
as Mr. Hoover
