School Daze (1988)
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58% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(8,641 ratings)
Fraternity and sorority members clash with the other students at a historically black university in this politically charged musical, which marked the sophomore feature from director Spike Lee. Dap (Laurence Fishburne) is a politically conscious brother who leads anti-apartheid demonstrations and… More Fraternity and sorority members clash with the other students at a historically black university in this politically charged musical, which marked the sophomore feature from director Spike Lee. Dap (Laurence Fishburne) is a politically conscious brother who leads anti-apartheid demonstrations and eschews the social climbing of the Greek system. But Half-Pint (Lee), his craven young cousin, is willing to endure any humiliation to join the manly Gamma fraternity. As Half-Pint tries unsuccessfully to impress the Gammas with his inept womanizing, Dap engages in philosophical debates with Rachel (Kyme), his girlfriend. Meanwhile, the light-skinned, straight-haired sisters of the Gamma Ray sorority battle it out in a beauty parlor with their darker-skinned, Afro-headed fellow coeds. Eventually, Half-Pint gets the chance to join the frat, but only after a degrading episode with Jane (Tisha Campbell), the soon-to-be ex-girlfriend of his house president, causes Dap to lose all respect for him. Based in part on the director's experiences at Atlanta's Morehouse College, School Daze was also written and produced by Lee. Despite production numbers that included "Straight and Nappy," a dis-fest between the "wannabes" and "jigaboos" on campus, the biggest hit on the film's soundtrack was the go-go anthem "Da Butt," E.U.'s ode to shaking one's backside. Supporting players Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy also co-starred on the TV comedy A Different World, another look at life on a primarily African-American campus. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
Critic Reviews
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Derek Adams, Time Out
Lee has a small, intimate talent; here, he goes for the big podium and blows it.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
For every tough-minded confrontation between the different student factions, School Daze is apt to offer a love scene less than vital to the plot, or an overlong musical scene whose effect is that of treading water.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
School Daze, with its pompous patchwork plot, is an arrogant, humorless, sexist mess.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Although the film has big structural problems and leaves a lot of loose ends, there was never a moment when it didn't absorb me.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Spike Lee had something in mind while he shot School Daze, his follow-up to the cult hit She's Gotta Have It. Unfortunately it's still lodged behind his cranium.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Laurence Fishburne
as Vaughn "Dap" Dunlap
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Giancarlo Esposito
as Julian "Big Brother Almighty" Eaves
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Tisha Campbell
as Jane Toussaint
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Kyme
as Rachel Meadows
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Joe Seneca
as President McPherson
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Art Evans
as Cedar Cloud
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Ellen Holly
as Odrie McPherson
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Spike Lee
as Half-Pint
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Ossie Davis
as Coach Odom
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James Bond III
as Monroe
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Gregg Burge
as Virgil Cloyd
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Stephanie Clark
as Stephanie
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Cylk Cozart
as Big Brother Dr. Feelgood
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Erik Dellums
as Slim Daddy
- Julian Eaves
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Tyra Ferrell
as Tasha
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Jasmine Guy
as Dina
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Kadeem Hardison
as Edge
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Dominic Hoffman
as Mustafa
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Phyllis Hyman
as Phyllis Hyman Quartet
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Samuel L. Jackson
as Leeds
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Toni Ann Johnson
as Muriel
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Cinqué Lee
as Buckwheat
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Joie Lee
as Lizzie Life
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Kasi Lemmons
as Perry
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Monique Mannen
as Gamma Ray
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Bill Nunn
as Grady
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Eric Payne
as Booker T.
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Alva Rogers
as Doris Witherspoon
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Roger Guenveur Smith
as Yoda
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Kirk Taylor
as Sir Nose
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Leonard Thomas
as Big Brother Gen. George Patton
- Jane Toussaint
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Rusty Cundieff
as Big Brother Chucky
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Ivan Goff
as EU Band
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Tim Hutchinson
as Big Brother Lance
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Branford Marsalis
as Jordan
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Consuela Lee Morehead
as Phyllis Hyman Quartet
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Kevin Rock
as Mussolini
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Guy Killum
as Double Rubber
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Dennis Abrams
as Eric
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Angela Ali
as Velda
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Michelle Bailey
as Tina
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Darryl M. Bell
as Big Brother X-Ray Vision
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Jacquelyn Bird
as Jacquelyn
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Paula Birth
as Carla
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Harold L. Boyd III
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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Jhoe Breedlove
as Kim
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Edward G. Bridges
as Moses
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Paula M. Brown
as Miriam
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Joe Chambers
as Phyllis Hyman Quartet
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Robert L. Cole Jr.
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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Albert Cooper
as Spoon
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Cassandra Davis
as Paula
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Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliot
as EU Band
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Sharon Ferrol
as Sharon
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Jenario "Foxy Brown" Foxx
as EU Band
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Florante P. Galvez
as Student in Bathroom
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Darryl "Tidy" Hayes
as EU Band
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Edward "Junie" Henderson
as EU Band
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Rod Hodge
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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William "Ju Ju" House
as EU Band
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Dawn Jackson
as Attendant
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Valentino "Tino" Jackson
as EU Band
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John Keith
as Singer at Coronation
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Derrek W. Jones
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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Tanya Lynne Lee
as Tanya
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Angela Lewis
as Attendant
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Tracey Lewis
as Counter Girl
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Delphine T. Mantz
as Delphine
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Greta Martin
as Greta
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Lester McCorn
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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Frances Morgan
as Frances
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Michelle Whitney Morrison
as Vivian
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Karen Renee Owens
as Deidre
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Eartha Robinson
as Eartha
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Tracy Robinson
as Roz
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William N. Ross
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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Leslie Sykes
as Miss Mission
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Reginald Tabor
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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"Go-Go" Mike Taylor
as EU Band
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Anthony Thompkins
as Doo-Doo Breath
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Traci Tracey
as Traci
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Harold Vick
as Phyllis Hyman Quartet
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Terri Lynette Whitlow
as Terri
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Laurnea Wilkerson
as Laurnea
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Kent Wood
as EU Band
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Kelly Woolfolk
as Vicky
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Keith E. Wright
as Alpha Phi Alpha
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Bill Lee
as Phyllis Hyman Quartet
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Adrienne-Joi Johnson
as Cecilia
