Summer School (1987)

61% of critics liked it
(28 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(27,155 ratings)

On the eve of his Hawaiian vacation, irresponsible high school teacher Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) is forced into teaching a summer-school class. His students are all malcontents and layabouts with the standard repertoire of teenaged hang-ups and hostilities (two of the kids, who can't see enough… More On the eve of his Hawaiian vacation, irresponsible high school teacher Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) is forced into teaching a summer-school class. His students are all malcontents and layabouts with the standard repertoire of teenaged hang-ups and hostilities (two of the kids, who can't see enough slasher movies to suit them, are hilarious precursors to Beavis and Butt-Head). Harmon would rather spend his time with history teacher Robin Bishop (Kirstie Alley), but she doesn't think much of his laziness and lack of dedication. Shoop finally begins to take his job seriously when he realizes his students' problems are not all of their own making. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Carl Reiner
Written By: Jeff Franklin
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 22, 1987 Wide
On DVD: Jun 1, 2004
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Harmon has an easygoing attractiveness, but neither he nor anyone else seems comfortable with the film's antic pace. And for all its busyness, this comedy has no real focus, ricocheting from character to character with wearying abandon.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Here are some of Summer School's favorite things: idiocy, illiteracy, irresponsibility, drunkenness, dumbness and debauchery. Piqued?
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
The moral is a sweet one: If you try, you never fail. The world is graded on a curve.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A comedy so listless, leisurely and unspirited that it was an act of the will for me to care about it, even while I was watching it.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A comic delight... Harmon and Alley are great together
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Another failure in Harmon's attempt to move from TV to the big screen.
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
Summer School might lack a hipster razor edge, but its funnybone personality is larger than life. It's a film I adore for its purity of intentions.
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic
Reiner keeps everything moving while letting Harmon do the heavy lifting as his young co-stars sprinkle the chuckles around.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A bit bland compared to Reiner's Steve Martin comedies, but engagingly played.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Cliches abound in this silly outing. Not the brightest moment for any of those involved.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Okay teen/romantic comedy with pleasant players.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
if there was any justice in the world we'd be seeing reruns of this on TNT every Sunday instead of endless repeats of Sixteen Candles and its ilk

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas, Patrick Labyorteaux, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Dean Cameron, Gary Riley, Kelly Jo Minter, Richard Steven Horvitz, Fabiana Udenio, Francis X. McCarthy, Tom Troupe, Lucy Lee Flippin, Ken Olandt, Shawnee Smith Director: Carl Reiner Summary:… More
Cast: Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas, Patrick Labyorteaux, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Dean Cameron, Gary Riley, Kelly Jo Minter, Richard Steven Horvitz, Fabiana Udenio, Francis X. McCarthy, Tom Troupe, Lucy Lee Flippin, Ken Olandt, Shawnee Smith Director: Carl Reiner Summary: When school lets out for the summer, gym teacher Freddy Shoop can't wait to hightail it to Hawaii with his girlfriend for a vacation. But when the teacher who's supposed to teach remedial English wins the lottery, Shoop gets roped into the job. My Thoughts: "One of my favorites from the 80's. It's funny, silly, and predictable. The character's are not that fascinating, but they're fun and so is the movie. The movie always puts me in a good mood after seeing it. It's a reminder of how simple a great teen comedy film use to be before it was all about sex and drugs. Just a simple fun film. See it if you haven't had the chance and if your a fan of 80's cinema like myself."
AJ V

Yes this is a silly, predictable, teen/romance/school comedy, but it's just so much fun, I couldn't resist it's charms. I guess what I really need is a sensitive, intelligent guy who can rollerskate. Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie, and I highly recommend it if… More
Yes this is a silly, predictable, teen/romance/school comedy, but it's just so much fun, I couldn't resist it's charms. I guess what I really need is a sensitive, intelligent guy who can rollerskate. Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie, and I highly recommend it if you want to see something funny and entertaining this summer.
Nani V

This is one of those movies that would come on tv once in a while. I always enjoyed it everytime too.
Cassie H

FUNNY,AND IT HAS GOOD MESSAGES ABOUT NOT GIVING UP. THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME!!!! You also had to love Chainsaw and Dave. They were AWESOME!!!
danny d

classic about a guy who gets his zipper stuck in the bathroom and misses 6 weeks of school
Jason S

Funny comedy. Made going to summer school look like a good time.
Michael G

I think I watched this every day the summer of 87. Not as good as I remember but who cares?
Anthony V

Plays out better than it sounds. Actually good fun.

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Mark Harmon as Freddy Shoop

            Kirstie Alley as Robin Bishop History Teacher

            Robin Thomas as Phil Gills Vice Principal

            Patrick Laborteaux as Kevin Winchester

            Courtney Thorne-Smith as Pam House

            Dean Cameron as Francis "Chainsaw" Gremp

            Gary Riley as Dave Frazier

            Kelly Jo Minter as Denise Green

            Ken Olandt as Larry Kazamias

            Shawnee Smith as Rhonda Altobello

            Lillian Adams as Grandma Eakian

            Jack Blessing as Student

            Vivian Bonnell as Denise's Mom

            Duane Davis as Jerome Watkins

            Lucy Lee Flippin as Substitute Teacher

            Leigh French as Student

            Courtney Gebhart as Surfer Girl

            Richard S. Horvitz as Alan Eakian

            Andrea Howard
            
            Prince Hughes as Scary Inmate

            Gary Imhoff as Student

            Christopher Kriesa as Beach Cop

            Carlos Lacamara as Beach Cop

            Michael MacRae as Kevin's Dad

            Frank McCarthy as Principal Kelban

            Dee Dee Rescher as Woman at Strip Joint

            Tommy Ryan as Examiner

            Lora Staley as Student

            Beau Starr as Chainsaw's Dad

            Lynne Marie Stewart as Student

            Amy Stock-Poynton as Kim

            Darwyn Swalve as Scary Inmate

            Tom Troupe as Judge

            Fabiana Udenio as Anna-Maria Mazarelli

            Nels Van Patten as Tommy

            Gigi Vorgan as Student

            Laura Waterbury as Chainsaw's Mom

            Carl Reiner as Mr. Dearadorian

            Jeff Silverman as Examiner

            Terry Logan as Cop at Police Station

            Dottie Archibald as Dave's Mom

            Conroy Gedeon as Mr. Winnick

            Robin Kaufman as Chainsaw's Sister

            John Stark as Student
See full cast