Underclassman (2004)

6% of critics liked it
(79 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(39,060 ratings)

Nick Cannon stars in this comedy thriller as a 24-year-old police detective who takes no small amount of ribbing from his fellow officers for his boyish looks. His appearance, however, lands him a plumb assignment at a posh private high school, where he discovers the students are operating an… More Nick Cannon stars in this comedy thriller as a 24-year-old police detective who takes no small amount of ribbing from his fellow officers for his boyish looks. His appearance, however, lands him a plumb assignment at a posh private high school, where he discovers the students are operating an underground business stealing and selling luxury cars. The Underclassman also stars Cheech Marin, Roselyn Sanchez, and Kelly Hu. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Marcos Siega
Written By: David Wagner, Brent Goldberg
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 2, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 17, 2006
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Joshua Katzman, Chicago Reader
This is geared toward the preteen set, but director Marcos Siega proves inept at executing the most basic dramatic and comedic setups, and Cannon's mugging and preening quickly grow tiresome.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
This is one of those movies where at the end of the year you'll say, 'Underclassman, what was that about? I don't even remember it.'
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
Less an original product than a shoddy tribute to other mediocre cop movies.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
If it weren't for the racist and puerile humour and the general laziness of the production, you could almost understand a movie like Underclassman. And maybe even forgive it.
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger
The film is of little use to anyone except casting directors, fixed on selling a performer rather than telling a story.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
This feeble Beverly Hills Cop knockoff will give audiences burned repeatedly by crummy movies this summer yet another reason to avoid multiplexes for the Labor Day weekend.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Even the chase scenes sag as debut director Marcos Siega disappoints audiences at every turn.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Even charming Nick Cannon can't save this awful movie.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
It's mind-boggling that such relentlessly offensive trash ever finds financial backing from a major Hollywood studio.
David Noh, Film Journal International
The premise of The Underclassman is so familiar as to be groan-inducing, but the happy surprise is that it goes down very easily, and makes for agreeable summer light entertainment.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
The smart-mouth-maverick-cop genre never looked more shopworn and played-out than in this halfhearted, half-baked mess.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
It seems that the filmmakers behind Underclassman think that Nick Cannon is the second coming of comedy genius. The sad fact is that he ain't.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
In Drumline we saw that Cannon could, indeed, be charming; but here his character is mostly annoying, with nothing funny to say or do and no personality to build on.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Underclassman is primarily a string of clichés looking for a story.
Stina Chyn, Film Threat
However unfortunate or sad it is that people enjoy experiencing mediocre quality cinema, if you have nothing more stimulating to do on a Friday night, Underclassman could provide the entertainment -- not enlightenment -- you seek.
Gary Brown, Gateway Times
...a low rent Beverly Hills Cop wannabe.
Nathan Rabin, AV Club
Almost comically unambitious, Underclassman seldom tries to be funny, and never even attempts to be original.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, SPLICEDWire
Here we have a definite candidate for the year's worst picture.
Eric Goldman, IGN Movies
The film feels like the victim of too many rewrites and edits, with lots of plotlines that go nowhere or feel oddly unfulfilled.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Cannon simply doesn't have the chemistry with his co-stars that he needs; it's as if he's trying to perform a one-man show