Originally released back in 1987, “Summer School” is a guilty pleasure of mine in terms of favorite movies from my youth. It isn’t a favorite because of any special acting or is especially well-written. It’s only moderately funny, and to be sure there are some better 80s teen comedies. BUT this one has a special place in my heart and I still recommend it to throngs of people for one particular reason… which I’ll get to shortly. “Summer School” stars Mark Harmon as a high school teacher who gets the unenviable job of teaching a bunch of students remedial English over the summer. The class, as you might imagine is full of all manner of losers and slackers (at least that’s the label some people might give them), and he isn’t one bit happy about the assignment. After all, he’s a teacher, it’s the summer and he’s prepared for a vacation. Kirstie Alley also stars as a fellow teacher, and Harmon’s love interest. This was back in the day when Alley was still funny and considerably less… we’ll let’s just leave it as less.

The students were made up of a couple of up and coming names, most notably Courtney Thorne-Smith, who went on to fame with her roles in “Ally McBeal” and “According to Jim.” Patrick Laborteaux, whom most of you know from “Jag”, is here as well. Then there is Shawnee Smith, whose name might not be that familiar, but she’s got one of those recognizable faces you’ve seen everywhere. You’ve definitely seen her in any number of cameos in any TV Mini-series based on a Stephen King novel.

But then we come to the two guys who should have gone on to fame and fortune, and the reason I love this movie so much. Dean Cameron and Gary Riley. As Francis “Chainsaw” Gremp and Dave Frazier (respectively), they completely steal the film as the two “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” loving special effects goofballs. These guys are wannabe makeup artists who consider Rick Baker to be a God (as well they should because he is), and cause no end of mayhem in the name of all the good old fashioned horror films. One scene in particular, where they decide to terrorize a substitute by making the class looked like they’ve been massacred, is one of the most classic scenes in 80s comedy history.

The reason I love these guys so much is because, slacker label aside, the represent everything I stood for in high school. All I wanted to be was a special effects artist, which fortunately I became, and some of the things they pull in this film, I did years before it was ever made. Granted it wasn’t at the high level of quality they pulled off, but I didn’t have the real Rick Baker helping me out.

I was really glad to see the film make its debut on DVD, courtesy of Paramount. But I only have one small complaint. Extras, extras, extras. There are none. I know this wasn’t a big box-office bonanza, but I know that extra features exist. When the movie first came out, there was some video taken of Cameron and Riley working with Rick Baker, and it showed them making a life cast of one of the guys. When they go to take the cast off, they can’t and blood starts spurting out everywhere. It was a hysterical, and at the time it aired on MTV (I believe it was) I actually taped it, but the tape no longer exists. I really would have loved to have seen this added to the disc.

I’d recommend “Summer School” to anyone who is a fan of 80s teen comedies, but especially to those of you who have a love of horror flicks. This film was really made for you.

Directed by: Carl Reiner
Starring: Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas, Patrick Labyorteaux, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Dean Cameron, Gary Riley, Kelly Jo Minter, Ken Olandt, Shawnee Smith
Extras: None
Specifications: Widescreen
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 6/1 /2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating:
Website

We'll give Summer School an A.