On M List of Movie Reviews

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Making the Grade (1984)

Rate: 5
Viewed: 5/18

MakingG
5/18: While watching Making the Grade, I started to realize Judd Nelson, who was very good-looking, could act, yet for some reason, his career didn't work out in the long run, having been forever stuck with his association with the talentless Brat Pack.

The movie starts out well but can be episodic in terms of 80's comedy. Then, it falters, indicating the lack of a plot. Finally, the overlong show ends badly, forgetting to remind itself of what initially worked. It does have a good premise to begin with, but let's face facts: everybody looks too damned old to be in high school. Why not just make the setting be an overpriced private college and call it for the day?

What's notable is that it marks the first appearance of Andrew Dice Clay in a motion picture. He looks tame, and his persona won't be fully blown up until four years later. The ending mentioned a possible sequel called Tourista, but it never materialized. Why would it anyway? And who cared about Palmer and Eddie?

All in all, Judd Nelson is excellent in Making the Grade, but the filmmakers should've stuck to what conventionally worked for an 80's comedy picture.