Top 5: Back to School Movies!

It’s back to school week, kiddos! Time for our ‘Top 5 Back to School movies’:

Runner Up:

Mean Girls

I know I’m going to get flack for this, and although this movie isn’t classified as “good” per se, it’s still pretty funny. I think every high school had a popular group of girls (who in retrospect, were losers for saying something so dumb) who thought and SAID they were like “The Plastics.” Losers.

And yes, we all hate Lindsay Lohan, but this was still back in the day when she was just making her comeback from child star oblivion, before coke, Sam Ronson and the paps ruined every potential she ever had at anything ever. Good ol’ Firecrotch.

5. Grease

This is probably the most famous movie on the list. EVERYONE has seen Grease at least once, and if not, what the hell is wrong with you? The catchy tunes, the cliche 50s attire, the jocks, the cheerleaders, the greasers and sweater girls… the movie is a classic.

It’s all about what it’s like to be young and in love, but with a 50s background which makes it so much more awesome. It was also filmed back in the day when people like John Travolta and Jeff Conaway were still sexy (not so much anymore.)

4. Back to School

Ahh, the mid-1980s, with all of its charm. This movie is so frigin’ corny, but Rodney Dangerfield (rest in peace, baby), who in my opinion, is the greatest comedian of all-time, saves it. His classic one liners are hilarious and the ridiculousness of the script contrast wonderfully with his sense of humour.

Basically, the movie is about a garillionaire dad who, feeling bad for his son who’s having a hard time at University, decides to enroll and keep the kid company; the 80s at their finest! Yes, the whole film is about Rodney and his antics as a university freshman. Take from that what you will, kids, but it’s f**king hilarious and I highly recommend it for light film viewing.

3. The Breakfast Club

John Hughes (rip) was renowned for being the one filmmaker who ever really “got” what it was like to be a teen, and The Breakfast Club is, in my opinion, his masterpiece. Although the film isn’t technically about “going back to school,” it’s all about what it’s like to be a kid IN school.

If you haven’t seen the movie, in which case, who ARE you, it’s about six teens who have to show up for detention on a Saturday. Of course, we have the Jock, the Brain, the Loner, the Rebel and the Babe, who are, of course, up against the evil principle, Mr. Vernon. Throughout the day, they find out that they each have more in common than they thought, but aren’t so dimwitted to think that ANY of the them will end up talking to each other again on Monday. It’s a complete commentary on what it’s like to be in high school, and, watching it after having graduated almost five years ago, I can see how petty and ridiculous we all were back then. Great film.

2. Rushmore

This is probably my personal favourite on the list (yes, I am a self-proclaimed Wes Anderson fanatic). I’ve loved everything Anderson has done since I saw Bottle Rocket as a kid, and this also happens to be his and Bill Murray‘s first foray into film together. As any dedicated reader to this section of the blog know, he is my one true love, so of course, this movie is the bomb-diggity. Having said all of this, the movie IS actually exceptional and it’s hilarious, in a Wes Anderson sort of way (basically, if you’re awesome, you’ll think it’s funny).

The movie is about one Max Fischer, played by Jason Schwartman, who, in love with his private school, Rushmore, joins every extra-curricular activity the school offers, while creating his own. His grades drop, he’s expelled and forced to attend a public school where there ARE no extra-curricular activities. Sounds dumb, but the movie is genius. A lot of film buffs say this is Anderson’s masterpiece, personally, I think The Royal Tenenbaums is (but my PERSONAL favourite is The Life Aquatic, in fact, that’s my favourite film of all time).

1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High

THE most “school-y” movie OF “school-y” movies, Fast Times At Ridgemont High (based on the book of the same name by director, Cameron Crowe) is a tell-all look at what it’s like to be a kid in highschool – the pressure to have sex, look good, do drugs, etc, etc, etc. This movie ALSO features Sean Penn in the role of the pothead, surfer wannabe, Jeff Spicoli (lolz.), which has followed him throughout his career, and a young Nic Cage, before he was actually Nic Cage. Also, honorable mention needs to go to the scene with Judge Reinhold beating off to his sister’s best friend.