You have to take this movie for what it is and when it was released. The characters are likable and the dialogue doesn't try too hard to be funny; it just is.
Granted, some of the appeal may be nostalgic at this point; it's hard to imagine how this looks to a first-time viewer today. OK, some parts are bound to be ridiculous; there is a break-dancing scene and accompanying music that are hopelessly dated... then again break-dancing does appear to be making a comeback.
I'm not a huge Andrew Dice Clay fan, but this movie is where the "Diceman" character originated.
The actor who plays Palmer Woodrow wrote the movie The Burbs, as it turns out.
Making the Grade
1984
Comedy / Romance
Making the Grade
1984
Comedy / Romance
5.7 Synopsis
Lazy preppie Palmer Woodrow hires street-smart Eddie Keaton to go to school for him while he lives it up in Europe. Eddie falls in love with preppie gal Tracey, upsetting Biff, the Hoover Academy bully. When his bookie from the old neighborhood, Dice, comes to collect on Eddie's gambling debts and Palmer returns early from Europe, the the scheme slowly starts to unravel. Soon, Eddie can't even tell whose side he's really on.
Uploaded By: FREEMAN
Downloaded 8,282 times
May 29, 2019 at 02:42 AM
Director
Cast
Judd Nelson as Eddie Keaton
Andrew Dice Clay as Dice
Dan Schneider as Blimp
Gordon Jump as Mr. Harriman
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
Come on, don't be a curmudgeon.
Reviewed by
Are we grading on a curve?
SEE Judd Nelson break-dance! SEE Andrew "Dice" Clay before he got more famous and less funny! SEE what ALL '80s teen comedies were like, more or less!
"Making the Grade". Let's see... basically, a loser student (Olsen) pays off another loser (Nelson) to pretend to be him so he can pass his classes and graduate (for some inheritance or something, I don't know - this is not one of those movies that celebrate the joys of higher learning).
And, of course, all the hips trends of 1984 are there for you to drink in till you're positively drunk from all the flash, trash and splash of the Gimmie Decade. Not just the aforementioned break-dancing display, but also some of the tackiest clothes you've seen since your last garage sale, an almost ALL synthesizer sound track and a Brat Packer!
If you love the '80s, you gotta catch "Making the Grade". Not for the story, mind you...just for "the experience".
Five stars. "Making the Grade" - barely passing, needs work on its social skills, recommend less time around the Diceman.
Reviewed by
Excellent comedy!
Very funny movie, very entertaining characters. Palmer was the top dog, every scene he was in, every line he had, was HILARIOUS!!! Some great early work by the Diceman. His imitation of John Travolta was great! The Coach was very funny too; best scenes were when he stumbles into the X-rated movie, and when he comes home with the hookers. Gordon Jump (Big Guy from WKRP) was his usual bumbling, funny self. During the final credits, they say Palmer and Eddie will be back in "Tourista"; unfortunately for us they never made it. Big mistake, Tourista would have been great!