Making the Grade (1984)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Dorian Walker

Writers:

Charles Gale (story)
Gene Quintano (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 May 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

Palmer Woodrow III earned his diploma the old-fashioned way. He hired Eddie Keaton to graduate for him.

Plot:

Lazy preppie Palmer Woodrow hires street-smart Eddie Keaton to go to school for him while he lives it up in Europe...

Plot Keywords:

Preppie | Gambling | Gambling Debt | High School Graduation | High School

Cast

Judd Nelson	...	Eddie Keaton
Jonna Lee	...	Tracey Hoover
Gordon Jump	...	Mr. Harriman
Walter Olkewicz	...	Coach Wordman
Ronald Lacey	...	Nicky
Dana Olsen	...	Palmer Woodrow
Carey Scott	...	Rand
Scott McGinnis	...	Bif
Andrew Dice Clay	...	Dice (as Andrew Clay)
John Dye	...	Skip
John Stevens	...	Mr. Hoover
Lucile Doan Ewing	...	Mrs. Hoover (as Lucille Ewing)
Patrice Watson	...	Muffy
Robert Meltzer	...	Mr. Townsend
Moses Peace	...	Regis

Also Known As:

The Last American Preppy (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Cannon Group, The

Trivia:

The film's music budget before composer Basil Poledouris was brought on board was a paltry five thousand-dollars, which was completely used on a composer who was rejected by the producers for the project. Soon after Poledouris was hired, Cannon films had "mysteriously" come up with more money for the music budget.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Eddie is throwing rocks at his girlfriend's window, all of his dialogue is dubbed in as his lips don't move once, all while facing the camera.

Quotes:

Palmer Woodrow: What do you recommend?
Caddy: Lessons.
Palmer Woodrow: I meant what club, wise-ass?
Caddy: Aah, if I were you, I'd stick to kicking.
Palmer Woodrow: If you were me, you wouldn't be a caddy.

Movie Connections:

References Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Soundtrack:

Double Trouble

Best 80's Comedy of All Time.

For anyone who was alive and well in the 80's this movie is the funniest of all time. Of course you might need to remember the Preppy Handbook, putting pennies in your shoes (or coins from other countries if you wanted to be really cool), nicknames like Bif, Kiki and Buffy, and men wearing pink and yellow.

The star of this movie is the REAL Palmer Woodrow, Dana Olsen. It is a shame it doesn't look like he is still in the business.

The character of Rand is well played and is very, very funny.

Andrew Dice Clay, Gordon Jump and Judd Nelson all put in solid performances.

I have this on DVD...it is great.

I really wish they made Tourista. That would have been excellent.