When they made this, it was a parody. All the groups were extremely exaggerated, for comedic effect. Now, in 2019, we know, too late, that it was a warning. And the groups are actually like that, now. Only it's not funny.
67 Reviews
Classic 90's comedy
dworldeater2 February 2019
PCU is a hilarious college comedy starring Jeremy Piven. A pretty normal looking preppy dude goes to Port Chester University to decide if he wants to go there and ends up befriending the people who live at "The Pit", who are at odds with some of the PC groups on campus and a thorn in the side of the administration. Jeremy Piven is a great and charismatic lead and even if he is pushing 40, he still is going to college. PCU is not too far removed from Animal House or Revenge Of The Nerds, but updated for the 90's. It plays on stereotypes, but in a fun way and is very funny. David Spade appears as well as a swarmy, preppy, frat boy type, pretty much an all around weenie. George Clinton And The Parliament Funkadelic appear to play The Pit and for good tunes. So watch PCU and have a good time, or you can ..."blow me where the pampers is".
A solid, funny film that deserves to be a cult classic
guyfromjerzee26 June 2005
I'm really glad this movie was able to find its audience on video, because it deserves recognition. This is a damn good film! The unfortunate thing about a movie like "PCU" is that the "Animal House" comparisons are inevitable. But there's no point in comparing. "PCU" stands on its own two feet. "Animal House" is one take on college fraternities and "PCU" is another. It's like comparing "The Naked Gun" to "In the Heat of the Night," because they're both about cops. The characters and plot in this movie are in no way derivative of "Animal House." Jeremy Piven was a great choice for the lead. I've always been a fan of his, but he always gets stuck with supporting roles. In this case, he proves that he has the confidence to carry a lead role. His laid-back sense of humor makes the jokes all-the-more hilarious. I'm often more appreciative of comic actors who don't try to hammer a joke to death with mugging and wacky inflections. Piven delivers a joke the way it's supposed to be delivered--in a straight fashion. We don't see enough of that nowadays. And I can say the same about most of the actors in the film, with maybe the exception of David Spade. He's the type of actor, who can either be sarcastically funny or sarcastically annoying. He doesn't exactly provide the film's funniest moments, but he plays a moderately small role and doesn't get much of a chance to do any annoying shtick.
In the DVD commentary, Jeremy Piven mentioned that the actors weren't allowed to improvise, and he was very disapproving of director Hart Bochner's choice to follow the script verbatim. Luckily, that didn't exactly hurt the film, since the actors were working with a solid script. The point is the movie doesn't look scripted. Whether or not they actually were, the actors seemed comfortable with the material and delivered every gag with great precision. Besides, when you let actors improvise too much, that can also hurt a film. I liked the "Rush Hour" movies, but at times it's so evident that Chris Tucker was stepping out of character to make the audience laugh that there were parts where I was taken out of the movie. I certainly can't complain too much, because the comic style of "PCU" had a uniqueness to it that really stood out for me. After watching Hart Bochner's extremely broad spoof, "High School High," I wasn't exactly sure he had a knack for directing comedy. But in this case, he proved me wrong. The gags here are nowhere near as broad, and it helps that the actors don't act like they're in a comedy. Plus, there are very few cheap shots. Very few jokes about bodily functions of genitalia. In other words, the humor had a certain intelligence--something I DEFINITELY can't say about most comedies nowadays. This is not one of those comedies aimed at a teen to young adult audience, where you're allowed to have an I.Q. of 10. As you can tell from the memorable quotes section, there are plenty of great lines. "You're gonna wear the T-shirt of the band you're gonna go see? Don't be that guy." By the way, that's the only line Jeremy was allowed to improvise, for all you trivia buffs. The most memorable gag, in my opinion, is the one involving the sign language interpreter, who has to translate phrases like "butt pirate" and "pillow biter." No one can deny that gag was classic.
Another way cool thing about this movie: the gorgeous Megan Ward. I've never seen her look hotter. She has such a gorgeous girl-next-door look that when Chris Young's character got to kiss her, I felt his happiness. There's a great shot of her from behind, where she's wearing low-cut denim shorts. Very nice! So many elements of this movie just click. I loved the soundtrack too. The songs played over the opening and closing credits are both way cool, and plus you're treated to the great sounds of George Clinton during the film. It was an original idea to choose George Clinton, since you'd expect to see a hard rock or heavy metal band in a film of this sort. All in all, go see this overlooked gem of a movie! You won't be disappointed!
In the DVD commentary, Jeremy Piven mentioned that the actors weren't allowed to improvise, and he was very disapproving of director Hart Bochner's choice to follow the script verbatim. Luckily, that didn't exactly hurt the film, since the actors were working with a solid script. The point is the movie doesn't look scripted. Whether or not they actually were, the actors seemed comfortable with the material and delivered every gag with great precision. Besides, when you let actors improvise too much, that can also hurt a film. I liked the "Rush Hour" movies, but at times it's so evident that Chris Tucker was stepping out of character to make the audience laugh that there were parts where I was taken out of the movie. I certainly can't complain too much, because the comic style of "PCU" had a uniqueness to it that really stood out for me. After watching Hart Bochner's extremely broad spoof, "High School High," I wasn't exactly sure he had a knack for directing comedy. But in this case, he proved me wrong. The gags here are nowhere near as broad, and it helps that the actors don't act like they're in a comedy. Plus, there are very few cheap shots. Very few jokes about bodily functions of genitalia. In other words, the humor had a certain intelligence--something I DEFINITELY can't say about most comedies nowadays. This is not one of those comedies aimed at a teen to young adult audience, where you're allowed to have an I.Q. of 10. As you can tell from the memorable quotes section, there are plenty of great lines. "You're gonna wear the T-shirt of the band you're gonna go see? Don't be that guy." By the way, that's the only line Jeremy was allowed to improvise, for all you trivia buffs. The most memorable gag, in my opinion, is the one involving the sign language interpreter, who has to translate phrases like "butt pirate" and "pillow biter." No one can deny that gag was classic.
Another way cool thing about this movie: the gorgeous Megan Ward. I've never seen her look hotter. She has such a gorgeous girl-next-door look that when Chris Young's character got to kiss her, I felt his happiness. There's a great shot of her from behind, where she's wearing low-cut denim shorts. Very nice! So many elements of this movie just click. I loved the soundtrack too. The songs played over the opening and closing credits are both way cool, and plus you're treated to the great sounds of George Clinton during the film. It was an original idea to choose George Clinton, since you'd expect to see a hard rock or heavy metal band in a film of this sort. All in all, go see this overlooked gem of a movie! You won't be disappointed!
Classic movie that captures the time
Nate-4830 January 2019
This is a near great movie that perfectly captures a time and place where AIDS was at the forefront of everybody's minds, grunge had revolutionized society overnight, feminism was taking it's place on campuses. Political correctness was growing and segregating campuses. There was a resurgence in pot use and a new love affair with hippie culture. In many ways this film predicted a lot of what would eventually happen to campuses and society 25 years later. It's scary to think it's been 25 years already.
The star of the show is Jeremy Piven. David Spade is also good and this is one of Favreau's earliest roles. There are some great witty lines here. Those of a different generation may not get it though I think a lot of today's younger generation will be able to relate.
Predicted the Future
evan_lassi7 January 2021
I loved this movie growing up! I was in my teens and couldn't wait to get to college!
I thought the group's were funny but now 20+ years later and it's scary how accurate this movie is to the way the US is now! So many different groups of people complaining or protesting about something
I thought the group's were funny but now 20+ years later and it's scary how accurate this movie is to the way the US is now! So many different groups of people complaining or protesting about something
Perfect 90s PC culture before it morphed into the Insanity we have today.
marcintn8 January 2020
I have always loved this movie. It captured a time when "politically correct" was becoming a watchword and a culture. Looking back, the protesters look tame and quaint compared to what we have on campuses today. Jeremy Piven is the obvious standout as the leader of The Pit, a decidedly Un-PC group on campus who just wants to have fun in a place where everyone is offended by everything.
Everyone involved is amazing and the film is endlessly quotable. It's not Animal House and it's not trying to be.
After loving it for years, I bought the DVD and listened to the commentary. Director Hart Bochner comes off as a guy who just wanted to make a good film, and I think he succeeded.
Jeremy Piven on the other hand, comes off as an arrogant prima donna who endlessly brings up how, "If only I'd been allowed to improvise my entire dialogue, this film would have succeeded."
Given some public statements he's made since then, like John Cusack wouldn't have had a career if it hadn't been for him, my opinion of Piven as a person is low. Despite that, he really does turn in a signature perform in this film.
It doesn't take itself seriously and you should go into it just wanting to be entertained. It's a nostalgic trip for those of us who were teens/twenties in the 90s, like Airheads, SFW, or Singles.
Surprisingly funny "toga" comedy
funkyfry28 October 2002
Funny college comedy in the "Animal House" vein, with Piven out to save his dorm from being turned over to the young Republican legion led by David Spade. The film's gimmick has the school's last party dorm constantly under attack by women's libbers, radical black nationalists and vegetarians (who get raw meat dumped on them in the film's opening scenes, sure to weed out anybody who really shouldn't see this movie anyway). Above average laughs and sincerity for this kind of fare.
I liked seeing George Clinton in the film, too; I'm a big fan so I'm sort of biased, but I thought he and the guys and gals of P-Funk brought a lot to the film. In fact, several young people (I'm 27 myself, all you old Maggotheads) have told me they first heard of Parliament Funkadelic from this movie. That's great, but I sure wish they'd picked something better than that insipid "jump jump" song they used.
I liked seeing George Clinton in the film, too; I'm a big fan so I'm sort of biased, but I thought he and the guys and gals of P-Funk brought a lot to the film. In fact, several young people (I'm 27 myself, all you old Maggotheads) have told me they first heard of Parliament Funkadelic from this movie. That's great, but I sure wish they'd picked something better than that insipid "jump jump" song they used.
Excellent College Movie
clavalon31 December 2006
One of the best attempts at recreating the legendary iconography that is Animal House. This movie is full of quotable quotes and less than known actors at the time. Check it out if only for Jeremy Piven, Jon Favreau and Jake Busey in an amusing cameo as a stoner/ultimate Frisbee player. Favreau and Piven's interaction recalls old comedy schtick but in a very endearing way. The appearance of George Clinton makes the movie worth watching if only for the party scene. And if you didn't already think the soundtrack to hell was going to be Starland Vocal Band here in lies a scene to convince you otherwise. David Spade should not be overlooked in his role as a preppy frat boy wanna-be and his rant about all of the PC sects at the end of the movie is completely priceless. This movie though much overlooked is a cult classic and should be well recognized in the pantheon of college themed flicks.
A very funny college comedy.
Hey_Sweden31 August 2013
As far as homages to / imitations of "Animal House" go, this has to rank as a pretty good one. It's got good characters, some amusing dialogue, decent satire of special interest groups, and a cool soundtrack. Its pacing is acceptable, its running time brief (81 minutes in total), and its spirit irresistible.
Marking a rare directorial effort by actor Hart Bochner (who's best known as weaselly executive Ellis in the action classic "Die Hard"), "PCU" features Chris Young as Tom Lawrence, a clean cut, wide eyed "normal" sort of guy who is checking out Port Chester University to see if he'd like to go there in the fall. He gets caught up in the fervor of various "politically correct" activists, as well as the activities of the wacky guys and gals of The Pit, a student group known for their nonconformity.
As you may guess from that running time, there's really not that much story here, but there are enough laughs to keep the movie watchable. Jeremy Piven contributes a charismatic star turn as "Droz", leader of The Pit. Megan Ward and Sarah Trigger supply appealing love interests for Young and Piven. Jessica Walter does fine as an easier-on-the-eyes version of Dean Vernon Wormer. David Spade is extremely well cast as the snooty and smarmy preppie McPherson. There are also engaging performances by actor / director Jon Favreau and Alex Desert. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic further spice things up with their appearance. The climactic party shows how sometimes people just need to lighten up and enjoy life a little more.
With its well defined protagonists and antagonists, the end is appropriately satisfying, and overall "PCU" provides solid entertainment to those just looking to have a good time.
Seven out of 10.
Marking a rare directorial effort by actor Hart Bochner (who's best known as weaselly executive Ellis in the action classic "Die Hard"), "PCU" features Chris Young as Tom Lawrence, a clean cut, wide eyed "normal" sort of guy who is checking out Port Chester University to see if he'd like to go there in the fall. He gets caught up in the fervor of various "politically correct" activists, as well as the activities of the wacky guys and gals of The Pit, a student group known for their nonconformity.
As you may guess from that running time, there's really not that much story here, but there are enough laughs to keep the movie watchable. Jeremy Piven contributes a charismatic star turn as "Droz", leader of The Pit. Megan Ward and Sarah Trigger supply appealing love interests for Young and Piven. Jessica Walter does fine as an easier-on-the-eyes version of Dean Vernon Wormer. David Spade is extremely well cast as the snooty and smarmy preppie McPherson. There are also engaging performances by actor / director Jon Favreau and Alex Desert. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic further spice things up with their appearance. The climactic party shows how sometimes people just need to lighten up and enjoy life a little more.
With its well defined protagonists and antagonists, the end is appropriately satisfying, and overall "PCU" provides solid entertainment to those just looking to have a good time.
Seven out of 10.
Missed opportunity
sychonic5 October 2000
Of anyone worthy of hilarious ridicule, it's those wacky PC types who take themselves painfully seriously about whatever fill in the blank issue they have--meat is murder, save the whales, wimmin or wymen or wymyn or whatever they are. And of course even worse the tradition of the hostile faculty and administration of the modern American University--they need a good kegger to clean out the uptight.
But the movie can't bring itself to follow through, and in fact, actually caves in at the end and becomes PC itself. The bad guys end up being the demonic frat boys in Blue Blazers and Khakis led by nerd extraordinaire David Spade--the absolute least PC group on campus, and hilariously exiled to a hideout basement, like the underground during the Nazi regime.
Too bad--Animal House was unsparing in it's seventies skewering of stodgy tradition minded academics (though it takes place in the early sixties). PCU obviously was inspired by that movie and could have transposed the idea to skewer the PC uber alles thought police--it should have learned something and followed through on the great premise.
But the movie can't bring itself to follow through, and in fact, actually caves in at the end and becomes PC itself. The bad guys end up being the demonic frat boys in Blue Blazers and Khakis led by nerd extraordinaire David Spade--the absolute least PC group on campus, and hilariously exiled to a hideout basement, like the underground during the Nazi regime.
Too bad--Animal House was unsparing in it's seventies skewering of stodgy tradition minded academics (though it takes place in the early sixties). PCU obviously was inspired by that movie and could have transposed the idea to skewer the PC uber alles thought police--it should have learned something and followed through on the great premise.
Excercise in annoyance
iamsethh21 December 1999
My God this movie is awful! Next to Mr. Holland's Opus, this is the worst movie I have ever seen. There is just not a funny line in the entire movie - but they try so hard, and that just makes it annoying. You can imagine a bunch of frat boys sitting around watching this and thinking it's entertainment. The only thing that could have made this movie more annoying is to put Bob Saget, Pauley Shore, and Adam Sandler in it, and give it a country music sound track.
One of the funniest college comedy movies ever!
cslintner19 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This movie has so many lines in it that I still love to quote after all these years. Most of them make people who haven't seen it turn their heads. Quotes like "We're NOT gonna protest!" or "Can you blow me where the pampers is?" (Followed by "Can you show me where the campus is?") or "Gutter is a Tool!" are really funny when well used around the right people. I laughed throughout this movie. The scenes with Gutter are hilarious!; from the problems getting beer to accidentally bringing back George Clinton to the frat house, to the attempt to people surf during the party at the end. Droz has his moments as well. I think the "We're not gonna protest" speech at the end of the movie was the highpoint of the movie. I think this movie deserves a much better overall rating.
It Keeps Calling Me Back
MCL11506 April 2007
I must have watched PCU over two dozen times back in the late 90s when Comedy Central was running it to death. Absolutely the kind of film I would NEVER EVER think I'd like, but I watch it every time it's on. I developed a genuine affection for it. Why? I don't know. After all, it's 90% "Animal House" ripoff right to the core. The whole slob-house gang versus the useless administration and annoying rival Greek letter outfit. Instead of "Otis, My Man!" there's George Clinton and P-Funk. Instead of Otter, there's Droz, instead of John Belushi, there's "Gutter" and so on. I know this reads like I'm putting it down, but far from it. Any movie about college that features a student who's senior thesis is watching TV 24/7 just to prove that there's always a Gene Hackman or Michael Caine movie playing is OK with me! Very twisted! I'll never buy the DVD, but I will watch it anytime I happen to catch it on my cable.
Why Jeremy Piven, why?
jdernst4516 October 2006
I am a huge fan of both Jeremy Piven and Jon Favreau, so I figured this would be a pretty good movie. And had it been made about five or six years later, it might have been. I myself was too young to be attending college in the 90's, so the whole satire on political correctness wasn't as poignant for me, leaving the movie to stand on the strength of its comedy and acting and whatnot. Having no sentimental value to me, this movie was just horribly outdated and surprisingly poorly acted. I love these types of movies as much as anyone else, but this had some serious cheese factor going on. I found myself laughing more at how corny it was than the intended jokes. It had some funny moments, but they were just too few and far between to overcome the overall lameness of the movie as a whole
Worth it for the 90s feel
Sandcooler29 April 2012
"PCU" is the typical story of a movie that got slaughtered at the box office, but somehow still found an audience afterwards. It's not difficult to see why it didn't take of right away: it's really sort of a thinking man's college comedy. It utterly refuses to go down the usual gross-out route (it's a great route, but still), but instead tries to be a biting satire. Some of the stuff is pretty good (protesting against protests!), other stuff falls flat but you still appreciate the effort. The actors are sort of a mixed bag, but Jeremy Piven owns the movie with a charismatic performance as the token rebel. I'm assuming Megan Ward was also great, I was distracted by her intense 90s hotness. There aren't that many gags overall, but the brutal style of the thing definitely makes it stand out. "PCU" may not be the hidden gem of 90s comedies some have tried to make of it, but I'm happy it's still around.
Very Funny yet Sadly True
R.Dalton7 October 1999
I found PCU to be one of the funniest films I've ever seen. It really does speak the truth about the typical American mindset these days: Protest Everything. PCU is one of those films most critics would use a doormat, but I loved it anyway. Something to watch before deciding what college you want to go to.
I love this stupid film
Kumar-62 July 2003
A lot of people call this movie a third rate Animal House. I can't really argue with that assesment, but at the same time...I really, really love PCU. I watch it whenever it is on Comedy Central. I love the cast of the movie, I love the making fun of sacred cows like the PC movement of the mid 90's, I love that this movie gleefully embraces every cliche of the college comedy. I am a film student with film studenty tastes most of the time, but I really love this movie, and can't quite explain why.
Hilarious. Great Characters.
dbogosian25 August 2003
A shame this little gem didn't get the broad appeal of other movies that simply copy it or wimp out on the jokes. This is a movie that I can watch every year and always fully enjoy it.
The George Clinton song at the end truly rocks and may be the first true foray into GC's funk that most suburban under 21's see and hear.
I recommend this movie highly.
The George Clinton song at the end truly rocks and may be the first true foray into GC's funk that most suburban under 21's see and hear.
I recommend this movie highly.
Not your average college party...
SeptumSin22 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
OK this is something that I never expected which was to give this movie a 6 in rating. I was replacing my copy of Airheads but was only able to find a copy paired with this movie and to my dread needed to get it in order to get the movie I wanted and so I watched it...
PCU is about a nice young man going off to get a look at the college he wants to attend, little does he know that he'll have the whole school out for his head. At PCU all the students are protesting something and almost every one is against anyone or anything that they can think of at the moment. During this time our potential new student must look to try and help a failing frat house maintain it's stance on campus.
Well you know I typically look at this movie...and the fact that David Spade is in it, and say..."ugh, another Animal House ripoff" I was surprised to find the movie being fairly amusing. The protesters for nearly everything concept was very entertaining and a little bit on the original side though I'm not sure about how original it is. The dumping meat on the vegan protest cracked me up good. Jeremy Piven plays the usual man with the plan college student who manages to be on top of everything and pretty much at that point the acting is at it's highest level. It's not really any major piece of art but at the same time it is still entertaining.
If you have $5 to spend you can find the Airheads PCU combination and I can safely say that PCU is not a detriment to the package.
PCU is about a nice young man going off to get a look at the college he wants to attend, little does he know that he'll have the whole school out for his head. At PCU all the students are protesting something and almost every one is against anyone or anything that they can think of at the moment. During this time our potential new student must look to try and help a failing frat house maintain it's stance on campus.
Well you know I typically look at this movie...and the fact that David Spade is in it, and say..."ugh, another Animal House ripoff" I was surprised to find the movie being fairly amusing. The protesters for nearly everything concept was very entertaining and a little bit on the original side though I'm not sure about how original it is. The dumping meat on the vegan protest cracked me up good. Jeremy Piven plays the usual man with the plan college student who manages to be on top of everything and pretty much at that point the acting is at it's highest level. It's not really any major piece of art but at the same time it is still entertaining.
If you have $5 to spend you can find the Airheads PCU combination and I can safely say that PCU is not a detriment to the package.
College Classic. It's funny, it's entertaining, it's social
Crackphu17 September 2000
For anyone who has attended a liberal arts college in the last 10 years, this film is for you. While I find it very cool that the Wesleyan College people take credit for the film (in the same way that Dartmouth folk take pride in their own "Animal House"), I don't think you needed to have attended that school to identify with this one. The wymynists, the stoners (playing "disc"), and the overzealous administration trying to rid the campus of any semblance of tradition or spirit are unfortunate but all too common themes on campuses across this country both large and small. The situations about the social, academic and the extracurricular were all right on. Very funny movie.
But this film is much more than a spoof commentary on today's PCUs. It's an entertaining film. It's just plain funny. Come on, who didn't know someone in college trying to prove a thesis as ridiculous as the Caine-Hackman theory? I went to an Ivy League school and there was the urban myth about the guy writing the thesis explaining why the bubbles in a 12-ounce plastic cup of beer always form the same circle formation at the top of the cup.
David Spade was great. Jeremy Piven and John Favreau were excellent before they were famous people. Overall, an awesome movie. And by the way, to anyone who makes comments like: this wasn't a funny movie and would only appeal to "frat boys": they made this movie because of people like you. To everyone else, take this movie for what it was, a satire and a good one at that.
But this film is much more than a spoof commentary on today's PCUs. It's an entertaining film. It's just plain funny. Come on, who didn't know someone in college trying to prove a thesis as ridiculous as the Caine-Hackman theory? I went to an Ivy League school and there was the urban myth about the guy writing the thesis explaining why the bubbles in a 12-ounce plastic cup of beer always form the same circle formation at the top of the cup.
David Spade was great. Jeremy Piven and John Favreau were excellent before they were famous people. Overall, an awesome movie. And by the way, to anyone who makes comments like: this wasn't a funny movie and would only appeal to "frat boys": they made this movie because of people like you. To everyone else, take this movie for what it was, a satire and a good one at that.
Tonight, At the Pit, Everyone Gets Laid
JakeRfilmfreak2 December 2023
PCU is a 1994 comedy about a group of college underachievers and the mischief they get into on campus. But when they learn that they are about to get kicked out of their house they attempt to pull off the most outrageous party ever to try and stop it.
This movie is kind of absurd and silly, but it's one of the funniest films from the 1990's. It has a great cast of actors before they were well known, and some very funny memorable moments and dialogue. The pit lead by Droz (Jeremy Piven) will keep you laughing through the whole movie. This is a film with crude humor that just screams at you to have a good time.
If you enjoy this type of comedy, then there is no reason that you shouldn't be entertained.
This movie is kind of absurd and silly, but it's one of the funniest films from the 1990's. It has a great cast of actors before they were well known, and some very funny memorable moments and dialogue. The pit lead by Droz (Jeremy Piven) will keep you laughing through the whole movie. This is a film with crude humor that just screams at you to have a good time.
If you enjoy this type of comedy, then there is no reason that you shouldn't be entertained.
Not Animal House, Not Even Close
Tiger_Mark30 July 2003
Good talent assembled here. Spade is at the top of his game. Piven is very natural and Favreau is strong as usual. However, the film as a whole tends to disappoint. It just tries too hard to be the "Animal House" for a new generation. The problem is there is no real story, at least not one that you care about. Coupled with this is way too many weaker actors getting way too much camera time. Spade disappears for way too long, when he is obviously carrying the film. Moreover, there is also a lack of affection for the characters here. Oh yeah, it was meant to be a stinging indictment on "political correctness" run amok. The problem is that the main characters, the supposed good guys, are a bunch of jerks that are simply trying to be cool. They are not cool! You will laugh at some scenes, laugh hard. However, then you will see five minutes of garbage that is just lame. Could have been a lasting movie, well, no, probably not.
Let's protest against protesting
The-Sarkologist19 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Upon first hearing of this movie my initial thoughts were "not another sex-romp comedy in the vein of Animal House." Well, I guess once again I was wrong. My friend said that this movie is very close to what campus life is like in the 1990's. Having sat through numerous 1980's sex romp comedies, such as Revenge of the Nerds and Fraternity Vacation, I was not to keen on seeing it again. Upon seeing this movie I realised that the sex romp comedy has gone out of fashion now and college comedies are not going to be as stereotypical as they previously were.
My friend's comment about PCU Pit Party being an accurate rendition of 90's campus life is pretty correct. One of the major differences between Australian Universities and American Universities is that in Australia our students do not live on campus (or they at least don't in Adelaide University, and I believe that is the same across Australia). This is probably because Australia is a very urbanised nation and those who go to university generally live in the city surrounding it, though this is not always the case. My friend who recommended this movie to me lived for a year in a college and his parents lived in the city as well.
A pre-fresh comes to Port Chester University (PCU) just before the year ends so that he may see what campus life is like. He has been assigned to the pit, a very run down boarding house were all of the politically incorrect live. While he is there he manages to anger the protesters, the militant Negroes, and all of the students who are frantically typing out their thesis's to meet the Monday deadline, but this isn't the plot of the movie. The Pit, being where all of the people who snub political correctness live, are offending a lot of people and the president of the University wants them out so that some preps might move in. Thus they must first raise $7000 to pay their damage bill and then get rid of the president so that they might remain where they live.
The main thrust of this movie is an attack at political correctness. The title, PCU, seems to even bring out this theme. This movie is said to be a 90's version of Animal House, and the big thing in the 90's is political correctness. I guess the thrust of this movie is that political correctness can be very bad when taken to the extreme. Here we are not looking at insulting Negroes or removing gay rights, but rather making a mockery of how far some of the rabid feminists take it. The movie seems to use the word person in a way where it goes from being politically correct to being stupid.
There are two main antagonists in this movie, the preppies (bascially rich kids), and the womanists. There are also the protesters who basically protest about anything and really do not have any true cause, but they are more comical than anything else. In fact I guess the womanists are comical in a way, but they are rabidly anti-male, and this is taken to the extreme as there is no real reason behind their cause. It is interesting when one of them discovers that males are not all that bad because if you actually be friendly to them then they will give things to you. The other thing is their protest at the "penis party", claiming that it is a symbol of male oppression. The advertisement that they did not like was "everybody gets laid at the Pit". The ironic thing is that not only is the band called "Everybody gets Laid", but the name was thought up by a woman.
The final thing we see is the stupidity of all of this protesting. The speech at the end, which is typical of such movies, has the main character plead to the students to put their differences behind them and to protest against the establishment. In the end this movie is an attack against the establishment and it points towards the establishment for creating the whole idea of political correctness to create dissension among the masses. While the masses are fighting over their own individual rights, the establishment - as portrayed by the preppies and the president, are able to work their wicked schemes. I guess in the end the theme of this movie is that political correctness has its place, but one can go overboard in applying it.
My friend's comment about PCU Pit Party being an accurate rendition of 90's campus life is pretty correct. One of the major differences between Australian Universities and American Universities is that in Australia our students do not live on campus (or they at least don't in Adelaide University, and I believe that is the same across Australia). This is probably because Australia is a very urbanised nation and those who go to university generally live in the city surrounding it, though this is not always the case. My friend who recommended this movie to me lived for a year in a college and his parents lived in the city as well.
A pre-fresh comes to Port Chester University (PCU) just before the year ends so that he may see what campus life is like. He has been assigned to the pit, a very run down boarding house were all of the politically incorrect live. While he is there he manages to anger the protesters, the militant Negroes, and all of the students who are frantically typing out their thesis's to meet the Monday deadline, but this isn't the plot of the movie. The Pit, being where all of the people who snub political correctness live, are offending a lot of people and the president of the University wants them out so that some preps might move in. Thus they must first raise $7000 to pay their damage bill and then get rid of the president so that they might remain where they live.
The main thrust of this movie is an attack at political correctness. The title, PCU, seems to even bring out this theme. This movie is said to be a 90's version of Animal House, and the big thing in the 90's is political correctness. I guess the thrust of this movie is that political correctness can be very bad when taken to the extreme. Here we are not looking at insulting Negroes or removing gay rights, but rather making a mockery of how far some of the rabid feminists take it. The movie seems to use the word person in a way where it goes from being politically correct to being stupid.
There are two main antagonists in this movie, the preppies (bascially rich kids), and the womanists. There are also the protesters who basically protest about anything and really do not have any true cause, but they are more comical than anything else. In fact I guess the womanists are comical in a way, but they are rabidly anti-male, and this is taken to the extreme as there is no real reason behind their cause. It is interesting when one of them discovers that males are not all that bad because if you actually be friendly to them then they will give things to you. The other thing is their protest at the "penis party", claiming that it is a symbol of male oppression. The advertisement that they did not like was "everybody gets laid at the Pit". The ironic thing is that not only is the band called "Everybody gets Laid", but the name was thought up by a woman.
The final thing we see is the stupidity of all of this protesting. The speech at the end, which is typical of such movies, has the main character plead to the students to put their differences behind them and to protest against the establishment. In the end this movie is an attack against the establishment and it points towards the establishment for creating the whole idea of political correctness to create dissension among the masses. While the masses are fighting over their own individual rights, the establishment - as portrayed by the preppies and the president, are able to work their wicked schemes. I guess in the end the theme of this movie is that political correctness has its place, but one can go overboard in applying it.
Good film, but it dies in the ending
mm-3911 September 2002
Most College movies can be described as lame or stupid. This is one of the few that stays out of these two categories. This film starts out stong, and for the 90's I give credit for handling real life taboos of drugs, drinking, student radicals, and eating meat. Crap goes on all the time, but when I was in University in the 90's the radical fringe made the place more like a jail than a learning establishment. Being resented for your background, or life style of wearing leather, eating read meat, and drinking beer. I never could understand why everyone else has to live their way, and why they have too name call and shout all the time. (Sometimes, I found some of the students turn the place into a kindergarten.) (EQ vs IQ) Anyway, this movie is a protest to the PC establishment, and is funny. When one pokes fun at another, and these PCers can not take a joke; you get the huge reaction that the prankster wants. The problem with the last quarter, unlike Animal House, the movie wimps out, instead of having one very big prank at the ending. 6/10
Don't believe the hype!
kirwin12 February 1999
This movie is really bad. Trust me. It's a movie which wants to be Animal House in the 90's or maybe Revenge of the Nerds, except with slacker idiots instead, but really... I can honestly say that this is the worst movie I've seen in several years. The producers somehow thought that taking a bunch of bad stereotypes and wrapping them around a pitiful excuse for a plot would make some sort of social satire about the modern college. Frankly, there's nothing worse than failed social satire. It's not believeable, on target, or humorous. I was watching the movie at home, on TV, and I walked out on it.
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