The Under Achievers (1987)

Comedy about a bunch of misfits in a class together.

Director:

Jackie Kong

Writers:

Jackie Kong, Tony Rosato (screenplay)

Stars:

Edward Albert, Barbara Carrera, Michael Pataki

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward Albert	...	Danny Warren
Barbara Carrera	...	Katherine
Michael Pataki	...	Murphy
Vic Tayback	...	Coach
Mark Blankfield	...	Kline
James Van Patten	...	Todd (as Jimmy Van Patten)
Susan Tyrrell	...	Mrs. Grant
Garrett Morris	...	Dummont
Jesse Aragon	...	Carlos
Fox Harris	...	Margrave
Lee Arenberg	...	Joey
Monte Landis	...	Carruthers
Judd Omen	...	Corbin
Burton Gilliam	...	Red
Jewel Shepard	...	Sci-Fi Teacher

Storyline

AtJefferson Hawthorne college all under achievers are accepted in the evening classes. Mafia molls, illegal immigrants, paroled convicts, and naive citizens from the same neighborhood find themselves attending classes on winery, aquatic ballet and jewel design.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | punched in the face | female stockinged foot | catfight | footsie under the table | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Night School

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lightning Pictures, PMS Filmworks

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

Special Thanks To: [..] No Thanks To: Jughead, Cokehead, Bumblebee, and the Dork (and you know who you are...)

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Soundtracks

TIME TO PARTY TO THE RHYTHM
Written and Performed by Gisela Herrera

User Reviews

great movie to watch...with ALCOHOL!

It's almost required to be a little liquored up to watch this 80's trash movie. Director Jackie Kong takes us on a bizarre trip to...night school? Teaching unusual subjects such as...underwater ballet for the elderly? Pottery? Taught by teachers who will work for free? Huh? The random, dream-like sequences almost plays out as a hideous joke, okay, very funny, where's the REAL movie were suppose to watch? That's not to say that this doesn't have a few laugh out loud moments, it does deliver those. However, I would safely assume over 60 percent of this dung is questionable nonsense...nonsense that fails to answer any questions. For example, the driver of the bus tells its inmates that they have a choice, they can go jail, or they can go to night school. It seems, after watching this, the better choice would have been to go to jail, because night school in this schlock is much, much worse! In Kongs defense, she hasn't had a good history at creating anything great to watch. 1983's The Being brought her directing skills to the map, and then there was 1985's Night Patrol ( I've already reviewed this one, check it out!), and then we have two released in the year 1987, Blood Diner ( Flesh used in take out? I think I'll pass.)....then this one, The Underachievers. Seems Kong flips back and forth, not knowing weather to do horror or comedy. For most, they'll find The Underachievers incredibly silly. As I said, it does have a few laugh out loud scenes ( You'll probably laugh at the same things I did.) And, let's just say, uh, ummm....it's been years since I watched this, and I'm still puzzled by the ending. You'll know what I'm talking about, if you decide to take this one in. It's your standard, low budget, 80's comedy, the jokes are hit and miss, and it sure doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not. If you're into serious comedies, pass this by, by all means. The plot is straight forward: A bunch of unpaid teachers are stuck teaching "dumb and dumber" college dolts without their consent due to a new state program in play. If the program succeeds, they'll do the program every year. The reluctant teachers, not wanting anything to do with the program, not wanting anything to do with teaching these clowns, go for the no brainer idea: MAKE THEM FAIL! It's elements of Police Academy, without the fun of Police Academy. Wow! Nobodys heard of this movie, HA HA HA!