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Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas, Patrick Laborteaux, Courtney Thorne-Smith ... see more see more... , Dean Cameron , Gary Riley , Kelly Jo Minter , Ken Olandt , Shawnee Smith , Lillian Adams , Jack Blessing , Vivian Bonnell , Duane Davis , Lucy Lee Flippin , Leigh French , Courtney Gebhart , Richard S. Horvitz , Andrea Howard , Prince Hughes , Gary Imhoff , Christopher Kriesa , Carlos Lacamara , Michael MacRae , Frank McCarthy , Dee Dee Rescher , Tommy Ryan , Lora Staley , Beau Starr , Lynne Marie Stewart , Amy Stock-Poynton , Darwyn Swalve , Tom Troupe , Fabiana Udenio , Nels Van Patten , Gigi Vorgan , Laura Waterbury , Carl Reiner , Jeff Silverman , Terry Logan , Dottie Archibald , Conroy Gedeon , Robin Kaufman , John Stark

On the eve of his Hawaiian vacation, irresponsible high school teacher Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) is forced into teaching a summer-school class. His students are all malcontents and layabouts with the... read more read more... standard repertoire of teenaged hang-ups and hostilities (two of the kids, who can't see enough slasher movies to suit them, are hilarious precursors to Beavis and Butt-Head). Harmon would rather spend his time with history teacher Robin Bishop (Kirstie Alley), but she doesn't think much of his laziness and lack of dedication. Shoop finally begins to take his job seriously when he realizes his students' problems are not all of their own making. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

55% liked it

27,155 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

28 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Carl Reiner

Release Date: July 22, 1987

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DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004

Stats: 733 reviews

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Mark Harmon Summer School Summer School Summer School Freddy Shoop Summer School Summer School Summer School Summer School Summer School Summer School Summer School Summer School Summer School Richard Steven Horvitz
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Flixster Reviews (733)

  • LWOODS04
    April 17, 2012
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Robin Thomas, Patrick Labyorteaux, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Dean Cameron, Gary Riley, Kelly Jo Minter, Richard Steven Horvitz, Fabiana Udenio, Francis X. McCarthy, Tom Troupe, Lucy Lee Flippin, Ken Olandt, Shawnee Smith

    Director: Carl Reiner

    Sum... read moremary: When school lets out for the summer, gym teacher Freddy Shoop can't wait to hightail it to Hawaii with his girlfriend for a vacation. But when the teacher who's supposed to teach remedial English wins the lottery, Shoop gets roped into the job.

    My Thoughts: "One of my favorites from the 80's. It's funny, silly, and predictable. The character's are not that fascinating, but they're fun and so is the movie. The movie always puts me in a good mood after seeing it. It's a reminder of how simple a great teen comedy film use to be before it was all about sex and drugs. Just a simple fun film. See it if you haven't had the chance and if your a fan of 80's cinema like myself."
  • ajv2688
    May 17, 2011
    ajv2688
    Yes this is a silly, predictable, teen/romance/school comedy, but it's just so much fun, I couldn't resist it's charms. I guess what I really need is a sensitive, intelligent guy who can rollerskate. Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie, and I highly recommend it if you want to ... read moresee something funny and entertaining this summer.
  • LitelBluHli
    December 16, 2008
    LitelBluHli
    This is one of those movies that would come on tv once in a while. I always enjoyed it everytime too.
  • movieguru12
    August 12, 2008
    movieguru12
    FUNNY,AND IT HAS GOOD MESSAGES ABOUT NOT GIVING UP. THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME!!!! You also had to love Chainsaw and Dave. They were AWESOME!!!
  • sanjurosamurai
    November 23, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    classic about a guy who gets his zipper stuck in the bathroom and misses 6 weeks of school
  • superclerk25
    February 6, 2007
    superclerk25
    Funny comedy. Made going to summer school look like a good time.
  • mjgildea
    December 24, 2006
    mjgildea
    I think I watched this every day the summer of 87. Not as good as I remember but who cares?
  • threefolddado
    July 8, 2008
    threefolddado
    Plays out better than it sounds. Actually good fun.
  • agonzalez7000
    May 7, 2011
    agonzalez7000
    A little known, but great 80's movie with a good cast of well known people when they were really young (Mark Harmon, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Patrick Laborteaux). Good if your in the mood for a little nostalgia and some laughs.
  • jackass001
    February 6, 2011
    jackass001
    i finally saw this movie for the first time and it was very hilarious & funny. both character of the student named chainsaw (addict to horror movie) and dave are funniest teens with an fake horror special effect in the classroom the the greatest moment...and fake killer bunnies a... read morere hilarious too. before "NCIS" star mark harmon performance the funny "surfer" teacher of the english as mr. shoop. and also all of the mr. shoop's very best students are most wild and party. ann maria (but i didnt knew she was in first "austin powers") the foreign student look very sexy and also with bikini on at the beach. character phil gills who play by robin thomas but his face is exactly look like actor steve carell from "the office" and any of his movie.

    this movie is ROCK as hell!

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Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Mr. Harmon has an easygoing attractiveness, but neither he nor anyone else seems comfortable with the film's antic pace. And for all its busyness, this comedy has no real focus, ricocheting from chara... Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Here are some of Summer School's favorite things: idiocy, illiteracy, irresponsibility, drunkenness, dumbness and debauchery. Piqued? Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

The moral is a sweet one: If you try, you never fail. The world is graded on a curve. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A comedy so listless, leisurely and unspirited that it was an act of the will for me to care about it, even while I was watching it. Full Review

Clint Morris
October 26, 2008
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A comic delight... Harmon and Alley are great together

July 25, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Another failure in Harmon's attempt to move from TV to the big screen. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
May 15, 2007
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com

Summer School might lack a hipster razor edge, but its funnybone personality is larger than life. It's a film I adore for its purity of intentions. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
May 14, 2007
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic

Reiner keeps everything moving while letting Harmon do the heavy lifting as his young co-stars sprinkle the chuckles around. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

A bit bland compared to Reiner's Steve Martin comedies, but engagingly played. Full Review

Bob Bloom
October 19, 2004
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Cliches abound in this silly outing. Not the brightest moment for any of those involved.

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Facts

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    • Freddy Shoop: I'll be damned, you're a heterosexual.
    • Principal Kelban: And a damned good one.
    • Denise Green: Whatever that files says... its a lie.
    • Robin Bishop History Teacher: Do you all think you could concentrate on some obscene gestures once in a while?
    • Freddy Shoop: I'm going to Hawaii.
    • Mr. Dearadorian: Thats alright, these aren't real students.
    • Robin Bishop History Teacher: Why am I here, Oh, thumbtacks.
    • Robin Bishop History Teacher: I have seen some your students, very scarry.
    • Freddy Shoop: I noticed you're not wearing a wedding ring.
    • Freddy Shoop: I'm in love again. [after seeing Robin]
    • Jerome Watkins: I recommend this time... I pass.
    • Larry Kazamias: I'm at my sexual peak, once a man hits 18 it's all downhill from there.
    • Freddy Shoop: Yeah, and it's a hell of a ride.
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Summer School : Watch Free on TV

Summer School Trivia

  • Which 1987 movie has the following tagline: 'At Ocean Front High, what do they call a guy who cuts classes, hates homework, and lives for summer vacations? Teacher.'   Answer »
  • In which movie did a couple of seniors in High School try to dump a body off of an edge on The Fourth Of July, but then have the body come back to get them, killing each one, one by one?  Answer »
  • in which film did mark harmon play the role of a gym and english teacher  Answer »
  • Although I'm more famous for directing movies such as Summer School and All Of Me, I've also starred in 'Gidget Goes Hawaiian' and 'The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming!' Who am I?  Answer »
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