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Written by Mandroid3000
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HOW I GOT INTO COLLEGE
**1/2 out of *****
Genres
Comedy
High School
1989
Directed by
Savage Steve Holland
Written by
Terrel Seltzer
Cast
Anthony Edwards .... Kip Hammett
Corey Parker .... Marlon Browne
Lara Flynn Boyle .... Jessica Kailo
Finn Carter .... Nina Sachie
Charles Rocket .... Leo Whitman
The complex and absurd world of US college admissions is a ripe area for satire. How I Got Into College takes it on, and while it covers a lot of the areas it should, the result isn’t biting or savage enough to really pull it off. Imagine if your slightly above average high school or college comedy from the 80s had half an hour of jokes about college admissions merged into it, and you’ll get an idea of how this plays.
Marlon Browne (Corey Parker) is an aimless, none-too-bright high school senior. The only thing he’s really interested in is ace student Jessica Kailo (Lara Flynn Boyle). With no better post-high school plans, he decides to try and follow Jessica to the prestigious Ramsey College. The problem is that Marlon is not a good student, and under normal circumstances would never get near the campus. Luckily for him this is a movie.
At Ramsey, the bickering members of the admission’s board aren’t all on the same page policy-wise. Leo Whitman (Charles Rocket) wants to focus purely on a student Grade Point Average and SAT scores. Kip Hammett (Anthony Edwards) and Nina Sachie (Finn Carter) want to admit students taking their personal qualities. It’s pretty easy to guess which faction Marlon is relying on. Marlon manages, sort of unconvincingly to get Kip to pull for him on the admissions board. Marlon tells him he’s just following Jessica, and Kip says he’s heard worse reasons for wanting to go to Ramsey. It’s pretty weak, but there isn’t much other reason to admit him.
Jessica seems to be a shoe-in, but on the admission weekend she starts freaking out, believing she’s just a dime-a-dozen cheer-leader with above-average SATS, nothing special enough to make an impression. She blows the interview (though the interviewer doesn’t notice), and flashes her rack, (though the interviewer isn’t looking). She flees back home, and decides not to apply. Marlon, of course, goes back to change her mind since she’s the whole reason he’s going.
Mixed into this are subplots about recruiting a worthy African American student from a poor neighbourhood, the son of a wealthy alum, and a big football prospect. There are some nice gags, and an appearance from Booger from Revenge of the Nerds as a Bible College recruiter.
With all this material the issues seems to be well covered. But the movie doesn’t quite hit the bullseye. The film never veers too far into sentiment (though it has a lot of opportunities to), but it also couldn’t be classed as hilarious. The world of college admission is still waiting for its MASH.
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