A "pre-frosh" visits the campus of Port Chester University and soon becomes embroiled in the politics of college life between The Pit (the party house) and the politically correct factions, including the Cause-Heads, the Womynists, the Afrocentrists and other protest groups. It's an amusing premise for sure, but never quite reaches its satirical potential. Mainly, I find it a curiosity as to how much PC culture has changed in the intervening 30 years. This feels very, very tame compared to the madness that exists today. Weirdly, the most relatable character is played by David Spade, who is deemed the villain here. Ironically, the film lacks the conviction to lean into political incorrectness. Perhaps if it were R-rated, it would have more bite. Compared to classic college comedies like Animal House and Dead Man on Campus, it doesn't really hold up.
2 Caine-Hackman theories out of 5
4 comments:
DA FUQ?!?!?!? o_O
Sorry, mate. It was never really part of my rotation growing up, so it didn’t have that same nostalgic hold on me. First time I’m watching it in probably 25 years. This and Airheads held up better in my memory.
Doesn’t take anything away from your experience of it, I just wasn’t feeling it. 😕
I’ve been consistently watching it for pretty much the whole time from then ’til now. It was on tv pretty regularly until I was able to buy it. So, it’s not nostalgia, for me. I’m not running on memories. I mean, you’d expect me to have snapped over Doc’s Matrix reviews, but this makes sense to me, as PCU is pretty much a litmus test piece of media, for me. It’s informed so much of who I am. I feel that it’s so much more relevant now than it was when it was released. It feels so insanely prescient.
I know, my name ended up being Neg. It’s been that for a long time, but it is important to me to believe that people can make connections over things, in spite of the odds. PCU is the positive world view that lies beneath the grumpy-ass armor. The hope that people who seem to disagree so impossibly much, can come together over the important stuff. The deeper stuff. Genetically, our differences are accounted for by 1% of our genome.
Everyone can get down with George Clinton, if they try.
That was a gut reaction on my part, I acknowledge. Like I said, litmus test. That feeling that people who don’t get it, or appreciate it, or can’t get behind the message… But, in this case, the message is to not freak out and write people off. To not have litmus tests. Politicians have litmus tests.
Ergo, I kinda failed. But, I kinda didn’t, because I could have completely lost it. If I look at it in regards to how I’ve changed over the years, and how I used to be…Pretty happy with myself XD
I’ve definitely succeeded at genuinely taking it to heart, over the years, even if I popped off a small bit.
I do sincerely apologize, regardless.
Foundational stuff, for me. 1994 was a BIG year for media that has traveled with me, all this time.
No harm, no foul. If it helps, I felt bad while I was writing it and almost didn't post it. I also rewrote it about three times. I understood the message being conveyed, I just wish it leaned more into the parts I liked (i.e. the overcorrection of PC culture gone amok). I thought the first half hour or so was great.
I never thoughtlessly discard movies without fully considering all aspects of it; it just has to connect with me on some personal level (whether it's humor or message or heart). As we well know by now, these scores are all highly subjective and we tend to disagree more often than not. Perhaps if I had seen it on another day, I would have felt differently. It might also be the fact that I'm burnt out right now and running on fumes.
And I do think it's the repetition over the years that helps to cement one's opinions on a piece of art. The more times you watch something, the more it solidifies as a classic in your mind. I've had this happen to me with countless films I felt neutral or lukewarm about, which I eventually developed a newfound appreciation for (sometimes it goes the other way, as well).
Going back to the David Spade of it all, I really did feel for him in this movie. (If you're reading this, Doc, shield your eyes. Spoilers are ahead.) He was supposed to be part of Balls & Shaft, the Young Republicans movement, but even he seemed ostracized and out of place there. When they were doing their secret series of passwords to get in, he didn't care about any of it, he was just trying to bypass the system. Then they show a flashback of him as Droz's unlikely roommate, where he's basically attacked in his own bed by Droz while just trying to mind his own business. I don't know, he seems like a tragic figure to me and I was far more interested in his backstory than anything else going on.
Also, when he goes off on everyone at the end and drops a truth bomb, I thought it was so tame (likely watered down for PG-13), but it's basically in line with The Pit protesting the protestors or pelting vegans with raw meat. It just seems awfully convenient that it all works out for bully Droz but not poor Rand. (Speaking of two sides of the same coin...)
Anyway, no need to apologize. You explained your position well and I understand where you're coming from. We're all entitled to our opinions, after all, and it led to a larger conversation we might not have had otherwise. Let's just chalk it up to me having a bad day.
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