Class

Believe it or not, CLASS is the first feature film for the likes of Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, John Cusack, and Alan Ruck, all of whom have gone on to do a lot of good (and in my opinion, largely underrated) acting in numerous films. The beautiful and similarly prolific Virginia Madsen even has a bit part here in her second film. I can't think of any picture that was such a breeding ground for so many stars. As a bonus, Jaqueline Bisset has a leading role at the peak of her sultriness (although the sex scenes are relatively chaste and unrevealing).

While the plot is nothing to write home about, the dialog is well done, and the direction is pretty good. View this film if you are a fan of any or all of these brat-packers.

Uneven film at best, but does offer a nostalgic look at some of the pre-famous actors of the 1980's. Not a great plot, but one that will hold your interest due to the likeable characters involved. The ending is rather abrupt and makes one wonder if the director ran out of time, money, or both. Anyway, Ms Bisset is stunning in this role and very appealing. Enjoy!

This movie - one of many early 1980's movies used as vehicles for the likes of Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson and Matt Dillon - conveys many distinct qualities, which countless teen films of late seemingly lack.

What is immediately evident, is the way in which the director skillfully juxtapses the moody atmosphere with the hilarious antics of the Ivy League school boys. Regarding this movie from the point of view of intertextuality, a number of other texts immediately spring to mind: 'The Graduate', 'Animal House' and J.D. Salinger's 'Catcher in the Rye'. Lowe (The Outsiders, Youngblood, Oxford Blues), and McCarthy (St. Elmo's Fire, Mannequin, Catholic Boys) turn out meritable performances: one being the typically egotistical teenager(Lowe), and the other(McCarthy)conveyed as the naive, withdrawn 'new boy'. Jacqueline Bisset is, as always, aptly cast as the sultry seductress who, with an overbearing husband (Cliff Robertson) and a subsequent case of neurosis, seeks contentment in the shape of a teenage boy. Other striking performances come from - at the time, unknown actors - John Cusack and Alan Ruck.

'Class' is dark and moody at times, and the direction and setting conveys this aspect of the film aptly: the fight between Skip(Lowe) and Jonathan(McCarthy) takes place in the woods outside the school on a cold, grey afternoon during the fall. In contrast to this, there is the bright lights and bustle of New York City, where Jonathan embarks on a mission to apparently gain his manhood and 'save face' with the other students(here, there is that connection with the students in 'Catcher in the Rye' taking weekend trips to New York and the character 'Ackley' who is always boastful of his conquests with women). The film further depicts the antics of the school boys; for example, the incident at the neighboring girls' school and Jonathan's initiation on his first day. 'Class', like 'Oxford Blues', 'Youngblood', 'The Breakfast Club', 'Catholic Boys' and 'St. Elmo's Fire', to name but a few, is the quintessential movie for teenagers; it has depth and feeling, as well as displaying good comical dialogue.

This film is simply 'Class'.

Brats brought me here. I say that because without the 2024 documentary about the Brat Pack I would never have heard of this movie and I grew up in the 80's.

On the face of it Class is one of those all too common fish out of water movies in which a working class kid ends up at a posh university, and has to deal with fitting in.

However although it is made clear there is a class discrepancy between the two main characters, it is never discussed at any point in the movie. What instead we have is yet another one of those teenage guy makes it with a hot older woman movie. This was a very common 80's trope. The complication in this movie is the relationship that this older woman has to the two male leads.

This is a solid 6 out of 10, its entertaining enough to keep watching but not that memorable. This is probably why this isn't mention in the same breath as Ferris Bueller or Risky Business. Despite the Brat Pack member cast. Indeed you will realise that none of the characters are particularly strong or well written. There is nothing particularly taxing about watching this, aside from a few cringe moments. Its maybe a good nostalgia movie if you have seen it when it was released but there isn't much here for a younger audience. This is the kind of movie you rented from the video library when all the other stuff was out, based on the movie poster being suggestive of some hot older woman action. It doesn't quite deliver on that but none of these movies did.

I love the Brat Pack so any of the movies that they are in are a go for me, no matter how little ratings it got. I am drawn to it. There are so many favorites in this movie-Virginia Madsen, which I remember from Fire with Fire, another 80's flick, Alan Ruck, from Ferris Bueller, John Cusack, Andrew McCarthy, and Rob Lowe. All cool. I graduated 1988 so these are my kind of films!

I love the way McCarthy gets back at Lowe. God that is so funny!

Watch it if you get the chance!