Renaissance Man

Let me start off by saying that this movie is miss-marketed as a comedy. As a comedy, this movie is, at best, mediocre. Sure, there are some funny moments, but it isn't nearly as hilarious as it claims to be. However, what this movie lacks in comedy, it makes up for with it's other qualities. This is a warm, fuzzy, feel-good movie with a lot of wisdom in it. The character development is excellent and we really get to like the characters. The bond between DeVito and his students is strong. This movie is very touching, with a few funny moments in-between. Sure, there are some corny scenes (the rap scene) but hey, every teacher has their own way of making their students understand their material, right? I would recommend this movie, although not as a comedy.

Army recruits categorized as, shall we say, neither the best nor brightest, but they somehow get turned on when reluctant teacher DeVito reads Shakespeare's Hamlet to them and it hits a chord. The high point of the film is reached when one of those recites on command his "irrelevant" Shakespeare on a rainy night's drill to Sergeant Gregory Hines and finds in his memory from "Henry V" (with lead-in not at hand) "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me, Shall be my brother." This is a truly nice movie, about heroes but not about touting war. At a later point, my usually stoic wife shed some tears. Danny De Vito is surprising to me. He generally leaps over my expectations, no matter how far I raise them up.

This film is a very nice one. There are a few reasons for that. Danny de Vito (playing Bill Rago) is great and plays his role very enthusiast. De Vito's best scene is the one where he is in the office where he's going for a job. He totally does NOT want to be there because he's ashamed of being there. When he gets a teaching job offered, the look on his face,when he finds out he is supposed to teach soldiers in the army, is marvelous. All the other actors are playing (very) good, especially Gregory Hines as drill-instructor who wants Bill Rago gone. The few scenes Hines and De Vito share together are no less than hilarious, that's for sure.

The story is not as strong as the (sometimes) brilliant acting from the whole cast. To be honest, the story of Jim Burnstein is predictable and boring. Not only is the ending something you know 30 minutes before it's there, also the most important lines of the story are predictable and because of that boring. I can't spoil the movie, but let me tell you: For this film, Jim Burnstein wanted all happy things and endings, even when it's not appropriate.

If you have read Willliam Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' (a brilliant book, if I may say so) you'll enjoy this film a lot more.

If you like this motion picture you should also see 'Dead Poets Society' with Robin Williams.

"The choices you make dictate the life you lead. "To thine own self be true."

I remember first time I had watched Renaissance Man. I was twelve years old, I knew somewhat about the military, Shakespeare, and illiteracy so even though I was a little to dumb to understand what the movie was about it did peak my interest enough to revisit it a numerous amount of times since. I have to say this is Penny Marshal's most underrated film.

Bill Rago (Danny Devito) is a recently fired and divorced advertising agent who is given a job at a nearby Army Base by an unemployment agency. Rago, with no teaching degree and not wanting to be there, must find a way to help eight underachieving army recruits pass basic training. When the students become interested in a play Rago is reading he soon begins to explain why Hamlet is the greatest thing every written.

As each of the eight students become interested in Hamlet, Mr. Rago becomes interested in them, helping the students become ideal candidates. Before the remaining students can graduate though they must pass Mr. Rago's test if they choose to take it. In the end Mr. Rago finds love and respect from his students, the drill instructors, his daughter and even a new woman.

Although Renaissance Man is not a popular film I guarantee you it is a better and more dramatic film then those that followed (Major Payne, Sgt. Bilko). Danny Devito can do no wrong, this isn't the best character he's played but he certainly outshines the rest of the cast which includes Gregory Hines, James Remar, Stacey Dash, Kadeem Hardison and Marky Mark (Mark Wahlberg). The movie is wonderfully written by Jim Burnstein who's only other notable writing credit includes D3: The Mighty Ducks.

If you're in the mood to revisit a classic do yourself a favor and make it RENAISSANCE MAN. Trust me you'll like it.

This is a feel good movie, not very deep BUT well conceived, written and acted. DeVito is excellent as a failing marketing man being transformed into a thoughtful, caring army educator. As important is the film's excellent presentation and discussion of the works of Shakespeare.

No surprise, DeVito's self centered abrasiveness meets with antipathy. Army officers don't care. Convinced of their own worthlessness, DeVito's students are disinterested, at best. During the semester, DeVito, mellows, students learn enough to advance,and Army brass begins to appreciates the new teacher.

The best part of this film is not DeVito's or the student's redemption but the film's beguiling Shakespeare presentation. DeVito teaches the Bard with passion. The writers deliver illuminating, focused student dialog. As one who didn't "get" Shakespeare until seeing MacBeth a year after graduation. This movie was a better class than anything I took in high school or college.

Enjoy the film and the class.