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Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

Summer School (1987)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

Shat on Entertainment

Film Reviews, 80s, Shermerhighschool, Sixteencandles, Movies, Tv & Film, Weirdscience, Breakfastclub, Vcr, Johnhughes, Vhs, 90s, Classicmovies

4.61.7K Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week on "Shat the Movies," we’re heading to Summer School (1987), where a laid-back gym teacher, played by Mark Harmon, ends up teaching a summer school class full of misfit students. Join us as we break down the movie’s fun blend of comedy, heart, and unforgettable characters. Whether you're a fan or a first-time viewer, get ready for a laugh-filled trip back to the '80s!

Plot Summary:
In the 1987 comedy Summer School, directed by Carl Reiner, Mark Harmon stars as Freddy Shoop, a laid-back high school gym teacher whose summer plans take an unexpected detour when he’s forced to teach remedial English to a class of underachieving misfits. Shoop, more interested in surfing and relaxing than academics, has no choice but to take the job if he wants to keep his tenure.

At first, Shoop struggles to connect with his students, a rowdy group of slackers, class clowns, and troublemakers, including the horror-obsessed duo Chainsaw (Dean Cameron) and Dave (Gary Riley), the pregnant teenager Rhonda (Shawnee Smith), and the shy but determined Denise (Kelly Jo Minter). With no real teaching experience, Shoop’s unconventional methods involve field trips, bribery, and an anything-goes approach to learning, which earns him the students’ loyalty but draws the ire of the school’s administration.

Meanwhile, Shoop finds himself drawn to Robin Bishop (Kirstie Alley), a fellow teacher who is far more dedicated to her job but amused by Shoop’s antics. As the summer progresses, Shoop begins to take his responsibilities more seriously, realizing that his students need more than just an easy ride to pass their exams. With their academic futures on the line, Shoop and his students must find a way to turn their laziness into success before the final test.

Summer School is a quintessential 80s comedy, blending humor, heart, and a cast of quirky characters into an underdog story that celebrates unconventional teaching and second chances. Join our podcast review as we revisit this feel-good comedy, discussing its humor, memorable moments, and whether its charm still resonates today.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

I was watching that scene where they were telling Anna Marie about Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

0:04.2

And I was like, shit, this is what it's like when I hear someone explain our podcast.

0:09.4

Like when someone introduces me, oh, yeah, he's got this podcast.

0:11.6

And they're telling somebody about it.

0:12.8

I'm like, oh, that's, yeah, that's us that we are Dave and Chainsaw.

0:17.4

We are.

0:19.0

Remember when we first met John McLean, our god picked him up from the plane and took him down

0:25.1

the nakutomi tower at the christmas party and the terrorists were over zealids but it was sweet

0:32.7

when they killed ellis and with a little left from Allen, John McClick, he dies.

0:39.2

Welcome back to chat, the movies, the podcast where we answer the question were the movies we love and we were growing up really that good.

0:45.0

You've ever caught yourself thinking, why don't they make movies like they used to?

0:48.2

Can you still remember spending your Friday night searching for the perfect movie rental blockbuster video?

0:51.9

Do you know what blockbuster video is?

0:54.1

If you answered yes, then this is the podcast for you.

0:56.7

I am one of your hosts, Gene Lyons,

0:58.8

and alongside me as my co-host, Big D. Dick Ebert.

1:01.7

Good evening.

1:02.5

And each week, we take a look back in time,

1:04.4

decided if our favorite films still hold up.

1:06.4

The movies we cover are chosen by you, the listeners,

1:08.4

who generously commission the films you love. If you like to see all the movies we have covered, we'll cover, want to choose one for yourself.

1:14.3

Please visit chatpod.com and have a look. At the end of each podcast, we'll provide you the audience with the number of wipes each movie take to get off your respective butts.

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