Graduation flicks play back memories

Reviewed by Jon Fassnacht
Collegian Staff Writer

Graduation — four syllables able to provoke fear in the hearts of any college-loving student. The end of all-night parties, all-day hangovers, late-night pizza and the beginning of "adulthood."

Being the money-hungry machine that it is, Hollywood wouldn't dare pass on the chance to make a buck on one of the most important times in a person's life.

Many flicks have been made about this subject, ranging from the trials of fraternity brothers to post-graduation depression.

Watching movies about people in similar situations as you can always be relieving to the stress level.

So, grab a nice cup of hot cocoa, cuddle up with your diploma and check out these top-notch graduation flicks.

With Honors

For the most part, Joe Pesci makes two kinds of movies: mobster films where he plays a bratty, obscenity-spewing thug and really bad comedies.

This is one of the few exceptions.

In With Honors, Pesci plays Simon, a bum who stumbles upon a 100-page thesis owned by Monty, an arrogant Harvard scholar played by Brendan Fraser.

In order to reclaim ownership of his prized possession, Monty must succumb to all of Simon's whims. Beginning with a few things like food and new underwear, it gradually increases to a room in his house.

Along the way, something happens to Monty — he actually starts to care for Simon.

While talking to him, he finds that he's actually a very intelligent man who unfortunately made a few bad mistakes in his life.

Monty's outlook on life changes and he decides to start his thesis over again.

In the end, he is forced to choose between caring for the dying Simon or submitting his new thesis on time to graduate with honors, a goal of his since entering the university.

Pesci turns in a pretty solid performance as Simon, but by the hundredth "boy, oh boy," you're longing for a bit of Goodfellas.

The Graduate

Bar none, the greatest post-graduation movie ever made, not that there's much competition. Dustin Hoffman became a star because of his role as Benjamin Braddock, a recent Ivy League graduate with a bright future ahead of him.

Unfortunately, he's not interested in starting it quite yet. Within the next few months, his life starts unraveling in a bizarre string of events.

First, there's a fling with Mrs. Robinson, a 40-something friend of the family.

Next comes a fling with her daughter, followed by a trip out to her college to try to win her back after she finds out about the initial affair with her mother.

Finally, there's a successful disruption of her wedding, which leaves the two young lovers in a bus without the faintest idea of what they are going to do.

And you thought your future looked bleak.

National Lampoon's Animal House

The heavyweight champion of all college movies, Animal House differs from the rest due to the fact that its protagonists do anything possible not to graduate.

As many can attest, most of these scenes are extremely similar to reality.

In particular, shirts with the word "College" printed across the front and chants of "toga, toga" can be traced back to Animal House.

It also serves as a sad reminder of the talent lost when John Beluschi died.

He is truly remarkable as Bluto Blutarsky, a seventh-year senior with a 0.0 grade point average who steals every scene he's in.

Anyone who watches the movie will never be able to look at acoustic guitar-toting serenaders and mashed potatoes — or acne, for that matter — without cracking a smile.

One of the greatest and most popular comedies ever made, Animal House represents every college partyer's utopia.

Say Anything. . .

Yes, the final two choices deal with high school graduation, but the underlying theme is the same.

In Say Anything. . ., John Cusack plays Lloyd Dobler, a lovestruck hooligan after the heart of Diane Court (Ione Skye), the high school valedictorian heading to college in England on a scholarship.

Of course, her father disapproves of his attempts and forbids Lloyd and Diane to see each other.

This leads to one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history.

No words are spoken; Lloyd simply stands outside of Diane's house, holds his boombox over his head and blasts Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes."

If this scene doesn't affect you emotionally, you're a rock.

Dazed and Confused

Set in 1976, this movie is wholly responsible for giving a re-birth to such '70s classics as "Slow Ride" and "Low Rider."

Dazed spotlights the chaos that is the last day of school in Texas, ranging from freshman hazing to senior graduation.

Although the music and the clothes are different from what they are today, every student will be able to relate to at least one of the groups represented in the movie.

Released in 1993, the cast featured then-unknowns Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams and Matthew McConaughey.