"Making The Grade" is a movie that on the surface looks as bad as Judd Nelson's suit on his first day at Hoover Academy, but if you look deeper you find an 80's hidden gem in my opinion. This movie made me a fan of Jonna Lee and later lead me to find the Halloween classic "The Midnight Hour".
"Making The Grade" is worth watching even just to hear names like Palmer Woodrow, Muffy Newhouse, Bif Hamilton, and Tracey Hoover.
I love when Eddie and Tracey are sitting in the dark reading the fortune cookie .. especially Tracey's response.
My favorite character is still Coach Wordman though...with lines like "OMG...No, no, I'm not enrolled in this course, I'm only auditing."
Preppy for life?
"But Tracey I just bought the new Neil Diamond tape."
I realize not everyone is a fan of Andrew Dice Clay, but his character fits in great in "Making The Grade". And that John Travolta impersonation during the party was hilarious.
If you've never seen "Making The Grade" .. go find it!
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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TKO
Contains 0.2% of Rewind Riboflavin
Member # 1471
quote:If you've never seen "Making The Grade" .. go find it!
Guess that's easier said than done Valley. ;-)
Unfortunately I've never had the chance to watch this movie but I adore the (title?)song Living on the Edge by Shandi.
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kevdugp73
He's eating after dark again....
Member # 5978
posted
I got a copy of this about a month ago...fairly high on my priority list to watch...in fact...may try to watch it this weekend...I'll let you know what I think.
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
posted
Hey TKO! So cool that you stopped by.. as a fan of dance movies like myself.. hopefully you can get to see it someday. There is a hilarious scene in "Making The Grade" where Judd Nelson announces "Break Time!" and takes over the dance floor at a school dance with some wicked breakdancing moves..
And the Shandi tunes is awesome.. I love the Shandi tune "So Far Away" from "The Heavenly Kid" even better!
It is sad that "Making The Grade" is not easily available in the UK.. not that it is a stellar movie by any regard, but you can pick it up for only $3.98 through Nick's link to Amazon.com in the states.
The movie didn't do as well as expected on release and that is such a disappointment for Cindy Mancini who is always asking me when the sequel is coming out:
[ 23. April 2010, 06:45: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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posted
This is high on my list of movies to watch soon too...For anyone in the US that's looking for this on DVD, Amazon.com is currently selling it for $3.98!
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TKO
Contains 0.2% of Rewind Riboflavin
Member # 1471
posted
Valley, I didn't even realize it was available on dvd. At such a cheap price I will definitely order it through the link. Thanks for the tip.
As for the other Shandi song: So Far Away.. I like that one too. It has a bit of a 50's/60's feel to it. Another movie on my wanted-list btw.
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oneyedwilly
The Dread Pirate Rewind....
Member # 8730
posted
jonna lee was gorgous in this movie and i havnt seen her since this excellent movie.
love the song bodytalk in it. Its a gem and cant beleive its NOT on the rewind at all. Whats that all about???
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posted
This has always been one of my favorites, some buddies of mine quote some lines from it. Judd Nelson, Jonna lee, Diceman, it's all good!
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posted
This might be interesting to pettyfan.. Dana Olsen who played Palmer Woodrow in "Making The Grade" wrote the movie she still lists as her fav.. "The 'burbs". If you watch closely.. he has a small part as a cop in the movie as well.
And here's one for Veronica Sawyer.. you are currently at the evil empire picking up the "Teen Witch/Heavenly Kid" double feature DVD.. but did you know that Dorian Walker who directed "Making The Grade" also directed "Teen Witch"?
Kind of a weird connect the dots kind of day!
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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posted
This is one of my personal favorites. Palmer Woodrow is an idol of mine. When Frank Stallone's "Far From Over" comes on during the party scene, well, it solidifies this movie's greatness.
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
posted
And the Tracey Hoover scene I love with the fortune cookies ..
"Ohhhh Boooooy.. is this guy a dreamer or what?"
Almost like she was talking directly to me.
Oneyed.. that "Body Talk" tune by Imagination is awesome!
Secret Admirer.. let's hit the Dice Club later tonight.
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posted
jonna lee was sooooooo cute doing that fortune cookie scene and i love that little bit when she turns her head towards judd nelson on the couch before she kisses him but still has her eyes facing the guy leaving the room and has a little smerk on her face (as if to say, you know whats coming next)OMG - she was just heaven.
and i dont know any other actor who can swagger like judd nelson - hes just so cool.
Youve gotta love the opening 10 mins, swinging that golf club hitting the ground is just hilarious lmao and i think judds little dance routine might just be the best dance scene of that decade for me.
[ 25. April 2010, 01:35: Message edited by: oneyedwilly ]
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cindymancini
Selling underpants to geeks since 1984...
Member # 679
posted
Oh how I love this thread! Valley, you sure do go out of your way to make a good impression !!! Love the "Prepper Forever" quote!!
"You broke it! That suitcase was from Abercrombie's and you broke it!!"
"What's a Muffy?"
Making the Grade is such an unsung classic!! I always thought Jonna Lee was gorgeous! Wonder where she is now...
And for the record, I have the song "BodyTalk" by Imagination! Oh yeah...
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Lovers with Cassie
Remembering when Mel Gibson was young....
Member # 7794
quote:Originally posted by cindymancini: Oh how I love this thread! Valley, you sure do go out of your way to make a good impression !!! Love the "Prepper Forever" quote!!
"You broke it! That suitcase was from Abercrombie's and you broke it!!"
"What's a Muffy?"
Making the Grade is such an unsung classic!! I always thought Jonna Lee was gorgeous! Wonder where she is now...
And for the record, I have the song "BodyTalk" by Imagination! Oh yeah...
CindiMancini, according to Wikipedia, she is retired from acting and is living in Burbank, California and is working as an artist/sculptor.
She is married to one of her childhood sweethearts, Kevin Dennis, and they have two children.
posted
hahah secret your a legend! Check the singlet top out on the left. Cant get away with that now can we?
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posted
Not so sure they got away with it then! There was a great deal of homoerotic imagery with Imagination!
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Muffy Tepperman
Leopard-print Leotard Wearer.....
Member # 1551
posted
I just watched this for the first time i've had the vhs for forever and had tried to watch it and gave up i'm thinking I was in another universe or something ??? seriously!
It was great........the characters are what make the movie......I know alot of people are gonna kill me....but Jona Lee's poutty voice bugged me.....she was pretty but her acting and that voice ehhhh........the fortune cookie scene was cute.
Loved the Diceman, he looks so young..........and Judd's break dancing cracked me up.....shots of just his face then a complete different person dancing I laughed so hard at it's 80's greatness.........Valley did a good job at bringing up the great bits.
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posted
OH muffy. You hadnt seen rad or makin the grade - What are we gonna do with you huh? (SIGH)
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Muffy Tepperman
Leopard-print Leotard Wearer.....
Member # 1551
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!!! Love the "Prepper Forever" quote!! 
