"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!
Posted by TKO (Member # 1471) on :
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.
Posted by kevdugp73 (Member # 5978) on :
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.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
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 ]
Posted by Veronica Sawyer (Member # 2221) on :
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!
Posted by TKO (Member # 1471) on :
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.
Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
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???
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
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!
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
This thread 'made the grade'.
Shoot me.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
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!
Posted by Secret Admirer (Member # 3574) on :
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.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Alright, Lesson #1:
Preppy come lately..
Preppy come never..
Preppy forever!
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
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.
Posted by Secret Admirer (Member # 3574) on :
Hahaha, classic posts, Valley!
Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
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 ]
Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
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...
Posted by LoverswithCassie (Member # 7794) on :
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.
sexay song, sexay cover!
Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
hahah secret your a legend! Check the singlet top out on the left. Cant get away with that now can we?
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
Not so sure they got away with it then! There was a great deal of homoerotic imagery with Imagination!
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
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.
Posted by Secret Admirer (Member # 3574) on :
Another great movie with a Muffy in it.
Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
OH muffy. You hadnt seen rad or makin the grade - What are we gonna do with you huh? (SIGH)
Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
quote:Originally posted by oneyedwilly: OH muffy. You hadnt seen rad or makin the grade - What are we gonna do with you huh? (SIGH)
WEIRD SCIENCE????!!!! haha Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
LOL OK OKyou win LMAO i will now add myself to my own ignore list. You have shamed me muffy, happy now?
[ 31. July 2010, 09:32: Message edited by: oneyedwilly ]
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
i finally watched this movie and waited until afterwards to actually read this entire thread haha.
quote:Originally posted by Muffy Tepperman: Jona Lee's poutty voice bugged me.....she was pretty but her acting and that voice ehhhh........the fortune cookie scene was cute.
Muffy, i share your thoughts on Tracey 100%. i can see why the guys like her but man, she was boring.
Judd Nelson was awesome. part Bender, part preppy.
i cracked up at the fact that there was a character named Muffy and a character named Skip in this.. those 2 names seem to exist often in 80s movies and shows haha!
i loved the Coach! and actually the entire supporting cast was great....the guys, anyway. it was cool to see a lot of familiar faces in this one. i was glad i bought it.
it definitely made my top 5 80's college movies...Real Genius and Revenge Of The Nerds, and Back To School, also on that list!
i'm not a fan of the 'preppy' look, but the guys were pretty cute in pink polos. ha!
[ 18. April 2011, 08:01: Message edited by: Ronnie ]
Posted by JAY LEE (Member # 6345) on :
Jona Lee drags the movie down! Horrible casting. There were so many competent and way more appealing actresses in this period to chose from. I don't know how they ended up with her, but im sure a casting couch was involved Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
ha! Awesome you two.....i'm glad you watched it Ronnie. It took me almost a year to get people on my side about Jona hehehe
See guys in the 80s weren't afraid of pink polos and pink nail polish! Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
I enjoyed this movie, and it was good to see a bit of Bender in Eddie Keaton towards the start. I say that because I saw The Breakfast Club well and truly before this one.
The break dancing scene is classic and along with many other 80's movies, it is more than obvious it is a double.
I love the coach too because he is such a deviot, and definitely not the kind of guy you would want working at your institution or associating with your kids.
All in all, the movie could be a lot better but it was pretty good.
This movie actually made me realise that a story my friend told me once was actually true. He said when he was ten, him and his dad went to the states somewhere (not sure which state) and they stayed at a hotel, where he remembered witnessing these ducks coming down an elevator and then walking up a ramp and going into a fountain in the lobby. We were both severely intoxicated when he told me and I put it down to alcoholic drivel. Until I watched this movie I always thought The Peabody Ducks was a figment of his imagination.
I wish Tourista was made though. It is such a tease that it's not in existence.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
This is a fantastic movie!
Here´s a cool Making the Grade poster:
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Nice one.
Judd Nelson is so cool!
The movie poster should also read:
"When you're a 24 year old Rock'n Roller from the wrong side of the tracks....."
I can't talk though. I am 29 and still going to university.
[ 29. April 2011, 02:29: Message edited by: Bernie_Lomax ]
Posted by The Good Package (Member # 9492) on :
is that tom hanks on the poster as well?
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
No. It's Dana Olsen. He wrote the movie 'The Burbs' with Tom Hanks in it, and played a small role as a cop in it too. He played the real Palmer Woodrow in this movie.
I also just read that Dana was the blind man at the health club in a Seinfeld episode. It surely does not look like him though and seems much too old.
Posted by The Good Package (Member # 9492) on :
no thats rance howard, ron howards dad
Posted by The Good Package (Member # 9492) on :
unless there were two blind guys, which is possible new york is a big town
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
It's just something I read on wikipedia, but like I said it does not look like Dana Olsen as the guy in Seinfeld looks much too old.
Wikipedia is not a very credible source either I guess.
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!!! Love the "Prepper Forever" quote!! 
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