Movie Review: Summer School (1987)

★★★★★

It’s the kind of movie you put on thinking you’ll just watch for a few minutes, and suddenly it’s two hours.

Vanessa M.

California

When people talk about 80s comedies, they often go straight to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Fast Times at Ridgemont High. But for me, Summer School (1987) deserves a spot in the conversation. Directed by Carl Reiner and starring Mark Harmon at peak charm, it’s a film that feels like an extended beach day, light, warm, and a little chaotic, yet it sneaks in moments of sincerity that make it stick with you.

As a reviewer for BoxReview.com, I’ve watched plenty of teen comedies, and most follow the same “party + romance + montage” formula. But Summer School stands out because it captures something a lot of school-based comedies miss: that strange, in-between feeling of being stuck somewhere you don’t want to be, but finding the right people to make it bearable.

The Premise: Detention by the Sea

The setup is deceptively simple. Mr. Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) is a laid-back PE teacher looking forward to a summer of surfing and leisure when he’s roped into teaching remedial English at a California high school. His class? A mix of goof-offs, misfits, and underachievers who’d rather be anywhere else. The plot isn’t built on high-stakes drama — instead, it’s about small victories, mutual respect, and a teacher learning as much from his students as they do from him.

It’s a low-pressure movie, and that’s part of its charm. The film never tries to overcomplicate itself; it’s just about people figuring out how to connect.

Mark Harmon’s Cool Teacher Energy

One thing most reviews overlook is just how perfectly Mark Harmon plays Shoop. He doesn’t try to be the inspirational, “stand-on-your-desk” teacher we see in films like Dead Poets Society. Shoop is a reluctant mentor who uses humor, empathy, and — let’s be honest — a fair amount of laziness to keep the class in line.

Harmon has that rare ability to make a character irresponsible and likable at the same time. Even when Shoop is clearly winging it, you root for him because his heart’s in the right place.

The Students: More Than Comic Relief

Most reviews remember the two horror movie fanatics, Chainsaw (Dean Cameron) and Dave (Gary Riley), because they dominate the film’s funniest moments. But what often gets overlooked is how well the film develops all the students.

You’ve got Denise (Kelly Jo Minter), struggling with dyslexia; Pam (Courtney Thorne-Smith), dealing with unrequited love; and Larry (Ken Olandt), juggling school with the responsibility of fatherhood. These subplots are light-touch but genuine, giving the characters more dimension than the average teen comedy sidekick.

The film doesn’t just make jokes about their flaws; it lets us see their progress, which makes the eventual exam scene surprisingly satisfying.

The Humor: Relaxed, Not Forced

Unlike a lot of 80s comedies that rely on crude gags or relentless one-liners, Summer School has a more easygoing comedic rhythm. The laughs often come from character interactions rather than punchlines.

One of my favorite low-key moments is Shoop’s series of bribes, offering field trips and absurd rewards just to keep the students mildly invested. It’s not high comedy, but it feels authentic to the world of the film.

And then, of course, there’s the legendary “Chainsaw and Dave” gore effects prank, something that would feel completely out of place in another movie, but here it’s just another weird day in summer school.

The California Setting: An Unspoken Character

Most reviews skip over how much the location adds to the film’s vibe. The sunny coastal backdrop isn’t just decoration; it reflects the film’s laid-back energy. The ocean views, the light-bleached classrooms, and the casual beachwear all reinforce that this is a summer movie through and through.

There’s something about the way Reiner shoots the beach scenes that makes you feel like you’re on vacation, even though the characters are technically stuck in class. It’s that contrast that gives Summer School its unique tone, a mix of responsibility and rebellion wrapped in SPF 30.

Carl Reiner’s Understated Direction

Carl Reiner doesn’t get enough credit for knowing when to hold back. The pacing here is breezy, the jokes aren’t oversold, and the emotional beats are allowed to play without swelling orchestral cues. This isn’t a movie trying to make you cry or laugh hysterically; it’s aiming for a smile, and it nails that every time.

Why Summer School Still Works Today

While some 80s comedies feel dated in their humor or social attitudes, Summer School holds up surprisingly well. The characters are treated with empathy, the comedy is character-driven, and the setting still feels relatable for anyone who’s ever had to do something they didn’t want to do.

And honestly, in today’s era of hyper-edited, joke-a-minute comedies, there’s something refreshing about a film that’s content to just hang out with its characters.

The Quiet Heart of the Story

The moment that gets me every time isn’t a big joke or plot twist; it’s the final test scene. Watching each student face that exam, knowing where they started, is more satisfying than any romantic resolution or sports championship could have been.

Shoop doesn’t turn them into straight-A students, but he gives them the confidence to try. And that’s a message a lot of real-life summer school students (and teachers) can relate to.

Final Thoughts

Summer School isn’t trying to change your life. It’s not a grand statement about education or youth culture. But it is a warm, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful look at how unlikely groups can bring out the best in each other.

If you’ve never seen it, think of it as a beach day in movie form, not life-changing, but exactly what you need to recharge. And if you have seen it, you already know why it’s worth revisiting: it’s a hangout comedy that makes you wish you were in that classroom.