Apparently, the good General watched American Pie Presents: Beta House the other day and while he enjoyed the T & A show, he wasn’t so happy about the obvious similarities with some of the other great college comedies of the past. So after he asked nicely, I’ve put my skills to use to add another top 10 list to the growing pile.
Criteria: Participants don’t necessarily have to be students or professors but the film must have a large part of it dedicated to college life; no sequels-I hate sequels
10 | Movie: Real Genius College: Pacific Tech One of Val Kilmer’s first films and well before he imploded into the ether, he played an off-the-wall genius investigating super lasers with a group of tight-assed, geeky geniuses. The stuff he does to separate himself from the crowd borders looney, but the real winner of the movie is the recluse, Lazlo, who lives in Kilmer’s dorm room closet. |
9 | Movie: PCU College: Port Chester University Who better to stand up against political-correctness and right-wing assholes than the craziest frat house on campus? This one has Jon Favreau as a fat doped up dope, Jeremy Piven as the frat head honcho and David Spade as an annoying young Republican prick. You wanted more? Okay, I’ll throw in a concert by none other than George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic. Happy now? |
8 | Movie: Van Wilder College: Coolidge College Ryan Reynolds is Van Wilder, the professional student (we all know at least one). He manages to make any party fun and amazingly enough makes Tara Reid palatable. While Reynolds is funny, Kal Penn as Taj Mahal Badalandabad is even funnier (too bad they ruined him with that shitty sequel: Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj). |
7 | Movie: Old School College: Harrison University When you mix Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn together, good things generally happen. Here, they convince their friend Luke Wilson to form a fraternity so they can relive their lost youth. Needless to say, they and a host of other seedy men carry-on like its 1999, much to the chagrin of the university’s dean. Ferrell, as always, over-acts and steals the show. |
6 | Movie: Legally Blonde College: Harvard Law I know I’m going to catch flak for putting this movie in the list, but before you berate me, stop and breathe. This is a ditzy but cute movie that was absolutely made for Reese Witherspoon. She shines as Elle Woods, the aspiring lawyer who feels compelled to file a complaint about someone’s fashion sense as well as their menacing actions towards society. After all, to be great you’ve got to look great (she looks great too). |
5 | Movie: The Waterboy College: South Central Louisiana State This movie is Adam Sandler’s crowning achievement. He plays Bobby Boucher, a backwoods retard with a knack for delivering punishing hits to those on and off the football field. This movie alone is responsible for more catch phrases than I care to remember. Think about it–“You can do it!” |
4 | Movie: Road Trip College: University of Ithaca After accidently sending a VHS tape of himself screwing the hot Amy Smart, Breckin Meyer with friends in tow, race across the country to intercept it. Insanity ensues, most notably when the guys stop at an all black frat house to rest for the night. This may also be the only movie that figured out how to employ Tom Green properly. |
3 | Movie: Back to School College: Grand Lakes University Rodney Dangerfield finally gets some respect. He returns to college to bolster the mood of his failing son but ends up turning the entire campus upside down. It’s full of one-liners that Dangerfield is noted for, but my favorite is the exchange he has with Kurt Vonnegut (I’ll only say Vonnegut writes a paper about himself for Dangerfield). This is a must see movie, if you haven’t seen it already (at which point it becomes a must see again movie.) |
2 | Movie: Revenge of the Nerds College: Adams College Geeks Vs. Jocks. This battle has been ongoing since the dawn of man. This movie just made it hilarious. Everything about this movie is funny–from the use of stereotypes to the fact that the nerds apply for a charter to an all black fraternity–nothing misses. To this day, whenever I see a movie with female full frontal nudity, I recall the famous words of Booger, “We’ve got bush!” |
1 | Movie: Animal House College: Faber College I honestly don’t think I have to say anything about this movie. It is simply the high-water mark each and every college comedy is compared to (fairly or not). John Belushi sets the standard for the proverbial college drunkard. The antics his frat, Delta Tau Chi, is accused of is long and inspiring. So what are you waiting for? Make Bluto and his brothers proud–host a toga party or two (just be sure to invite me)! |
Honorable Mentions: The Nutty Professor (I liked the remake more); Sorority Boys.
Got one that I’ve missed? Of course you do…Don’t be shy, pass it on!
'Feature: Top 10 College Comedies' have 11 comments
December 14, 2007 @ 1:47 pm Alain
Strong list, although Old School should at least be in the top 5. The Waterboy is a good movie but doesn’t belong in the company you have it keeping.
By the way I won’t give you any crap for listing Legally Blonde!
December 14, 2007 @ 9:00 pm Vic
Porkies is a top 3 movie and Accepted is worthy of the top 10. I don’t see either in your list.
December 16, 2007 @ 11:14 am sasori
Porkies is a great movie but it doesn’t have anything do with college.
If you saw Accepted you’d know why it wasn’t included. You did see the movie, right?
December 18, 2007 @ 4:20 am Tammy
Dead Man on Campus should have made the list.
Also, in PCU, they are not part of a fraternity as you mentioned. The film talks about how fraternities were banned from campus and that the building they live in was once owned by a fraternity.
December 20, 2007 @ 8:50 pm sasori
I thought about it, but ultimately it didn’t stand up to the movies that made the list.
You may be right, although I thought they were on the verge of having their charter pulled. Either way it is still a funny movie that focuses primarily on college life.
December 21, 2007 @ 1:40 pm seventy-seven
Threesome belongs somewhere on the list.
June 27, 2008 @ 12:34 am PhaNax
I think Waterboy is out of place here, and Old School should have been in the top five :)
October 28, 2012 @ 8:58 pm DaCommish
The House Bunny, for obvious reasons.
December 15, 2012 @ 1:14 pm sasori
On T&A merits, yes. Comically, I’m not so sure.
December 17, 2013 @ 5:00 pm RejectNation
Save a spot on your list for 22 Jump Street. I never laughed so hard as I did for its trailer.
December 22, 2017 @ 8:02 am Slargovault
Pitch Perfect