Search - Back to School on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1986 DVD Release: 03/28/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 36 mins Studio: MGM Total Copies: 5 Genres: Comedy, Farce, Comedy of Manners, Odd Couple Film See Also: Back to School [Extracurricular Edition]

Self-made wealthy guy Rodney Dangerfield decides he needs a better education--and also to spend some time away from his cheating new wife. Dangerfield joins his son Keith Gordon at college. Dad hopes to gain his son's respect (isn't that always Dangerfield's motivation?), while son tries to fit in with his snobbish and brutish fellow students. English professor Sally Kellerman forms a strong bond with Dangerfield, encouraging both father and son to stick out their first year despite all odds. The finale involves some slapstick at the swimming pool diving board, and the obligatory commencement address delivered by Dangerfield, who proves that he can crack jokes without tugging at his tie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rodney Dangerfield - Thornton Melon
Sally Kellerman - Diane
Burt Young - Lou
Keith Gordon - Jason Melon
Robert Downey, Jr. - Derek
M. Emmet Walsh - Coach Turnbull

Academia will never be the same when Rodney Dangerfield enrolls to become the wackiest student ever in the quintessential 1980s comedy Back to School! Presented in non-anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen, MGM has done a fair job on this transfer. Although there are some dirt and imperfections present, overall the color levels are dutifully even, with solid blacks. It is a shame that MGM decided not to make =Back to School enhanced for widescreen TVs, but what is available should please fans of the film. With only a slight amount of edge enhancement present, this transfer ranks well above average. Also included on side B of this disc is a standard 1.33:1 version of the film (same quality as side A, only this version of Back to School is chopped off on the sides). Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (in English, French, and Spanish) and could have really benefited from a Dolby 5.1 remix. As it stands, this Dolby 2.0 Surround track works well, with center and front directional speakers utilized (though not to the fullest extent). The dialogue, effects, and Danny Elfman's energetic score are all distortion-free, with minimal hiss present. Also included on the disc are French and Spanish subtitles.
=Back to School certainly could take a few lessons from other DVD editions, as MGM has decided to make this version very basic. The only supplemental feature included on this disc is a humorous, full-frame theatrical trailer. For audio and video this disc makes the grade. For bonus materials, =Back to School is going to need some serious extra credit work to pass. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide