Private School

Name: Private School
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: July 29, 1983
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 25
Cast: Betsy Russell, Fran Ryan, Jonathan Prince, Kari Lizer, Kathleen Wilhoite

1983

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Private School

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 29, 1983 | R

Starring: Betsy Russell, Fran Ryan, Jonathan Prince, Kari Lizer, Kathleen Wilhoite, Matthew Modine, Michael Zorek, Phoebe Cates, Ray Walston, Sylvia Kristel

Summary: Christine (Phoebe Cates), a student at an exclusive all-girls private school, is in love with Jim, who attends an academy for boys nearby. Christine's arch rival Jordan also has her eye on Jim, and she is willing to do whatever she can to steal him away. Jim's uber-slob buddy Bubba is going with Betsy, Christine's cynical friend, though heChristine (Phoebe Cates), a student at an exclusive all-girls private school, is in love with Jim, who attends an academy for boys nearby. Christine's arch rival Jordan also has her eye on Jim, and she is willing to do whatever she can to steal him away. Jim's uber-slob buddy Bubba is going with Betsy, Christine's cynical friend, though he would probably be unfaithful if any other woman were willing to get near him. Bubba and his pals sneak into the girls' school dressed in drag in hopes of reaching the Promised Land (better known as the women's shower room), while Christine and Jim run away together for the weekend, though their escapade isn't as romantic as they had hoped.… Expand

Director: Noel Black

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 89 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

The movie's not without charm. There's a fresh, sweet relationship between one of the girls (Phoebe Cates) and her boyfriend, in which she is permitted to have the normal fears, doubts and reservations of anyone her age. I'm not sure how that plot got into this smarmy-minded movie, but it was like a breath of fresh air. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Movies like Private School usually make money, no matter how sleazy or derivative they happen to be. Read full review

Bill Cosford

Strange as it sounds, the failure of this tawdry little odyssey into mammalia is that it doesn't make any sense. The smallest effort by writer, director or producer could have meant a movie with laughs as well as the capacity to anesthetize adults. [02 Aug 1983, p.C5]

Gary Arnold

The lowest common denominator of smutty amusement [03 Aug 1983, p.B2]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The film features a complete absence of plot, character, drama, comedy and acting. Read full review

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User Reviews

LamontRaymond

Mar 12, 2018

One of the funniest sex romps of the 80s. Classic Modine. Nice to see that Ebert could look beyond the basics and have some fun with it.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

gray444

Nov 29, 2018

This movie should have been a huge hit and a classic kids today sill would want to watch. Some do only because you have some of the hottest women in Hollywood at that time naked in it but that's all they watch it for. Movies like fast times at Ridgemont high, Saint Elmo's fire, and theThis movie should have been a huge hit and a classic kids today sill would want to watch. Some do only because you have some of the hottest women in Hollywood at that time naked in it but that's all they watch it for. Movies like fast times at Ridgemont high, Saint Elmo's fire, and the Breakfast club well written and great casting. This movie and every movie he was in he was miss cast. Mathew Modine never in a million years would anyone with a brain cast him to be the guy who gets Phoebe Cates and any other woman he was ever casted as being able to get them. He was a dork he was and Ohio 3 at best he was never ever a leading man movies like revenge of the geeks had fun with geeks getting the girl generally by tricking her. In this move they want you to believe that this dufus got Phoebe right there the movie fell apart and people starting making out or partying they stopped watching the movie because it was stupid and no longer believable. the girls want a hot guy as the lead the guys want a hot girl and her boyfriend should be someone cool. Think I am wrong to this day people still want to be James Dean o one ever said I want to be Mathew Modine. The ladies did not have his picture on their wall. This bothers me so much I gave the movie a 7 well because of the female casting they were awesome and stole what little of a movie they had.This just proves bad casting has been around for awhile and the back room casting couch maybe did not just apply to women actors ? Come on look at all the women who came out and said they were asked for sexual favors it happen to the guys to. No not from female directors guy directors the reason they do not come forward is guys like Modine does not want to admit he either gave or was given something for the part. Seriously he can't act he is so blah on the screen and forgettable I bet a lot of you had to look up who I was even talking about. Again this would be a cult classic if the guy had been cool what a waste.… Expand

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