History Film / SummerSchool

* BigBad: Vice Principal Gillis, of the non-villainous, JerkAssHasAPoint type common to high school movies in TheEighties. Sure, it's a disappointment that Shoop can't go on vacation, but all the JerkAss really wants Shoop to do is what he's supposed to do, and that's teach a class.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/summer_school_1987_poster.jpg]]

''Summer School'' is a 1987 comedy film about, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin summer school]].

The film stars Creator/MarkHarmon as Freddy Shoop, a slacker teacher prepared to spend his summer vacation in Hawaii... until the school administration forces him to teach a class in remedial English or lose his tenure. When Shoop discovers the students have no more interest in the class than he does, he strikes a bargain with them. HilarityEnsues.

Better known now for its young cast, many of whom went on to [[RetroactiveRecognition bigger roles]]. The film was directed by Creator/CarlReiner, written by Jeff Franklin (''Series/FullHouse''), and features an original score by Creator/DannyElfman.

* StopHelpingMe: Shoop has to say this to Chainsaw and Dave when they try to chime in at his court hearing.

* {{Nerd}}: Alan. An unusual example in that he's average looking (not attractive and geeked-down) and a poor academic achiever, which puts him more on the "Dweeb" end of the Venn diagram.

* {{Nerd}}: Alan. An unusual example of the HollywoodNerd, in that he's average looking (not attractive and geeked-down) and a poor academic achiever, which puts him more on the "Dweeb" end of the Venn diagram.

* CoolTeacher: Freddy is maybe a little too cool at times, but enforced in that he's just the gym teacher who was forced to teach remedial English or lose his job.

* RealityEnsues: [[spoiler:In the end, not all of the students pass. Even though they all buckled down in the end, it was too little, too late for some of them. That said, they've all gained a new appreciation for academic achievement]].

Better known now for its young cast, many of whom went on to [[RetroactiveRecognition bigger roles]]. The film was directed by Carl Reiner, written by Jeff Franklin (''Series/FullHouse''), and features an original score by Creator/DannyElfman.

Better known now for its young cast, many of whom went on to [[RetroactiveRecognition bigger roles]]. The film was directed by Creator/CarlReiner, written by Jeff Franklin (''Series/FullHouse''), and features an original score by Creator/DannyElfman.

* RageBreakingPoint: When Mr. Shoop tells his class to study for the upcoming proficiency test, they laugh at him and ask for more favors. He gets fed up with their slacker attitude and calls them out for the party that nearly burned his house, the legal trouble he got in from taking the fall when two students almost got caught for under age drinking, and the other stuff he already did for them. He then tells them he doesn't care if they fail and get kicked out of school [[ScrewThisImOutOfHere and quits his job.]]

* ShoutOut: Chainsaw and Dave are obsessed with ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' and other gory films.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Not all of the kids pass their final exam, meaning some will be held back, but they all show great improvement and a willingness to continue trying their hardest]].

* {{Nerd}}: Alan. An unusual example of the HollywoodNerd, in that he's average looking (not attractive and geeked-down) and a poor academic achiever.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Subverted. Shortly after summer school starts, Jerome takes the bathroom pass, and is seen almost at the end during the test.

Better known now for its young cast, many of whom went on to [[RetroactiveRecognition bigger roles]]. The film was directed by Carl Reiner, written by [[Series/FullHouse Jeff Franklin]], and features an original score by Creator/DannyElfman.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Subverted. Shortlty after summer school starts, Jerome takes the bathroom pass, and is seen almost at the end during the test.

* GoldenSnitch: The students' performance on their final exam is evidently the ''only'' factor determining whether they pass or fail, with none of their homework or previous tests and quizzes meaning squat. (Case in point: [[spoiler: the guy who spent the whole summer term "in the bathroom", barring the final, got the only A.)