National Lampoon's Senior Trip (1995): Dir: Kelly Makin / Cast: Matt Frewer, Tommy Chong, Kevin McDonald, Valerie Mahaffey, Jeremy Renner: Academic trash comedy of vulgar jokes similar to National Lampoon's Animal House but lacking the spirit and broad character types of that film. It stars Matt Frewer as a school principal who punishes his students after a prank gone wrong. He makes his students write a letter to Washington explaining why the school system must change. This earns them a trip to Washington where they steal everything that isn't bolted down. Contrived formula with an ending that makes every lame excuse for the behavior witnessed by the viewer. Directed by Kelly Makin who is backed with some effective visual elements including an outraged Star Trek fanatic. Frewer does what he can as the stiff principal but the role is a prop not a personality. Tommy Chong plays a bus driver who overdoses on pills. Also with Kevin McDonald and Valerie Mahaffey among others, and everyone of them deserve an "F" on this cinematic report card. These teenagers are hardly sympathetic and the screenplay never develops any one character beyond surface appeal, unlike the broad personalities to the characters in Animal House. The message is bypassed in favor of crude sexual humour and a lot of bathroom jokes. It is for no one with an I.Q. Score: 2 / 10
Review of National Lampoon's Senior Trip
