It was really all about the Triple Lindy.
During the 1980s, Rodney Dangerfield's Back to School became one of the great comedies of the decade, as the man who could never get any respect helped to pen a script that was simultaneously humorous, sweet and loads of fun.
Dangerfield played a millionaire businessman named Thornton Melon. When Thornton's son Jason suddenly announces that his unsure about whether he wants to attend college, things quickly swing into motion. Having been embarrassed at his soon-to-be-ex-wife's dinner party for being illiterate and uncouth, Thornton tells Jason that college is the best thing he never actually got to experience on his own, and enrolls in school along with his son in order to completely prove his point.
Though both father and son have difficulties adjusting at first, it's not long before Thornton is the life of the party and he establishes that money really does talk. Still, that's an empty victory, and in the end Thornton and Jason rely on their wits and skill to prove they can succeed. And, of course, there's some rather fancy diving skills put on display by Dangerfield himself (though obviously, it had to have been the "special effects").
Fast forward nearly 20 years and the wheels are in motion for a remake with Cedric the Entertainer in the Dangerfield role. So far, remakes of such classic '80s flicks as Can't Buy Me Love and Dirty Dancing haven't exactly been successful, but then again, none of them had actors with quite so high a profile as Cedric. Here's hoping they stay true to the light-hearted spirit of the original. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
