Customer Reviews

With Honors [VHS]

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

WITH HONORS is a thoughtful and well done little "slice of life" with a moral we've all heard before: do what makes you happy and take time to live your life. Director Alex Keshishian and screenwriter William Mastrosimone, however, don't knock you over the head with its theme and/or morals. There are some scenes where you're expecting the probable to happen and they don't: e.g., after Simon cooks Gorky, the rooster, you expect his master to be furious---when Simon finally meets up with the son he abandoned, you expect some kind of tearful reunion----and you certainly think Monty is going to graduate with honors. The end results of these scenes, however, avoid the usual cliche. Joe Pesci is delightfully understated in his role, and although he never really becomes coochy coo loveable, you understand his pains and shortcomings; Brendan Fraser starts out pretty snooty and insufferable but as he matures in his relationship with both Pesci and Moira Kelly (who is delightful as Courtney), Fraser becomes a more sympathetic character; Patrick Dempsey adds some lightweight humor as Gorky's master, and Josh Hamilton eschews the usual pain in the butt role with a believable and touching change of heart.
The movie is definitely manipulative, but its heart is in the right place and its cast takes it seriously, so it ends up being a charming little film with a strong reaffirmation of the human spirit.

I have had this movie since it was released and just recently upgraded to a DVD version. It has a wonderful plot and great characters. This was before (sorta) Brendan Fraser got that horrible type cast as George of the Jungle and the like, and proves that he is a talented actor as well. Moira Kelly is also fantastic as the sexy coed obsessed with sex (I recommend The Cutting Edge for Moira fans). Definetly an A+ script with A+ actors. Funny, witty, sentimental and a feel good movie.

With Honors certainly has its problems. It's predictable and more than occasionally cheesy. But the cast make it well worth watching. They do their best with the lines they're given, and all of them actually act--facial expressions and physical cues and changes in tone of voice instead of just reciting the lines. Brendan Fraser's character visibly relaxes as the story progresses, and Joe Pesci's performance is simply great.

More to the point (for me, anyway), this is the only "college movie" I can recall seeing where the student protagonists are actually concerned both about academics and about attempting to grow as people, rather than being on a perpetual quest for spring break/girls/boys/beer/all of the above. Even better, the writer attempts to be serious about student worries instead of taking the easier route of mocking the nerds. When the script comes down off its soapbox, it's a fine ensemble show about the high cost of trying not to need other people. Beneath his defiant exterior, Simon (Joe Pesci) is haunted by the family he abandoned; Monty (Brendan Fraser) hides behind academic achievement because his grades can't walk out on him like his father did; Courtney (Moira Kelly) settles for an empty physical relationship with a good-looking jerk because her emotions are tied up in her efforts to reach out to Monty. Ultimately, I liked With Honors less because of the warm fuzzy moral point it was trying to make than because I liked the characters. Most unusually for any movie, I could relate to most of the characters. Cheers to the writer and especially the actors for making their characters real.

The human spirit is such a vast yet complex thing that help us understand BReath taking films such as this one! Films like "with honors" come a dime a dozen. Films that show the reality of everyday life and the humanity and everlasting love of a friendship... old or new! It makes you weep of sadness and cry happy tears. Cause we've all experience it. We've all had or known a father who left his son/daughter and we've always hated that figure. Yet we've never known it from their perspective which can be very harsh... This film is eye opening and witty! The plot is ingenius yet heartwarming. With a great cast and great production this film shows the ways of the spirit in many ways. It truly deserves 5 stars. Buy it feed your soul

"prince of pop"

Before viewing With Honors for myself, I read the movie summary and thought that the plot sounded very cliche. However, I immediately became interested and felt a connection with Monty, the main character. Like Monty, who is writing his senior thesis, I often times use grades and school work to determine my happiness and measure my success. Sometimes I am lucky enough to have someone who opens my eyes to what is really important in life. Simon, a homeless, yet vivacious, man who discovers Monty's lost thesis, serves as this eye opener for Monty. With the help of Monty's roommates and Simon, he discovers that life is not about job titles or the amount of money you make or awards you recieve. This movie sends the poignant message that contentment and true happiness come from the simple, yet awe-inspring, moments of everyday life. We are reminded that our lives are enriched, and we are truly successful, if we help open the eyes of even one person and touch their life.

"With Honors" is one of the best movies that I've seen in a long time. At the beginning Monty is concerned only about himself and his success at Harvard by writing his thesis. However, when he is forced to associate with Simon in order to get his thesis paper back his entire perspective on life changes. This showed me that Monty wasn't as selfish as I thought, because he cared for Simon and did everything for him, including putting his thesis on the back burner. This movie was based on the true value of friendship, and the college students truly accepted Simon for who he was, not based on his outward appearance. Jack was harsh about Simon at first, but finally came around, and realized that you can not always have what you want in life, and it means a lot to others when you treat them as if they are important and with respect. This was a great movie with a wonderful message, one of friendship and deciding what your main priorities are. I would recommend this movie to anyone!

I remember seeing this movie for rental. I can't recall seeing it in theaters...but i was young back in 1994. I saw Frasier in "School Ties," and seen Moira Kelley in "Cutting Edge." I became fond of both actors because of those two films, but when I saw them on the cover for this movie, for some reason, I didn't have any inkling of interest to watch it. But recently, I saw the movie at Best Buy for 6 bucks and thought...what the heck, I'll buy it. My, after watching this movie, i realized i got a deal of a life time. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

Everyone has a story...no matter if you're rich, poor, young or old, and there is at least one person if not more who would be interested in hearing it. No life is worthless...

this is a film that will definetly open the eyes of anyone's heart. it's a film that points out the more important things in life.

It's a loveable movie, "...but don't take my word for it."

Some of the reviewers here would make you think this movie is so tiresome it's not worth anyone's time. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, some of these reviewers remind me of the professor played so knowingly and sardonically by Gore Vidal.

Don't see this film expecting high art and you'll be ok. Go in expecting to laugh a little and cry a little. You'll see this film does deliver in these timeless ways.

This movie kept my attention all the way through. In most movies I get lost or lose attention, but this one was different. I wanted to see what Simon was going to do next or how Monty, or as Simon called him, "Harvard", was going to react to Simon next. Monty sure had a lot more patience than i do!! This movie was funny but also had a good message. This movie should appeal to everyone--there is a favorite character for everyone. Watch it!

I thought that this was an excellent movie... But I just wanted to answer that I think that the book being read at the end is Walt Whitman's _Leaves_of_Grass_ I could be wrong, it's been a while since I've seen it. Just a guess!