Product Details

• Actors: Joe Pesci, Brendan Fraser, Moira Kelly, Patrick Dempsey, Josh Hamilton
• Directors: Alek Keshishian
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0790742055
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,573 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "With Honors (Snap Case)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Joe Pesci gives his most likable performance to date, elevating this predictable comedy-drama. A stuck-up Harvard senior (Brendan Fraser) believes his life is ruined when an educated bum (Pesci) finds his thesis. The bum wants to trade each page for a favor during a harsh New England winter. Of course, the student learns more from his new friend than from the halls of Harvard. Some silly, melodramatic parts including an unbelievable classroom lecture make this comedy tiring at times. But the cast and dialogue ring truer than the tired plot. A solid first feature from Alek Keshishian (Truth or Dare), who graduated with honors from Harvard. --Doug Thomas

Product Description

Armed with a copy of a harvard student's thesis, a homeless man makes the desperate student an offer: in exchange for food and a place to stay during the harsh winter, he will return the thesis one page at a time.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars PESCI'S PHILOSOPHY March 27, 2005

By Michael Butts HALL OF FAMEVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars All around feel good movie! December 28, 2000

By A Customer

Format:DVD

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.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars a different take on college characters November 12, 2000

By A Customer

Format:VHS Tape

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.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Food for the soul... October 9, 2003

By Jennifer Cruz

Format:DVD

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"

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I shall not have lived in vain... September 25, 2003

By "erinelliott13"

Format:VHS Tape

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.