Campus Man (1987) User Reviews

Say "Cheese!" (minor spoilers)

[vertigo_14 · 6/10 · 1 May 2005]

Campus Man was a decent late 80s college flick. Todd Barrett, a lick, amateur businessman who, for some reason always tucked his pants into his socks, learns that he is denied a scholarship the day after the loan deadlines. He needs to come up with ten thousand dollars for tuition or risk getting thrown out (the financial counselor said the official term was expulsion...but doesn't that conjure up connotations of wrong-doing outside of defaulting on tuition?).

So, he decides to produce a calendar featuring some of the University's athletes, which he would then sell on campus. In order to do this, of course, he needs twelve thousand dollars as start-up capital. And, being unable to convince formal institutions to do this, a strange pool hall fellow of the name Cactus Jack (who advertises on phone booths of all things) lends him the money. What follows next is a series of misunderstandings and miscalculations that threaten his chances of paying back the rather irritable Cactus Jack, but also potentially ruining the diving career of his close friend, Brett Wilson.

'Campus Man' lacks some of the 80s predictability because it throws more curve balls than may be expected and at least strives for some creativity here and there. Although, the two leads (John Dye and Steve Lyon) sometimes got in these weird silent movies where they looked like they wanted to jump each other. But, there is a pretty steady pace of story, plus and excellent soundtrack (featuring Michael Sembello's "Rock Until You Drop" which some might from 'The Monster Squad').

Recommended for your lazy afternoon 80s viewing pleasure.

Poor marketing hides good film

[Rimsey · 13 May 2002]

I had passed Campus Man many times in the shop. Let's face it - it does scream 80's. I had picked it up an thought "Well this look cheesey". It wasn't until I took an interest in one of the Actors that I started to look for the movie to watch. And was surprised by what I found.

Ok it is a very 80's movie, the clothes and hair alone dictates that. But from the decade of overspending and businessmen flying by the seat of their pants, I feel that if this movie had been marketed better, or perhaps caught a slightly different wave it could have been up there with the Yuppie success of "Secret of My Success".

It is well acted by all, with most note going to John Dye and Kathleen Wilhoite as Todd and Molly.

Some of the plot points are a little under developed, where did this anamosity between Molly and Todd come from, Brett makes mention of Todd getting him into Diving, but doesn't eleborate.

All in all I enjoyed it. It could have been much worse. Considering Todays fare of Van Wilder; Party Liasion, it stands up rather well.

Unintentionally Hilarious

[Bneidl · 2/10 · 9 April 2006]

I discovered this movie on HBO in the early 90s, and have loved its awfulness ever since. Particularly awesome is the last two minutes of the film, which is a virtuouso, tour de force of clichéd 80s storlyine resolutions.

It goes down something like this. Our Hero and all the supporting players are gathered in a diving arena for some ill-defined charity fund raising event. There is a dais poolside peopled with VIPs. Onlookers fill the stands. Then the goofy happy endings start rolling at us like an avalanche. First, Our Hero learns he has earned enough money from his calendar sales to stay in school. Then, his buddy Brett does a fancy high dive that makes everyone clap and which, somehow, earns thousands of dollars for charity. Then, "Cactus Jack" and Morgan Fairchild, who met for the first time a scant thirty second ago, kiss, because we all know in movies like this, nearly everyone must be coupled off with SOMEONE by the end of the film. THEN, Our Hero's business professor materializes on stage out of nowhere to congratulate him for using his business ingenuity to raise enough money to stay in school and tells him, "I always knew you could do it." (The professor then scampers off camera without even waiting for Our Hero to say anything in response.) THEN (it's still not over) Our Hero jogs up to pool side to shake Brett's hand for his fancy dive (and apparently raising enough money in doing so to end world hunger). Of course, the Third Rule of Movie Making is that if a swimming pool appears on screen, someone must fall in. In judicious observation of the rule, Brett PULLS OUR HERO INTO THE WATER IN SLOW MOTION. The delighted crowd of onlookers laughs and applauds. THEN, in slow motion, Our Hero and Brett high five (yech).

And THEN, wait for it . . . wait for it . . . Our Hero, treading water, turns to the camera and, in slow motion, flashes us, the audience, a "thumbs up." Then, of course, FREEZE FRAME on that shot of the thumbs-up, fade to credits.

Watch it. Watch it over again. It's unintentionally, p#ss your pants funny.

Harmless Fluff.

[BrettErikJohnson · 3/10 · 15 June 2002]

"Campus Man" isn't quite sure what kind of a movie it wants to be. It appears to be a comedy at first glance but that is rather deceiving. In fact, it would've played a lot better if it had been more serious in tone. The "funny" parts are typical 80's cheesiness and aren't very witty. The plot involves an Arizona State University student who owes $10,000 in tuition and has 30 days to come up with it. He decides to produce a male athlete calendar in order to try and make enough money to pay his tuition and hopefully have some left over. Of course, things don't go exactly as planned and trouble ensues. Uneasy mix of comedy with some serious issues makes "Campus Man" an uneven disappointment. A harmless time filler, however, if you can catch it on TV. 3/10

Holy crap swim-man!!

[buzznzipp1995 · 2/10 · 26 January 2007]

considering the talent that was on hand, (John Dye, Morgan Fairchild, Miles O'Keefe, Kim DeLaney, etc ) the director Ron Casden, kinda sorta fell into a comedic hole! This was a local Arizona shot film, which is kind of cool seeing some of the old places, businesses, apartments, resorts restaurants, bars etc, but this story is kind funny but the main character John Dye is a nice, annoying guy.

Don't get me wrong, I like John no doubt, so it's got to be Casden that missed the marks here. Steve Lyons was pretty much a loss as a bad actor on top. Considering that he was a major supporting role in Campus Man. I remember the posters from the theater from 1987, and it cracks me up. Everything about this ' flick' seemed to just kind of go ah-rye. The acting was gone right after the directing and then the story, etc. I laugh, because I own the DVD and I don't intend to sell this one anytime soon. The funniest part of this movie is, that I would rather watch this, over Brosnan in "Die Another Day" (2002). Probably because it's Arizona, back in the great eighties!

I recommend this for college type, sitting around on laundry day type comedy , I rated it a 2, because of the classic old scenery. It's still fun to pass the time with though. In small edition there was a couple great song tracks in the movie by the Robert Cray band, that set off a cool and rude mood, although there was a lack of good scoring through out the whole story. (*)

flunked ! (web)

[leplatypus · 1/10 · 20 May 2016]

This is simply a no movie for me : i didn't have any subtitles and my video wasn't synchronized with the audio. It was too difficult for me to get into it and as a nearly silent movie for me about a student doing business, it was not thrilling at all : i stopped it quickly, looking only for Kim scenes as she is billed in second : unfortunately she has nearly nothing to do here, except being the crush of a swimmer ! beyond the 80s look (cool the computer graphics, the colored fashion), what's more mentioning is to see old faces : Cactus Jack would work again with Kim in a much better movie, becoming her "drifter" and the blonde Mogan Fairchild has a sure face that means something when i was a kid.

Avoid this Campus 1/2*

[edwagreen · 1/10 · 4 March 2006]

Really bad movie about a guy on campus who is about to be thrown out of school since he can't pay his tuition bill. He falls asleep in his marketing class. He doesn't get berated but instead the so called professor comes on like an uncle.

What goes on on this campus? Everyone is partying and appears unbelievably dumb.

Our hero makes male calendars for women. His friend, a cool good looking blond swimmer is on the cover. Editor Morgan Fairchild sees the picture and wants the guy for publicity on her magazine. She is a stickler with a contract and the latter could come back to haunt her.

Too bad academia wasn't like this. College would have been a real blast. An excellent film for air-heads but for the normal majority, a complete joke and utter junk.

An'80s Must Have!

[dgordon-1 · 10/10 · 31 March 2003]

If you're like me and really like movies from the '80s, this is a great choice! It's about a business student that gets the idea to produce a calendar full of guys & market it to the female population of the Arizona State University and beyond. It's a comedy throughout, but then gets sentimental towards the end, which makes for a different kind of teen comedy. The atmosphere, and characters of the movie are fun. As far as the fashion end of it, if you are looking for a movie that features some of the biggest, & most teased hair from the '80s, this movie will not fail to satisfy. Back in the '80s, I had never heard of this movie before, it seemed like it was released in limited markets. I caught it on TBS countless times in the early '90s & have recently added this fun '80s flick to my collection. It would be nice to see it released on DVD in the future.

Inoffensive slice of '80's cheese.

[Poseidon-3 · 24 November 2003]

It would be hard to come up with a more innocuous film than this one (unless it were animated!) Inspired (somewhat) by a true story, it concerns Arizona State college student Dye trying to miraculously come up with $10,000 worth of tuition money in 30 days. Fortunately, for him, his roommate and long time friend (Lyon) is chin-on-the-floor attractive and is the star diver, complete with a rippled, sculpted body. He decides to create a pin-up calendar for women, featuring men from all the sports at ASU. However, he faces a few hurdles along the way, not the least of which is placating the mysterious man (O'Keefe) who lent him the start-up money. Meanwhile, magazine editor Fairchild has her eye on Lyon for her own reasons (surprisingly non-sexual ones!) The whole film is accented by a bouncy '80's soundtrack and a parade of atrocious, but fun clothes and hairdo's. Dye (who would later make a splash on "Touched By an Angel") is basically a poor man's Andrew McCarthy throughout, but has a few decent moments. Lyon is breathlessly pretty, but hopelessly bland. He often resembles a pumped-up James Van Der Beek. Wilhoite turns in her standard reliable, quirky performance. Delaney is called upon to do very little except be nice. Fairchild is expectedly campy, but surprisingly less bitchy than she's usually called on to be. She's a whirlwind of huge hair, ugly pastel make-up and monstrous, shoulder-padded get-ups. The film is very trite, pat and simple, but does manage to pull off a surprise or two. Much of the dialogue is rotten, though. The beefcake factor is mostly completed by Lyon who is frequently shown diving in his teensy swimsuit (the front of which is also coyly edited out or cropped out much of the time.) There is a montage of "hunky" (mostly moussed and pretty) models posing hilariously for the calendar and a shower sequence that shows the butts of two men that no one cares about. No one should be offended by anything in this movie, but also not very many people will be glued to the screen. It's very light, very good-natured and eventually, pretty forgettable.

this is the sleeper hit of the 80s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lontra34 · 10/10 · 1 September 2001]

First of all, Steve Lyon is HOT! He can dive into my pool anyday. If you need a healthy dose of mullets, rockin' 80s music, and pants rolled into socks, you need to see this movie! It screams oscar. Look for the guy with the top knot ponytail who appears in the calendar; it's gonna be October in my room ALL year long.

Campus Man

[Coxer99 · 9 July 1999]

Harmless film about a college business major who convinces his longtime pal to pose for a beefcake calendar. When the interests of the editor threaten the model's career goals, problems arise.

Typical 80's

[timosterfeld · 8/10 · 12 May 2011]

If you were in college in the late 80's, you should appreciate this film. Plus Kim Delaney is hot. Great tunes, great clothes, wonderful haircuts, big hair for the gals. God I miss those days.

Yeah, it was cheesy, yeah it was a stupid plot, but that's what the 80's was all about.

Partying, good tunes, no political correctness, great movies.

Who else wishes they had a time machine????

The Brat pack.

Miami Vice

Need I say more

Dirty Harry Has Found a Replacement

[schweinhundt1967 · 10 January 2004]

I'm perhaps not as familiar with the works of Miles O'Keeffe as I should be,and really have seen moist of his work in the early part of the 80s.However,notice his character in this film.Correct me if I'm wrong,and it seems that quite a bit of his other,later film roles are duplicating this personna.Quiet,attentive,laconic,focused,intense,with a hostile edge.There's a persistent,if subtle menace to Cactus Jack.He's sexually magnetic,well-defined without being enormous,accurate,and a man of action and violence.Miles has turned into Clint Eastwood.

An'80s Must Have!

[dgordon-1 · 10/10 · 31 March 2003]

If you're like me and really like movies from the '80s, this is a great choice! It's about business student that gets the idea to produce a calendar full of guys & market it to the female population of the Arizona State University and beyond. It's a comedy throughout, but then get sentimental towards the end, which makes for a different kind of teen comedy. The atmosphere, and characters of the movie are fun. As far as the fashion end of it, if you are looking for a movie that features some of the biggest, & most teased hair from the '80s, this movie will not fail to satisfy. Back in the '80s, I had never heard of this movie before, it seemed like it was released in limited markets. I caught it on TBS countless times in the early '90s & have recently added this fun '80s flick to my collection. It would be nice to see it released on DVD in the future.

Based on a trivial true story

[vandino1 · 16 August 2006]

Todd Headlee, while still an A.S.U. student, created the first beefcake calender and it was a hit. Naturally, such a world shaking event cried out for a big screen epic... and here you are. This badly directed, written and scored little feature is useful only as a time capsule for awful eighties clothing and hair styles. The only other thing you can give this dull little caper is that it consistently avoids all the usual exploitative sleaze of campus comedies. It isn't clever or particularly funny, but it also isn't stripping down the women in the cast (and there are some pretty girls evident throughout) and there's no slobbering fat guy tossed in for comic "relief." No raunch, no swearing, no over-the-top sitcom acting, no crotch-smacking slapstick, no flatulence, no vomiting... it's positively the cleanest campus comedy ever made. Too bad it's also so trivial and innocuous. It does have a standout feature in Miles O'Keeffe as Cactus Jack. He almost lifts the film out of it's general lifelessness. He's so ruggedly handsome that it's almost supernatural and his character is like some amalgam of Clint Eastwood and the Marlboro Man. Otherwise, it's pretty slim stuff based on a pretty slim premise.