Plain Clothes (1988) User Reviews

"Things are kind of hot in here"

[lost-in-limbo · 7/10 · 19 September 2010]

Arliss Howard (looking at home) stars in this enjoyably offbeat mystery comedy, which he plays a cop who goes undercover at his brother's high school when he's accused of stabbing a teacher. Because how young he looks no one believes he's a cop, so why not go back to school to figure who committed the murder and helping is his partner (a terrific Seymour Cassel) who pretends to be his father. But there's no escaping the daily grind of high school.

Kind of surprised this is not more well known, bestowing an excellent ensemble cast (George Wendt, Diana Ladd, Suzy Amis, Larry Pine and Robert Stack) giving decent performances by presenting an odd assortment of characters and sharing great chemistry (especially Howard and Cassel). The story moves between trying to connect the dots throwing out possible leads and red herrings (in predictably daft way), while also adjusting to school life. These are the usual things (bullying, popularity and crushes), but it remains charming, authentically atmospheric and lightly humorous. There's a certain mock seriousness attitude abound and there's neat running gag involving amusing quips over the school PA system and a memorable little poetry reading to explain the word metaphor. It has snappy energy and frequent humour, while low-key it does balance out nicely against its murder mystery angle.

Pleasing under-the-radar late 80s comedy.

A great, mildly funny obscure 80s comedy for us mildly amusing obscure 80s fans.

[vertigo_14 · 6/10 · 27 January 2005]

'Plain Clothes' is not great comedy, though it does, at least subtly, attempt stupid humor (such as the running gags with the school announcements and the Springsteen jokes). And, as a b-comedy with a relatively unknown cast leading with Arliss Howard and Seymour Cassell (who is great, but doesn't often act in the mainstream circuit), this may be one obscure 80s comedy that could only really be best enjoyed by us fans of obscure 80s movies. Familiar, name-escaping faces, a different story, high school in the 80s, it just might have what you're looking for.

Plain Clothes is the story of a babyface young cop (Arliss Howard) who's younger brother is prime suspect in a teacher's unusual murder at his high school. Convinced that his brother is telling the truth when he claims to be innocent, the cop goes undercover as a high school student to investigate. Only, what he discovers is much more than just a murder. You have your typical 80s teen movie elements, since this does take place in a high school and our main character does pose as one of the more interesting students. Love triangles and social scuffles mixed with the suspense/action of the cop story angle. It does quite a bit of shifting and does, as another viewer commented, culminate in a rather confusing climax.

For this bit of narrative game playing and mild comedy treatment, this movie is perfect for just a certain kind of audience (if you love obscure b-80s movies) and a certain kind of day (lazy weekend noons are probably best). By the way, Max Perlich fans should not miss him in his trademark leather jacket and buzz cut when he shows up (briefly) as Carter, one of the kids who befriends the undercover cop.

Back to school

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 23 April 2016]

Undercover cop Arliss Howard is used to Plain Clothes assignments, but usually those are indeed assigned. He goes undercover on his own to find out the murderer of one of the high school faculty. The victim falls dead in his classroom and the cops have arrested student Loren Dean for the murderer.

But Dean is Howard's brother and Howard starts his own investigation by going back to high school where he becomes popular when he accidentally punches out Principal Robert Stack. There's a treasure trove of suspects among the faculty which includes Diane Ladd, Abe Vigoda, George Wendt, and Suzy Amis. The students also have suspects such as school bully Peter Dobson.

Plain Clothes will yield a few laughs for most moviegoers. The climax which was staged at a carnival seems to have been borrowed in part from Some Came Running and Abbott&Costello Go To Hollywood.

I'll let you watch and see who the real murderer is and which film you think inspired the final chase scene.

Cute, funny

[dh0405 · 20 February 2002]

A sweet little film that's fun to watch. Arliss Howard's comedic talent is unappreciated and underestimated. He is assisted by fine veteran actors who look as if they are having a whale of a good time. The writing is surprisingly good for a low-budget flick.

"Plain Stupid"

[gattonero975 · 6/10 · 12 February 2013]

Not a bad movie but not a good one either. It's one of those 80's movies you have to a least see once in your lifetime.

Arliss Howard as Nick Dunbar: The 34yr old playing a 24yr undercover cop playing an 18yr. OK. While Howard was somewhat young enough to somewhat get away with it, I still felt he was miscast somewhat. In some scenes he kinda fit in but in others, you could tell his age and it was more embarrassing than funny. But still, he did an earnest performance.

Suzy Amis as Robin Torrence: Now she I believed did a great job and was quite believable as the young teacher smitten by the Nick Dunbar character. She really looked quite nice in this type of role.

George Wendt as Chet Butler: Poor Wendt, he at 1st came on quite nicely as a somewhat loony teacher but by the end it was quite ridiculous for me to accept him as a invincible, crazy killer who even shoots dogs! Not funny at all. I quite expected him to just have a heart-attack with all that running around after Howard's Dunbar. Complete miscast here.

Diane Ladd as Jane Melway: Now she was quite believable in her role. (At 1st I thought she was Dee Wallace!) Ladd did a great job in her little role.

Seymour Cassel as Ed Malmburg: Was OK at best. Playing Dunbar's partner and role-playing as the dad was OK. I wish Collidge would have had a little more interplay with Cassel and Howard doing the "father & son" thing. There could have been some more potential comedy there.

Abe Vigoda as Mr. Wiseman: Was a complete miscast. What a shame to have the late Vigoda in a thankless role in which all he had to do was walk around oblivious to the fact fact that everyday some student was putting a different note pinned to his back and he of course would not notice and walk around all day like a idiot. Why would Vigoda take such a thankless role is beyond me.

Robert Stack as Mr. Gardner: Stack as the principle was OK at best but still a misfire and not funny at all. While it;s always great to see the late great Stack in a role out of the Untouchable mold, he just is too intense for a comedy and to me was just miscast in a throwaway role like Vigoda.

Alexandra Powers as Dawn-Marie Zeffer: The beautiful Powers was very well cast as the cheerleader type. Her little scene where she is trying to seduce Howard's Dunbar was really good. I could see Howard having a hard time resisting this sexy little charmer but he had to have it under control for a lot of reasons. She's 17, he's 24 playing an 18yr old. I like at the end when she realizes he's a cop and she is still like saying in a devilish sexy way, "So, how old are you anyways?" What a shame this very cute actress gave up acting. She hasn't done anything since 2001! I wonder what she is doing now...

Peter Dobson as Kyle Kerns: Great casting here. Dobson as a bully on Dunbar's case was right on. Very believable and a good job done by Dobson.

Harry Shearer as Simon Feck: Complete miscast here for the great Shearer. Just like Vigoda, a throw-away role that any extra could have done. Don't understand why these greats would take such meaningless bit role role that are just basically cameos.

Reginald VelJohnson as Captain Graff: Another meaningless cameo bit in which VelJohnson was just wasted. A thankless throwaway role also.

Max Perlich as Carter: Great casting here. A very believable Perlich as a fellow student who befriends Dunbar. Good job by Perlich.

All in all, Coolidge has done better (Valley Girl) but OK in some respect. Great ending song, "YOU CAN COUNT ON ME",written and performed by Billy Sherwood.

Kinda dumb but there's a sweet romance

[inkblot11 · 6/10 · 6 January 2024]

Nick - Arliss Howard - is a young 24 year old undercover cop. He's been getting assignments that make him interact with children, something Nick hates. Unbelievably, a teacher gets knifed at his younger brothers school. This senior, Matt, gets charged with murder, after witnesses heard him tell the teacher he wanted to "kill him". Believing his sibling is innocent, it becomes necessary for Nick to go undercover as a transfer student at the school. It's a horror show, with bad lunches, bullies, stupid quizzes etc. But, one, there's an adorable teacher named Robin - Suzy Amis- who catches Nicks eye. And, second, he learns about a teachers blackmailing scheme which may reveal the true killer. Can Nick solve this crime? This is, ok, kind of a dumb movie, although there are some funny parts. Even the crime is less than memorable. However, the budding romance between Howard and Amis is sweet and comical, especially as Nick is supposed to be a student. If you are really hard up for a new movie choice, you might give it a try. Otherwise, you probably want to steer clear.

Cop looking 35 goes under cover as a school kid you go figure!

[cynet-52332 · 1/10 · 9 December 2021]

Nick goes under cover as a student at his brother naff school. Calls himself Nick Springsteen and looks like one of the village people in disguise. He sticks out like a sore thumb but it doesn't stop him hitting on the teacher who is attractive as an acid bath in the dark. This movie isn't clever or funny and can see why this made hardly anything at the box office. Just a dumb movie and the leading actor acting abilities are sub standard which hurts the movie. In fact most of the actors are just awful so this film never stood a chance!

A very pleasant surprise

[peterseaby · 9/10 · 22 March 2006]

A light-hearted and completely enjoyable movie. The one liners and situations were humorous and quirky. The constant flow of jokes and double entendres in the background make this a movie to enjoy again and again. The comments made over the PA are worth the price of admission. Some of the acting was a little soft but did little to take away from the fun. Worth the time to watch and if you ever see it at your local video store - buy it. Seeing George Wendt and Robert Stack hamming it up is a treat for those of us who watched these actors growing up. The sexual situations were light and harmless and the violence was low-key. Still not sure if this would qualify as a teen movie, crime drama, love story or something else. It is quite unique.

lower the stakes

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 29 December 2022]

Kid-hating Nick Dunbar (Arliss Howard) is a 24 year old undercover cop. His brother Matt has been accused of killing his teacher. He goes back to high school as an undercover student.

I have often asked for the stakes to be raised. For this movie, the original stakes need to be lower. Matt is too chilled waiting in prison for his murder trial. The comedic tone is too light coming from a murder. The murders can come later. As for Arliss, he's never been a leading man type. He does have a comedic feel. He's not quite right for this. It's no Jump Street. It doesn't really work as either a murder mystery or a teen comedy.

No oscars, but fun

[zico-7 · 8/10 · 8 October 1999]

The first time I saw Plain Clothes was a coincidence. Changing channels on a Saturday night and finding (and sticking with) this movie. It is an eighties high school comedy with a funny little cross over to thriller.

Watching B-movies is fun and I do it lots. I have no high expectations and I don't pay a fee to go to the movies and end up wanting my money back. In the nineties there is a growing tendency of B-movies being etremely violent, groce and "bloody". Film makers are trying to be noticed among the hundreds of B-movies made every year by going over the top making their movie "special". My point? Well, not every movie will win an oscar or go into history as a classic, a box-office success or a cult-movie. My point is that this is fine! But people don't seem to understand that one can make a nice movie without having the greatest script or actors of all time, or the money to do Star Wars-like gimmicks. To me Plain Clothes is a perfect B-movie. A nice, simple story, nice actors, funny here and there and quite entertaining. I have watched it now a couple of times and it is still fun! With the cop entering the school as a "thug" (as his little brother calls him). His change into the cool guy. His methaphore-poetry. His romance with the teacher. George ("NORM!!!") Wendt as the insane teacher/bad guy. A good climax. I love the Godfather saga, One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. the Shawshank Redemption, Schindler's List, etc., but that doesn't mean that a movie that isn't in this category flunks. Plain Clothes is, plain and simple, a nice, ok movie. Average, may be, but fun average and that is more than I can say of zillions of movies (starring "stars" like Pamela Anderson or Arnold Schwarzenegger).

The guy is like 40 lol going back to high school ???

[trevnort · 5/10 · 9 December 2021]

How are we suppose to just accept that this 40yr old man is playing a high school kid like no just no. They just dont think things through sometimes. ................

Quite a Pleasant Surprise!

[doctorwholittle · 8/10 · 19 June 2005]

This is one of those films that I watched on a Saturday afternoon when there was nothing else on, & man, am I glad I did.

Arliss Howard plays a young detective who must go undercover at a high school in order to clear his younger brother of a murder accusation. Seems straightforward enough, but this film actually tosses in some plot twists that make the viewer have to pay attention. The movie is punctuated by its quirky sense of humour (look for the quick visual gag "Free at Last!" in Robert Stack's office!!) & a refusal to take itself seriously. Adding to the charm of this are excellent performances by Robert Stack, Suzy Amis, Diane Ladd, George Wendt, Seymour Cassel, Reginald VelJohnson, & a howlingly deadpan performance by the great Abe Vigoda!

This film will never win any awards, but the cast are solid & the script is funny. It's a tad more grown-up & far less preachy than most of the '80s pap that garnered all the attention, & if anyone's looking for a good popcorn-muncher that'll give a few good laughs, try this one on for size.

Good Acting, Good Script, Good Settings

[ssnow7 · 8/10 · 19 May 2008]

This a movie that stuck with me, with the odd line of dialogue, or the iconographic facial expression popping into my head unsolicited for years later. The humour is constant, but understated; the acting was all well-done, and the plot carried itself. The viewer sees Nick start off clumsily, and practically cheers when he starts to be affected by the kids he's never got along with as he starts to understand them.

Nick looks more developed than the bullies who try to intimidate him, but he always carries himself with a casually awkward air that could fit right in with a group of teens. His and Ms. Torrence's attraction to one another is carefully done - believable, but not overwhelming, so you forgive other characters missing it.

It is not easy playing a 'quirky' character in a movie like this. The cast had to walk a line, never going so far that the movie became slapstick (the script would not have supported that), and did an excellent job. Check out Diane Ladd, for instance: her implication that a by-the-book persona covered a passionate nature was perfectly done. And Abe Vigoda, with that fantastic face - looks like a basset hound when serious, like a game show host when smiling! Often he does both within a few seconds of each other. Seymour Cassel, Robert Stack, George Wendt, Suzy Amis, and Jackie Gayle all showed great comedic delivery.

The minimal violence and sex was well-done, as well. Often such things are better implied than shown, and although there was some (it IS a murder mystery, and there are romantic entanglements to deal with), it was appropriate. The music, montages, costuming and settings were all make for a believable a late-80s high school, although the dialogue was overblown for comedic effect.

There was a slight glitch in the characterization when it is at first implied Nick (like his brother) has a hair-trigger temper, and then spends most of the more tense, humiliating scenes acting like he has (more than) adult control. It worked for the plot, though. The clues dropped for the mystery are often disguised as humour; I do not think the audience will have an "Aha!" moment like Nick apparently does, but it worked well in this context.

More than one fan has said they want this on DVD - well, me, too! But I do not see a way to suggest it on Paramount's home page, so I will try to make do with a deteriorating VHS copy. If anyone wants to tell me how to make my vote known, I would welcome it! _Plain Clothes_ on digital! With any extras you can dig up after two decades! PLEASE!

(And, as an aside, what a useless title: when I tried to find this movie, the title was the thing I never remembered about it.)

All said, a fun, light-hearted movie, full of human nature, nostalgia, and quotable lines.

stands the test of time

[80's guy · 10/10 · 25 August 1999]

i love this movie!yes some corny-ness,nothing major,,,no major stars,,,but cast has energy to make this a great 80's teen movie.george wendt,robert stack,harry shearer,,abe vigoda....very charming movie,.

Contemporary

[Tinus-3 · 8/10 · 10 May 1999]

I wouldn't give this movie an overall good mark, but I think in its niche it well deserves its average. To be an eighties movie it contains enough for the younger viewer to enjoy. I quite liked the small poetry incorporated. One thumb up!

Great Quirky Mystery-Comedy, a sleeper!

[canuckteach · 9/10 · 10 May 2008]

"Plain Clothes" is a great quirky mystery-comedy. Don't let the lack of fame detract you from from viewing this little 80's gem. I carried an old homemade VHS tape of it for years before finally securing a factory-made copy from an Amazon reseller. Fans of the flick frequently lobby for a DVD release.

Arliss Howard is perfect as Nick Dunbar, a 'young-looking' undercover detective who must go 'plain clothes' into an odd high school to find evidence to clear his brother on a murder rap. Turns out the staff at this school are all a bit wacky and include the likes of George Wendt, Dianne Ladd, Abe Vigoda, Harry Shearer and Robert Stack (over a live PA system: "Is this thing on? Now bombing Moscow"). No shortage of suspects.

Add to this: Nick doesn't like teens or kids - never did - never was one himself, apparently! He draws the ire of the local 'frat' boys, who don't know what they're up against. And watch for a hilarious scene in which Nick decides to convince everyone that he's for real by presenting his 'metaphor' homework. ahem. Language class was never like this in my town.

Excellence

[francescoalessioguicciardi · 10/10 · 10 September 2018]

Fantastically mystery comedy with the greatest actress in the world, Alexandra Powers.

The movie it self is kind of comfusing...but...

[stephanotis323 · 13 May 2004]

It has some very funny lines..and he isnt that bad too look at either...i think it was a 4 out of 10 ever all.. but i probable would watch it agin...I was just a little confused because i didnt watch it from the beginnign...so you really do have to watch the whole thing to underastand it...but it was good...no rotten apples here.!!!lol...ok..i have to have ten lines so...ill...talk...about ....somethin.....else....lol...... ok ill talk about nothin.. ok ok ok much love....steff

Underrated 80s highschool movie

[richspenc · 8/10 · 3 March 2016]

"Plain clothes" is an overlooked 80s flick. Nick Dunbar (Arles Howard (who reminds me of Allen Covert)) is a young 24 year old cop who's partner is Seymour Castle in a funny role himself. Nick constantly is given undercover assigments working around kids. "I hate kids!" Nick complains to his captain. "It is g****mn unAmerican to hate kids!" his captain yells back. "But kids and I never got along!" Dunbar replies. Captain yells back "I don't care! Deal with it!" That's exactly what Nick does. More than he'll ever know.

Then, Nick finds out how his brother Matt Dunbar is accused of stabbing and killing one of his teachers, Mr. Bradwood. Nick knows his brother is innocent but he doesn't have enough proof. His next assignment: to go undercover to highschool posing as a highschool student. This idea has definitely been done before, such as 80s highschool film "Hiding Out", and late 90s film " Never been kissed" with Drew Barrymore. Nick goes to school posing as a student to look for more clues to try and prove his brother's innocence. Seymour poses as his dad. When in school, he encounters the usual highschool cliques. Since he can't go with his last name Dunbar, or people will know he's Matt Dundar's brother. He goes under the name Nick Springstien. "Any relations dude?" kids ask him. "Distant" Nick replies coyly. The bully Kyle Kerns is just another typical 80s highschool movie bully, just like in "Karate kid", " Just one of the guys", "Teen wolf", " The heavenly kid", " Like father, like son", etc. The hot girl Dawn Marie is another typical 80s highschool movie hot girl such as, well every movie I just listed pretty much has one. Nick must talk to these kids to try and find out what he can about exactly what happened the day Mr. Bradwood was killed. But getting straight answers from these highschool kids isn't easy because they just wanna act like, well highschool kids. And Nick cannot ask anything too directly so no one finds out he's a cop. Nick encounters several teachers too. Diane Ladd as the impatient front desk secretary. Suzy Amis as the young attractive English teacher, who kinda likes Nick's mature persona (such as Nick's metaphor in class) little knowing it's real. Robert Stack as the principal, who we see in a humorous "visit to the principal's office" scene after Nick accidentally chucks him in the chin thinking he was one of Kyle's bully friends coming up behind him during a confrontation with Kyle. I didn't know principals were still using the paddle in the late 80s. Then there's Abe Vigoda who's an old teacher who's constantly walking down the hallway with notes (such as 'party naked') on his back, and is impressed with Nick being polite since none of the other kids are. Then there's George Wendt as the shop teacher/school counsler who needs Nick to help finish his sentences while talking to Nick. And at least one of these people has some darker secrets about them, but I won't say who just in case anyone reading this review has not seen the movie yet. Oh, and listen to some of the funny comments made during the principal's constant ramblings over the school intercom.

Well-performed teen comedy

[lor_ · 27 April 2023]

My review was written in March 1988 after watching the film at a Columbus Circle screening room.

"Plain Clothes" is an entertaining variant on the formula teen comedy, with better casting and gags than its forebears. Problem for Paramount will be to get an audience's attention with such familiar-sounding material.

Story hook is identical with DEG's 1987 release starring Jon Cryer, "Hiding Out", in which an adult becomes the fish out of water posing as a student back in high school. This time around it's personable Arliss Howard as a cop who goes undercover (unauthorized since he's been suspended for punching a superior) to find the real killer of a teacher at Adlai Stevenson High School where his brother (Loren Dean) has been arrested as chief suspect.

Howard, adopting the name Nick Springsteen as an old-looking teen (gag line by fellow students: "Are you related?"), has the usual quota of misadventures including a budding romance with the pretty daughter (Alexandra Powers) of the gym teacher (Jackie Gayle) and a crush on the ver4y appealing home room teacher (Suzy Amis, who bears a striking resemblance to the late Elizabeth Hartman).

It's all handled in very tongue-in-cheek fashion by helmer Martha Coolidge, with ample emphasis on black humor. Solution of the mystery, involving a romantically thwarted teacher, is mainly on the back burner.

Howard is a find, carrying the picture with an easy charm that bridges the gap between straight scenes and silly ones. Amis also impresses, but the picture is stolen by a roster of character actors who make the most of briefer assignments: Robert Stack, cast against type as the dimwitted principal; Diane Ladd as his goofball secretary; Seymour Cassel a treat as Howard's cop partner who pretends to be his dad, and Harry Shearer, with no dialog but perfect asw the suspicious "wheezer" who ends up an excellent corpse.

Tech credits for this Seattle-lensed (under the working title "Glory Days") picture are fine, but a blatant continuity/construction error in the final reel is harmful to the total effect, as time unbelievably seems to stand still for everyone waiting for Howard to arrive as King of the Mayfest while he's involved as a cop in nearly a full reel of action.