Snowboard Academy (1997 Video) User Reviews

Nice scenery, bad movie

[nitflegal · 3/10 · 6 June 2003]

Have you ever watched one of those movies where, after about 30 minutes, you realize that you really, really wish that the capable actors in it were in something a bit better written? This is one of those movies. Now, actors like Varney, Haim, and Nielsen are usually not given much in the way of regard but each is capable of a decent performance in a decent movie. We're not talking DeNiro or Kidman here, just actors capable of doing a decent job. Sadly, they get cast in utter crap like this. If you're a die-hard fan of these actors, it might be worth watching. If not, carefully put the video box down and back away slowly.

Matt

Ski vacation home movie goes Hollywood

[a-twetman · 2/10 · 27 November 2012]

What is this movie even about? I seriously don't get how this can be a feature film. It's just a bunch of people in a ski resort doing, well, the kind of things skiers do. Sure there is some kind of plot about snowboards not being allowed on the ski hill, but seriously, this came out in 1996, by then, snowboarders were in every resort I ever went to. The main plot line concerns a non-issue and the sub plots don't amount to anything either. I just dot understand, who thought this could be a movie?

There are some attempts at comedy but that falls short too as well as most of the acting, the dialog and the characters. It's like a home movie from someones sub par ski vacation. Why anyone except for the makers would want to see that is a mystery to me.

Well, It Could Have Been A Lot Worse! (SPOILER)

[[e-mail] · 2/10 · 10 December 2003]

As caveat, I have to admit at the onset that I went to school with James Salisko, who got the job of adding the jokes to the script and appears as the surly bartender. Salisko is a great guy, and he needed to pay the rent, so don't blame the writers --this is a producers' project from the get-go. This is the only snowboarding movie I've ever sat through, and it will likely be my last. It suffers from bad acting and bad writing, but the cast seem to be having fun just the same. Probably one of those sets where it was a lot of fun to hang out, but everyone knew the movie was a turkey from the get-go. The plot is a long-lost cousin of King Lear, but it doesn't rise above the cliche very often. With some veteran comic actors to keep things moving, a few token movie "stars" to put bums in seats, and great footage of the Laurentians, it's certainly pretty too look at. Maybe next time I watch, I'll keep the volume off and scan through the dialog scenes.

Once in a short while, a movie comes along, and this certainly fits the description.

[the duck · 6 February 1999]

Shepphird's Snowboard Academy pays homage to early Stanley Kubrick films, such as Killer's Kiss, Paths of Glory and Ski Patrol. This time out, the stellar cast includes Joe Flaherty, Corey Haim, and Jim Varney (showing his range by NOT playing Ernest in this film). The sexual undertones are rampant, from Haim's coy galnces at anything in a skirt to Varney's poem, "I once knew a woman from Russia, whose butt was so big it could crush ya." Haim is refreshing to see here, fresh from whatever eighties movie he made before this one, playing the rebellious teen so convincingly, we almost believe he's apathetic. I don't think Alec Guinness was in this one, but if he had been asked, he undoubtedly would have turned it down.

Utterly inane

[Red-Barracuda · 1/10 · 1 July 2007]

I thought previously I had seen the worst comedy of all time when I endured Going Overboard. Now I'm not so sure.

This movie has a storyline and script so inane it may cause you mental anguish. If you suffer from depression I urge you to avoid this like the plague as it's just possible it could send you over the edge. It's a comedy with no funny bits. In fact the writers come up with the woeful idea of a resort comedian whose act is completely unfunny. If there's one thing a comedy this bad doesn't need, it's an intentionally unfunny character. The unfunny comedian is portrayed by Jim Varney in a toe-curlingly horrible performance; although it's just possible that Varney is outdone by John Ross, who plays an uptight scheming skier in a performance that is so atrocious it's an instrument of evil. You know a movie is in trouble when the best acting comes courtesy of Brigitte Neilson and Corey Haim.

If you are a snowboarder or a skier I implore you to avoid the temptation of watching this atrocity. It is not a good advert for winter sports.

Me and my friends have a bad movie night and this is why I have seen this dreck. So as a public service I feel duty bound to warn other people to avoid this rubbish. I've watched it so you don't have to. If you absolutely have to watch this be warned that you will have more fun setting fire to your genitals.

Coming From a Jim Varney Fan

[spiff42 · 1/10 · 3 April 2018]

I have every Jim Varney film except for this one. Why? Because it is really Stupid This movie is painful the watch the jokes are stupid, Jim Varney is not even likable in this film. I wanted to give this on the benefit of the doubt and I am usually pretty liberal in giving good ratings on most films but this one was one of the few movies I sent to goodwill after viewing it. The jokes are crude as well.

This feels like a movie that tried to use Jim Varney to sell it when he only had a very small role. Then they pieced together footage of a bunch of snowboarders doing stupid things and then called it a movie.

Don't bother especially if you are a fan of Jim Varney. I don't consider this as part of my Ernest collection.

A terrible film with zero redeeming qualities

[MovieAddict2016 · 1/10 · 27 July 2004]

This is essentially a slapstick farce in the vein of POLICE ACADEMY (they were all popular around then weren't they?) only it was made in 1996 and seems like a film from the '80s (that's how cheap the quality of the film is). It stars Corey Haim and Jim "Ernest" Varney (R.I.P.) but isn't funny at all, with revoltingly bad performances and "jokes." It's stupid, crude, unfunny and downright hard to watch at times. Saw it years ago on HBO, and don't plan to ever again.

This is the sort of movie that you wish could be burned. The plot (if there is one) is basically just a lot of chaos at a snowboard academy in the middle of nowhere - sort of like OUT COLD meets POLICE ACADEMY meets something else that's really dumb.

Don't bother. Please.

Ouch!

[wwwvisor · 1/10 · 13 January 2005]

Even my kids thought it was trash. This movie stinks. I rented it from Blockbuster as it was the only snowboarder movie (fiction) I could find. But my snowboarding son is watching and I can tell he is not impressed. The acting is bad (I mean Jim Varney is the Draw?) and the storyline weak. Stay away from this movie unless you like to smirk and groan and sleep. You could maybe get the snowboarding extreme sports videos otherwise. Don't waster your time with this movie. Stay Away! Stay Away! I need to have 10 lines of text. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. Is that enough? No - I need to add more. Blah! Blah? Blah. Blah!! Blah?? Blah....

Believe it or not, I've seen a few shoddier and more awful films--but not many.

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 22 January 2010]

Jim Varney, Brigitte Nielsen and Corey Haim star in this film...need I say more?! The only person in this film who could act was poor Joe Flaherty (his work in "SCTV" and "Freaks & Geeks" would testify to this)--and how he got stuck in this film is anyone's guess, though if you check his career, he has made some interesting decisions as far as the projects he took. I assume he desperately needed the money...period. In SNOWBOARD ACADEMY, he really isn't given anything to do.

As far as the film goes, it's purported to be a comedy. With such 'hilarious' jokes as a guy with a giant frozen booger stuck on his face, a boss named "the head cheese" and phrases like "d!@$weed" and "buzz off d!@$head". This is very clever writing...if you are a 3rd grader.

Flaherty plays the owner of a failing ski resort. In order to try to attract more people, his youngest son convinces him to open the runs up to snowboarders and teach snowboarding classes--and snowboarders had been previously banned from the hills. Up until this decision, the audience was treated to the hilarious antics(?) of the snowboarders who were breaking the rules by using the trails. The other son hates snowboarders and will do anything to get rid of them--even though this makes zero economic sense.

Jim Varney is hired to be a combination comic for the lounge, safety engineer and god knows what else. No one knows that he can't ski (a prerequisite for the job) and his antics are very broad and very, very slapstick--with lots of pratfalls. It's not good, but frankly he's probably the best thing in the film because at least his character seems likable--something NOT shared with the other 'stars'. Plus at least kids will think this Varney is funny.

As for the other characters, they are really caricatures--stereotypes with no dimension to their personalities. The snowboarders are mostly obnoxious idiots. The older son is sullen and grumpy. The younger one is...well...younger. The evil wife is evil--like every money-grubbing estranged wife you could imagine rolled up into one. The ex-security chief is...well..the most untalented, obnoxious and horrible person in the film. I'd rather have a migraine than watch the 'antics' of this amazingly unfunny guy---who is supposed to be there for comic relief!! None of them are worth putting in the film--yet they make up 80% of the movie!! Overall, this is an incredibly stupid and poorly written film. It's painfully unfunny and a waste of time. HOWEVER, I can't give it a 1 because the production values are not 100% bad and, believe it or not, I've seen a few shoddier and more awful films--but not many. I can see how it made the IMDb Bottom 100 list, but I would only place it in the Bottom 500 if such a list existed. Not a glowing endorsement, I know, but the film was only 97% horrible.

For a good ski comedy, try the cult classic BETTER OFF DEAD. Unlike the sludge that is SNOWBOARD ACADEMY, the writing is great and the film fun for all ages.

Innocent ... light ... and mildly amusing if you're a snowboarder ...

[Vic_max · 5/10 · 3 July 2007]

This movie is simple, light-minded amusement that's geared for a young audience (maybe 10-13 year old kids). If you happen to be a snowboarder, there's a lot of early snowboarding material that's sort of amusing to watch.

Basically, the story is about a group of snowboarders trying to get the right to use the slopes at a ski resort. To do this, they have to succeed on two fronts - they must make set up a successful beginner snowboard school and win a race against skiers.

Jim Varney does his normal zany, incompetent and innocent character role and Brigitte Nielsen does a good job in a "bad girl" role. Everyone else is pretty much acting out one-dimensional character roles.

The one mildly redeeming value of this movie is the winter scenery - instead of occasionally seeing some snow and skiing / snowboarding, there's quite a bit of it. The value is 'historical' only: it's the mid-90s and snowboarding is just becoming mainstream - the tricks are nice (not flashy and insane as they are now) and skis are still long and straight. The snow scenes are kind of amusing for those reasons.

However, if that is not of interest and you are not a little child, watch this in the background while you do something else or not at all.

This Movie Rocks!

[L-I-Z-A-R-D-O · 10/10 · 31 January 2003]

We all know that Jim Varney has constructed a career out of annoying, unexceptional, and almost slapstick comedy; a deadly combination. There is supposed to be some kind of hidden comedy (think Letterman) in Jim's seemingly desperate attempts to be funny and pseudo incompetence. He plays an incompetent safety engineer and entertainer...surprised? The focus of the movie is on many characters, not just one or two. The other characters are actually comedic. Slush is probably the funniest character in the entire movie. Overall, it's pretty good and the sound-track kicks ass. The plot is decent (for the time) and improbable yet not impossible. Refreshingly, there is no guy trying to get a girl.

I'm on the fence with this one

[bug76 · 6/10 · 26 March 2011]

Yes, I did buy this on DVD solely because Jim Varney is in it and I'm a huge fan. Even though this movie falls flat most of the time, Varney is the only one I wanted to see. Bless him, he always gave 110% to a role regardless of how crappy the script might be. (So far, the only crappy script was in this movie.) I love him as Ernest because I believe 100% that that was Jim's true calling. His character, 'Rudy James' does pull some Ernest-esque type stunts but without the Ernest charm I love so much. However, when Rudy slipped and started sliding in the snow, screaming like Ernest, and ended up crashing head first into a tree, I accidentally blurted out "Poor Ernest" before I could stop myself. I don't like pigeon-holing a character and I never did until then. I've come to realize that movies with very little heart, no strong moral foundation, foul language and sexual content don't do well for Varney. He was a stunning and brilliant actor but deep down I don't think he was ever meant to be in these types of movies. When he played down-to-earth, genuine characters like Ernest or 'Carl Banks' from 'Treehouse Hostage', you can see a difference in him. I think because in real life it was because Varney was a really sweet, down-to-earth, unpretentious man. Varney is hilarious in this movie and he has a great singing voice when he was entertaining customers at the bar. I found myself just going back to that scene and listening over and over again. I was ticked, however, when they cut away to show a scene between the bartender and the son of the owner of the resort(Flaherty). I was quite content on listening to Jim sing. True Varney fans(like myself) might want this one, but if not, leave it.

A waste of good videotape

[qualopec-2 · 31 October 1999]

"Snowboard Academy", allegedly a comedy, is not funny. I don't mean, not "ha-ha" funny; I don't mean, not funny to certain sensibilities; I just mean plain, flat-out, empirically not funny. Jokes fall flatter than week-old cola. Actors soldier onward mindlessly -- I would call their performances workmanlike, but that would be insulting to workmen. We're talking a major step down from the Ernest flicks here. Even the snowboard stunts are lame and repetitive. Don't expect to see progressive technical riding here; just look for backflip after backflip. This movie is an insult to the intelligence of all who see it.

Excellent music and great corny humour

[jumpmanlives · 9/10 · 19 October 2001]

If you love cheesy lines and slapstick you'll agree this movie rocks. An undemanding movie that is easy to watch and does not get boring. If you liked this movie you'll love 'Kull the conquerer' starring Kevin Sorbo from 'The adventures Hercules', and any/all of the Mortal Kombat movies.

RIP corey Haim and jim varney

[dowdytye · 7/10 · 20 May 2021]

Not the best movie for either of these 2 but they actually do amazing jobs acting in this the way they acted was the exact opposite of how they are in real life ppl should really appreciate this show more then what they mainly because at this time corey haim was doing a string of b movies just to pay rent and stay alive due to his addiction sadly the level of stardom he should of achieved was never reached and he died young any movie he made I appreciate because of how great he was and the potential he had and the few movies he made I cherish he could of made thousands of movies if addiction hadn't destroyed his credibility I forever love and appreciate him and everything he brought to Hollywood lots of child actors got into acting because they wanted to be corey haim for jim varney no idea why he was in this movie he was peaking in the mid to late 90s and he even did toy story right b4 this he was financially stable could of took any comedy he wanted I truly believe varney solely took this role because he wanted to work with haim who was is and will always be a legend but I also believe varney knew he was going to die soon and took whatever offered the most money to make sure his family was set for life after he passed rip to both haim and varney no matter what ppl say this movie is worth a watch just to reminisce on 2 of the greatest to ever do it one as a teen sex idol other as a comedy legend.

Quite Funny

[Matt1567 · 8 December 2001]

Jim Varney was very funny in this film.Some corny humor and alot of slapstick.Most of all this movie is very entertaining with a Great storyline.Although it is not funny at every second it does have some GREAT spots of comedy.Stars:Jim Varney,Corey Haim, and Brigitte Nielsen. 8 out of 10

A top 5 snowboard/ski comedy of all time, it rocks.

[tomfrog · 10/10 · 8 June 2003]

Awesome film. Haim kicks ass and takes names once again. It is considered a classic i the genre of ski and snowboarding movies. If you liked the movie "Out Cold" or "Ski School" you will love this movie as well. It is your basic "Animal House" meets the mountain of snow.

Well, that sure sucked

[millennia-2 · 13 April 2001]

Snowboard Academy is a decidedly bad, uninspired "comedy" (there was once a time when that word was reserved for movies that were actually funny). The sole bright spot here is the underrated (yes, that's right, think about it for a moment) Jim Varney, who tries hard, though it is hardly enough to even begin to save this film. I don't know how this movie could have been released so widely, as it's little more than a *barely* dressed up B movie, chock full of has been stars. This was Haim's last widely released film, thankfully, as his career started well then dropped dramatically after The Lost Boys. Can't say I've heard of the female lead (Brigitte somebody) before, and with a performance like this, I'm sure this'll be the last time I see her. Thought I might as well point out the editing, which is actually half decent, if only the footage was good enough to match it.

Pass on this one folks, there's (read carefully) nothing to see here

A dubious entry into the genre.

[monkeyboy · 22 December 1999]

John Shepphird's offering in the venerable tradition of "Ski School" films, "Snowboard Academy", alas, falls sadly short. A high-caliber cast - including Corey Haim, Jim Varney and Brigitte Neilsen - attempt in vain to bring life to Rupak and Salisko's script. The traditional elements are here: the new guard (snowboarders) questing to overthrow the old guard (skiers), and in turn save the mountain; hilarity ensues. But unlike its brethern in the genre, "Snowboard Academy" misses one key point: unrepentant, gratuitous nudity.

Corey The Younger's performance, however, is notable from a conceptual perspective. The way he uses the snowboarder's "devil-may-care" lifestyle as motivation for his role as Chris Barry is awe-inspiring. One almost believes that Corey has become Chris, rather than merely accepting the role as payoff for a gambling debt.