HOW I GOT INTO COLLEGE

US, 1989, 93 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Edwards, Corey Parker, Lara Flynn Boyle, Charles Rockett, Christopher Rydell.
Directed by Savage Steve Holland.

How I Got Into College is a slight, amiable film for American teenagers, directed by Savage Steve Holland (Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer). It plays on the efforts that teenagers make to pass and get high grades in their final examinations, get admission into colleges. It also highlights the pressure from parents as well as the manoeuvres of the colleges in their recruiting. There is also a fantasy joke as two actors dramatise the mathematical problems in the mind of the hero.

It is fairly straightforward comedy, life in a small American town, the awkward hero proving himself, the prom queen finding that she is ordinary. Undemanding -and a pleasant change from some of the youth movies and their preoccupation about sex and money in the late '80s.

1. American teen comedy, the focus on college and education, youth and hopes?

2. The town and the school, homes, the colleges? The maths fantasy? Songs?

3. Marlon as hero: his maths, not doing well in the exam, the help of the teachers, fascination with Jessica, talking with Oliver, the canteen, meeting Jessica, getting the badges, the interview about his college hopes, his father and the family, looking after the stepbrother? Meeting Kip at the open day, backing into the religious university? Visiting Ramsay College for the open house, with Jessica, racing out of the interview. pleading with Kip on Jessica's behalf? At home. comforting Jessica? His going to the coaching school, learning to juggle, minding the kids, wrestling, making the video? Persuading Jessica to apply, driving with her? The wait, the happy ending? And the maths finale and the exploding letterbox?

4. Jessica and her prominence, leader of the class, glamour, the campaign, her family pressures to go to Michigan, the interview with Kip and Flotter, her feeling that she was average and seeing the other girls, misinterpreting the interview? Her fear, Kip reinforcing the fear? At home, the support of Marlon, their going back, writing her story in the car? Being accepted?

5. Oliver and his patter, wanting to travel? The irony of his getting his desire at the end? The girls, the exams, weeping, talking with Jessica, failing acceptance into colleges?

6. Kip and his pleasant manner, Nina and friendship, work on the commission? Leo and his ambitions, Flotter and his absentmindedness? Bob chairing the meetings, the chancellor and her interventions? The plans for recruiting, travelling, the interviews, Nina and Vera, candidates, the meetings, the clashes, the video of Marlon? The practical joke with the elephant - in retaliation with Flotter and the pigs? Nina and her supporting Kip?

7. Leo and his oozing charm, ambitions, playing up to the witch, the practical joke of the elephant?

8. Bob and the chancellor, their work, Flotter and the pigs? His absent-minded interview with Jessica? The other members of the committee?

9. The sketch of the parents, Jessica and her ambitious parents, Marlon and his father, his young stepmother? The picture of teachers?

10. Marlon's video, its creativity - and the response of the committee?

11. The simple and idyllic picture of mid-America, average people, nice people, their hopes and ambitions?