STEALING HARVARD
US, 2002, 86 minutes, Colour.
Jason Lee, Tom Green, Lesley Man, Megan Mullaly, Dennis Farina, John C.McGinley, Richard Jenkins, Chris Penn, Tammy Blanchard.
Directed by Bruce Mc Culloch.
Stealing Harvard is a pleasant comedy while it is up there on the screen – but is forgettable. Jason Lee, who had appeared in a number of Kevin Smith’s films, and then who appeared on television in his series, My Name is Earl, portrays an uncle who turns to a life of crime in order to finance his niece (Tammy Blanchard) and her attempts to go to Harvard for study. Leslie Mann is his girlfriend who also wants money for a down-payment on a house. His friend is played by Tom Green (usually gross-out in comedy like Freddy Got Fingered) who is much more moderate here. It is a chance to see comics like Dennis Farina as well as Megan Mullally, Karen from Will and Grace.
The film was directed by Bruce McCulloch?, Canadian director who made such films as Dick but worked mainly in television. However, he also directed the children’s film which is hard going, Unaccompanied Minors.
1. An entertaining comedy, the touch of the vulgar - but very restrained for Tom Green, compared with his other films?
2. California settings, homes, gardens, mansions, companies, shops, authentic atmosphere? Musical score and songs?
3. The original title: Uncle? Reference to John and focus on him? Stealing Harvard and the escapades that John had to get up to for his niece?
4. John's voice-over, the question of fate, choices? The flashback from the races? In himself, ordinary nice young man, the death of his parents (and the priest having to do up his tie)? His sister and her trailer-trash lifestyle? The video of the promise to his niece about giving the money for Harvard? His relationship with his girlfriend? Elaine and her demands, crying in bed, her plan for the house? The meal, the down-payment on the house? His desperation, unable to tell Elaine the truth? His trying all his relations and their flat refusal? His going to Duff? The various plans and the execution? Going into the house, meeting the owner, the grief for his wife, having to dress up as his wife, the photo? The use of the connections for the photo and the blackmail and the man being the judge? The plan to rob the lottery money, going to Duff's uncle, his demands, getting the guns, painting them, the masks? Going to the shop, the young man and his getting the shotgun, shooting, telling the police that they had taken the videos? The escape? Going to the top thug, memories of school? The getaway car, John's reaction, hitting David with the steering clamp? Elaine's reaction, his forcefulness and her supporting him? Her father giving her the photo, her hearing the story, believing it? The plan to rob her father, getting Duff, going into the centre, her being excited, the police arriving? The interrogations? The court case, the judge, getting off? John going to the races - and winning the money, the wedding, happy ever after?
5. Duff, landscape gardening, stupid and intelligent? The comic routines? His advice to John, not going into the house after making such a mess when he found the safe? His uncle, the shemozzle of the raid on the store, the complaining about names? The interrogation by the police? The getaway car and John's anger with him? His wanting privacy from his mother? His not liking Elaine, deciding to help with the robbery, trying to break the window, the dog attacking him? The end and his meeting the judge?
6. Elaine, demanding, complaining? Her relationship with her father? Crying, putting the down-payment, suspicious? Learning the truth, happy with John, participating in the robbery, annoyed with her father for not supporting her, the happy ending?
7. Elaine's father, the boss, his demands and interrogations, surveillance, seeing John run from the house? Going back, his being trapped with the photo? Pursuing them when they were robbing his firm, the police taking him in? The character of the dog, his use of the dog, the comedy with the dog? The touch of the crass?
8. Noreen and John's love for her, her failing the spelling test, the promise about the money, going to Harvard, the party and her gratitude? Patty, trailer trash, her love for John, the party and the men in the trailer, her supporting him, maid of honour at the wedding?
9. The judge, his routine with intruders in the house, dressing them up, his talking, the photo - and his being the judge in the case?
10. The policeman, earnest, turning forty, the toothbrush crass joke, his pursuing the group, arresting, the court case?
11. The popularity of this kind of easygoing comedy?
