Movies

Mark Harmon’s Only Box Office Hit: Summer School

BBG News

In 1986, Mark Harmon, formerly known for his role on NCIS, was recognized as People’s second Sexiest Man Alive. Interestingly, this honor came in the same year that his run on the medical drama television series St. Elsewhere ended. The same year also saw Harmon delivering a chilling portrayal of real-life serial killer Ted Bundy in the television miniseries The Deliberate Stranger. As his public image reached new heights, Harmon ventured into feature films, making his debut in the 1987 comedy Summer School where he played Freddy Shoop, a high school gym teacher who finds himself blackmailed into teaching a challenging group of students during summer break in a remedial English class.

Instead of portraying a slick bachelor persona as in the 1989 romantic comedy “Worth Winning”, Harmon exhibits a lovable, goofy demeanor in “Summer School”. This role offers an excellent platform for Harmon to display his talent for slapstick humor. Although “Summer School” was met with generally unfavorable critical reception upon its initial release, the film has since gained a devoted cult following over the past 35 years. In fact, it’s hard to argue that any high school movie where a teacher organizes a classroom viewing of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” can be entirely poor in quality.

Mark Harmon Plays a Lovable Idiot in ‘Summer School’

Rather than the exceptional competence and accuracy that characterized Mark Harmon’s portrayal of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS for 19 seasons, his character Freddy Shoop in Summer School is far from brilliant. Freddy initially appears as a disillusioned and lazy gym teacher in Los Angeles, who holds a low opinion of both himself and his students. This negative outlook is further reinforced by the devious Vice Principal Phil Gills, who uses the threat of revoking Freddy’s tenure to force him into teaching a group of unenthusiastic students during summer break instead of going on a Hawaiian vacation.

In “Summer School,” Freddy, a teacher who’s struggling and feels just as trapped during summer break as his students do, takes on a role reminiscent of Bill Murray’s character “Tripper” Harrison from the 1979 comedy film “Meatballs.” However, much like how “Meatballs” radiates charm through Murray’s endearing performance, Harmon skillfully portrays Freddy in “Summer School,” making him the kind of teacher that everyone wishes they had or had had during their high school years.

In contrast to some inspiring teacher-focused movies like “Dead Poets Society” and “Stand and Deliver,” Summer School stands out by blending its lighthearted nature with a focus on self-improvement. Unlike the almost superhuman teachers in these films, Freddy and his students set more realistic expectations for each other. The summer program culminates in a difficult test that most students are expected to fail. However, despite starting as failures, the characters ultimately rise to a higher plane of existence by the end.

Harmon’s Brief Movie Career Peaked With ‘Summer School’

The movie titled “Summer School” concluded its cinema release, earning over $35 million at the domestic box office. The decent box office performance of “Summer School” prompted distributor Paramount Pictures to nurture Harmon as one of their homegrown leading actors. This brief endeavor started when Paramount paired Harmon with the renowned Sean Connery in the 1988 crime film “The Presidio.” Unfortunately, Harmon was outshone by Connery in “The Presidio,” which turned out to be a box office flop and raised doubts about Harmon’s ability to succeed commercially in future films.

After completing “The Presidio”, Harmon ventured into the 1988 romantic drama film “Stealing Home”, a project close to his heart as an actor. Although this movie eventually gained cult classic status, it only managed to earn less than $8 million at the domestic box office during its run. In dire need of a successful box-office release, Harmon’s career took a significant turn with the 1989 premiere of the romantic comedy film “Worth Winning”. Unfortunately, this film was a complete flop, forcing him to return to television work. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, he has left a lasting impact on television.

‘Summer School’ Is an Underrated 1980s Comedy and Nostalgia Blast

The movie titled “Summer School” was helmed by comedy great Carl Reiner, who had previously collaborated with Steve Martin on the hit 1984 film “All of Me,” a body-swapping comedy with a fantasy twist. Contrary to its successful opening at the box office, the film was met with harsh criticism from critics for supposedly lacking in creativity and novelty. In his scathing half-star review, Roger Ebert deemed “Summer School” one of the worst films of its time. Ebert’s critique went as follows:

> “Summer School” is a testament to mediocrity, showcasing a dearth of original ideas and creativity that places it among the worst films of its era.

The film includes elements such as pranks, school outings, defiance, understanding, corrupt administrators, missing love interests, a birth scene, heavy use of special effects makeup, an appalling demonstration of teaching abilities, and subtle sexual content. However, it lacks the audacity to be crude or the type of sensationalistic entertainment that its advertisements suggest. Instead, it feels like a ghostly movie. You watch it, you exit the theater, and then it fades away, leaving behind only a faint recollection, somewhat akin to an unpleasant aftertaste.

One supporter of “Summer School” is renowned actor Mark Harmon, who has frequently shown appreciation for the movie and its impact on his professional journey. During an interview with The A.V. Club in 2011, Harmon shared his sentiments about the film.

Freddy Shoop, yes, I understand the appeal. Indeed, many desired a teacher like Freddy Shoop, including myself. I wholeheartedly attribute this recognition to Carl Reiner. He was indeed extraordinary, and his opinion held significant weight. It was he who encouraged me to take on this role, specifically selecting me for it. Interestingly, his decision stemmed from an interview he watched of mine while I was promoting The Deliberate Stranger.

Summer School is available to rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Google Play.

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2025-05-19 02:02

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