The Freshman
Everyone has their share of hard times as a college freshman. Getting screwed into taking Bio at 8:00 a.m. on Fridays. Not having a fake I.D. -- and not knowing enough people who do. RA's busting your balls about partying in your room. And worst of all, not being able to get any action (applies to freshman males only). The list goes on and on.
Few of us, however, can claim to having as abysmal a start to their collegiate career as Clark Kellogg (Matthew Broderick) in The Freshman. The na•ve Clark, who hails from Vermont, is set to attend New York University as the film begins. Shortly after arriving in New York City, he meets alleged cab driver Victor Ray (played by talented veteran Bruno Kirby, best known for his lead role in City Slickers), who promptly steals his luggage. As Clark so aptly puts it in his amusing voice-over narration, "I had been in New York for 19 minutes and 11 seconds, and I was already ruined."
Fortunately (or not) for Clark, his path crosses again with Victor Ray, which leads him to Carmine Sabatini (Marlon Brando), an elderly Italian gentleman who bears a striking resemblance to none other than the Godfather, Don Corleone. Before Clark knows what's happening, he's running errands (possibly illegal) for Carmine, is engaged to his beautiful daughter, and is being followed by federal agents.
The chemistry between Broderick and Brando is one of the movie's strongest points. Broderick (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Election) is a talented comic actor who's perfect here as the innocent straight man, and Brando is also wonderful in a role that smartly nods to his legendary work in The Godfather. Check out the scenes where Carmine and Clark drink cappucino, discuss Mussolini and exchange the "kiss of kisses." Priceless stuff.
Aside from Broderick and Brando, The Freshman boasts a solid supporting cast with many faces you'll recognize, from the aforementioned Kirby to Penelope Ann Miller (Carlito's Way, Along Came A Spider) to Frank Whaley, who you may recall from his unfortunate experience of snacking on a Royale With Cheese when Travolta and Samuel L. pay him a visit in Pulp Fiction. All are solid.
Fans of the Godfather trilogy will love this movie and the numerous Godfather references, including several highly amusing scenes in which Clark's film teacher screens and comments on sections of The Godfather Part II. However, you need not be familiar with the Godfather films to enjoy this movie. Writer/Director Andrew Bergman (who also wrote Fletch and co-wrote Blazing Saddles) has penned a comedy that effectively ranges from slapstick (Clark transporting a komodo dragon) to smart (Mona Lisa and Godfather references) to bizarre (supporting character Larry London's observation that "Carmine said one boy. And here are two.")
Considering The Freshman's strong cast and sharp screenplay, fans of Broderick, The Godfather, and just good comedies in general will want to give this underrated, unpredictable film a look.
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Brando's reprisal of his Don Corleone role and the film's setting in Little Italy/NYC are compelling reasons to sip a little vino while watching this flick.
An amusing romance between Broderick and Penelope Ann Miller and numerous other laughs make this an upper-tier date flick.
Buy this movie from Amazon.com
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