College (2008)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Deb Hagan

Writers (WGA):

Dan Callahan (written by) &
Adam Ellison (written by)

Release Date:

29 August 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Best. Weekend. Ever.

Plot:

A wild weekend is in store for three high school seniors who visit a local college campus as prospective freshmen. |

Plot Keywords:

High School | College | Break Up | Computer | Frat Party

Cast

Drake Bell	...	Kevin Brewer
Andrew Caldwell	...	Carter Scott
Andree Moss	...	Ashley
Carolyn Moss	...	Riley
Wendy Talley	...	Kevin's Mom
Kevin Covais	...	Morris Hooper
Alona Tal	...	Gina
Ryan Pinkston	...	Fletcher
Brandi Coleman	...	College Girl #1
Jessica Heap	...	College Girl #2
Finch Nissen	...	Sweaty Guy
Camille Mana	...	Heather
Haley Bennett	...	Kendall
Nathalie Walker	...	Amy
Nick Zano	...	Teague
Gary Owen	...	Bearcat
Zach Cregger	...	Cooper
Reggie Martinez	...	Goose (as Reginald Martinez)
Deejay Buras	...	Assless Chaps Guy (as Duane Buras Jr.)
Ethan Tobman	...	Jean Shorts Guy
Todd Voltz	...	Nitrous Guy
Melissa Lingafelt	...	Junior Girl
Brandy Blake	...	Girl #1
Ava Santana	...	Girl #2
Nick Erickson	...	Mr. Hooper
Wallace Merck	...	Dean Chandler
Stephanie Honore	...	Gina’s Friend
Marissa D'Onofrio	...	Tour Guide
Tracy Mulholland	...	Bitchy Sorority Sister
Romeo Clarke	...	Bouncer
Valentina Vaughn	...	Penthouse Pet #1
Heather Vandeven	...	Penthouse Pet #2
Verne Troyer	...	Verne Troyer
Lisa Morrison	...	Mrs. Chandler
Earl Maddox	...	Farmer
Amanda Abadie	...	Sorority Girl
Michael J. Gaeta	...	Police Sargeant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barbara Balentine	...	Freshman parent (uncredited)
Michael P. Cahill	...	Mr. Hays (uncredited)
Jessica Dwyer	...	Bicyclist (uncredited)
Kristina Fisher	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Krystina Fisher	...	High School Student (uncredited)
Travis Fontenot	...	Frat Boy (uncredited)
Jenifer Rebecca Foster	...	Dominatrix (uncredited)
Geraldine Glenn	...	Caferteria worker (uncredited)
Elton LeBlanc	...	College administrator (uncredited)
Armando Leduc	...	Frat boy (uncredited)
Cynthia Leigh	...	Tour Audience (uncredited)
Sami Naveed	...	Frat Guy (uncredited)
Nick Reasons	...	Frat Brother (uncredited)

Directed by
Deb Hagan

Writing credits (WGA)
Dan Callahan		(written by) &
Adam Ellison		(written by)

Produced by
John J. Anderson	....	producer
Kimberly C. Anderson	....	producer
Julie Dangel	....	producer
Sam Nazarian	....	executive producer
Malcolm Petal	....	producer
Adam Rosenfelt	....	producer
Marc Schaberg	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Transcenders

Cinematography by
Dan Stoloff

Film Editing by
David Codron

Casting by
Freddy Luis
Anne McCarthy
Jay Scully
Amy Staub

Production Design by
Ethan Tobman

Set Decoration by
Dorree Cooper

Costume Design by
Caroline Marx

Makeup Department
Nikki I Brown	....	assistant makeup artist
Samantha M. Capps	....	additional makeup artist
Stacey Herbert	....	makeup department head (as Stacey L. Taniguchi)
Susan 'Star' Orr	....	key hair stylist
Kent Richard	....	hair stylist
Kellie Robinson	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Christopher Kulikowski	....	post-production supervisor
Robert Labrecque	....	production supervisor
Brian Pitt	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason Altieri	....	key second assistant director
Eric Fox Hays	....	first assistant director
Tony Niknejadi	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Michael Calabrese	....	leadman
Ryan Martin Dwyer	....	set dresser
Alexander Lasseigne III	....	set dresser
Twig Leveque	....	prop assistant
Sam Lothridge	....	on-set dresser
Daniel A. Maes	....	set dresser
Trey Merrill	....	carpenter
Janna Roach	....	assistant property master
Maggie Rolland	....	props assistant
Michelle Rolland	....	property master
Maria Senger	....	art department production assistant
Jeff Taisey	....	construction coordinator
Denise Templeton	....	art department coordinator
Gary Thomas	....	storyboard artist
Marcus Turchi	....	lead carpenter

Sound Department
Kevin Becker	....	utility sound
Barney Cabral	....	supervising sound editor
Rene Defrancesch	....	boom operator
David S. DiPietro	....	sound recordist
Paul Drenning	....	adr mixer
Rickley W. Dumm	....	sound effects editor
Stephen Fitzmaurice	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Marks	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Stacey Michaels	....	foley mixer
David Miraglia	....	supervising sound editor
Jorge Montijo	....	sound editor
Perry Robertson	....	supervising sound editor
Ron Scelza	....	production sound mixer
Noel Vought	....	foley artist
Kevin Zimmerman	....	assistant sound editor
Rob Parke	....	assistant sound (uncredited)
Randolph Saucedo	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Nash	....	special effects technician

Stunts
Andrew Scott Dixon	....	utility stunts
Jeff Galpin	....	stunt coordinator
John Gilbert	....	stunts
Tanner Gill	....	stunts
T. Ryan Mooney	....	stunts
Holly O'Quin	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Grayson Austin	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Grayson Austin	....	key Steadicam operator
David S. Campbell	....	steadicam operator
David C. Edwards	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Penelope Helmer	....	camera loader
Michael D. Kennedy	....	set lighting technician
Richard Lacy	....	first assistant camera
Patrick Longman	....	libra operator
Mike McGowan	....	Steadicam operator
Mike McGowan	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Patti Perret	....	still photographer
Declan Ryan	....	additional lighting technician
Louis Zlotowicz	....	additional second assistant camera

Animation Department
Steven Capra	....	animator
Campy Chaney	....	animator

Casting Department
James Bearb	....	casting assistant
Lauri David	....	background casting
Lauri David	....	extras casting
Moira Glace	....	casting assistant
Jacob Hamil	....	casting assistant
Scott M. King	....	extras casting intern
Brie Puneky	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annette Farnsworth	....	costume production assistant
April Justin	....	costumer
Ashley Martin	....	costume supervisor
Jill Stoutz	....	costume production assistant
Jill Stoutz	....	costumer

Editorial Department
George Chavez	....	color timer
Colby Enders	....	assistant editor
John Sellars	....	colorist

Music Department
Michael Baber	....	music editor
Joel C. High	....	music supervisor
Rebecca Rienks	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Brad Lips	....	fuel truck driver
Cindi Randall	....	transportation captain
Christy Zeller	....	transportation office coordinator

Other crew
Les Arceneaux	....	location assistant
Christopher C. Brown	....	production assistant
Chris Browne	....	key craft service
Kathy Chambless	....	production coordinator
Ariane Chatman	....	payroll accountant
Frank Duffy	....	set medic (as Frankie Lynch)
Jessica Dwyer	....	production assistant
Lorraine Evanoff	....	post-production accountant
Timothy Farmer	....	production assistant
Teri Fischer	....	first production accountant
W. Boyd Ford	....	assistant: cast
Jeff Galpin	....	head animal trainer
Suraj Gohill	....	production financing
Deb Hagan	....	opening title designer
Danny Cosmo Higginbottom	....	animal wrangler
Jeremy Kirkland	....	production assistant
Yvette Laplace	....	assistant location manager
Mike Leonard	....	set production assistant
Julie Lopinto	....	second assistant accountant
Katie McMillan	....	assistant: Mr. Rosenfelt and Mr. Schaberg
Matthew D. Miller	....	production assistant
Scarlett Pettyjohn	....	business affairs: Element Films
Annie Poirier	....	assistant production coordinator
Nick Reasons	....	stand-in
Jonathan Thornton	....	prosthetic effects
Jimi Woods	....	location manager
Wayne Douglas Morgan	....	extras wrangler (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Element Films (presents)
• L.I.F.T. Production (in association with) (as LIFT Productions)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• EarCandy  sound post-production
• Element Films  funding
• Film Production Capital  tax credit financing
• Global Tactical Services  security services
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• New Orleans Film Commission, The  film commission
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive crude and sexual content, nudity, language, drug and alcohol abuse.

Runtime:

USA:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #43899) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Mexico:C | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Element Films

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Kevin (Drake Bell) receives a message on his cellphone at the beginning of the movie, the alert reads "New Text Message", but when Kevin opens the cellphone a Video Message plays from his friend Carter (Andrew Caldwell).

Movie Connections:

References Dumb & Dumber (1994)

Soundtrack:

Bring 'Em Out

Major problems here. Drake Bell shouldn't even be in this movie, and it's not his fault.

What you get with 'College' is, a lamely executed farce of a comedy that relies on idiotic humor that not even idiots would find funny. Luckily, the film has more boobs in it than any film of recent memory, and a couple of the female characters are extraordinarily good looking. That means, of course, that if you're either gay or female, you're going to want to kill yourself from boredom.

A simplistic plot for a simplistic movie doesn't allow for a lot of surprises, though the film's ending does get points for departing from the formulaic 'boy has epiphany and gets girl' ending, and adding a little more to it. Our three leads are tolerable at best. 'College' boasts a mostly unknown cast, with the only 'names' in the film being Drake Bell, Kevin Covais, and Verne Troyer. Andrew Caldwell's performance as a wannabe partier is basically a teenage version of Chris Farley's entire career. Except this one doesn't have the laughs. Bell is alright, but fails to gain the audience's attention as the leading man so many tween fans already tout him as. Kevin 'Chicken Little' Covais has a few funny moments, especially whenever he's acting drunk, but adds little to the film. He's a MUCH better singer than actor, as evidenced by American Idol. Haley Bennett was my favorite part of the film as Bell's love interest. Gary Owen is hilarious as 'Bearcat', the typical crazy frat guy.

'College' has heart, and gets credit for trying, but the execution on the part of the director, casting directors, producers, and to a lesser extent, the screenwriters is what hurts the film. First, I like that Drake Bell is trying to shed his Nickelodeon image, but he was the wrong guy to cast here, mostly because he isn't a big enough name to draw in the people, and what little fans he does have aren't old enough to see this film...there lies the problem. Bell's fans can't see the movie, and I seriously doubt all the people that voted for Covais on American Idol are fond enough to waste their money on this movie. Next, the rating of this film, while very much deserved, hurts the film the most. Had the film been made as a PG-13 film, it might have been just as 'good' in terms of quality, not to mention it would have made more money. Third, all the 'f' bombs and nudity were completely unnecessary, and seem to be there just to secure the R rating. Fourth, having been to college myself, this film is nothing like the real thing. The parties are crazy, but this is too much. It is so unrealistic on every level that it's just astounding. At least Superbad was realistic...in some regards.

'College' is a painful and sad attempt to recreate college life on the big screen. If you want something more realistic, try 'Fifty Pills'. Or just take fifty pills of something. Bell is seriously miscast, and Deb Hagan's direction, along with her producers' bad choices, drag down what could have been a mildly entertaining and mildly successful Superbad ripoff.