Up the Creek, a classic 80s comedy celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, delivers on its promise of good old-fashioned fun for fans of films such as National Lampoon’s Animal House, Police Academy and Porky’s.
The film follows a group of college slackers who are forced to compete in a whitewater rafting race as a last-ditch effort to get their college degrees while subsequently bringing pride to Lepetomane University, commonly known as “Lobotomy U.”
Dean Burch, played by John Hillerman using his Higgins accent from the long-running series Magnum P.I. starring Tom Selleck, not only bribes the guys with the promise of degrees, he essentially gives them no other option.
“You have the distinct honor of being the four worst students in the entire country. You’re not at the bottom of the list, you are the bottom of the list!” Burch declares in their meeting in the boiler room.
Tim Matheson leads the film’s ensemble cast and brings plenty of energy and humor to the role of Bob McGraw, the leader of the foursome that also includes Max (Dan Monahan), Gonzer (Stephen Furst) and Irwin (Sandy Helberg).
Their opponents include the rich preppy guys from Ivy University, defending champion Washington Military Institute and a female team led by Heather Merriweather (Jennifer Runyon) and Lisa (Julie Montgomery from Revenge of the Nerds).
McGraw and Merriweather instantly hit it off and end up joining forces to battle the Ivy U. team and their bag of tricks including explosives that they purchased in their attempt to cheat their way to victory.
Dan Monahan, Sandy Helberg and Tim Matheson (L-R) in Up the Creek (Photo/Orion Pictures)
Reception for Up the Creek
Up the Creek grossed $3.2 million in its opening weekend, good enough for No. 8 at the box office. The top film that week was Police Academy starring Steve Guttenberg.
The film would eventually gross $11.7 million in its theatrical run but became a cult classic after its run on HBO and VHS.
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert each praised the film in their reviews.
Siskel said in his review that the film was “a good time” where Matheson, Furst and Helberg “play their roles with the same whimsical naturalness that made Bill Murray a star. They don’t push themselves upon us, and that allows us to identify with them in a relaxed way. The result is a very tight script with breathing room. That’s most unusual for a teen comedy, and that’s why Up the Creek is one of the best.”
Ebert said “Up The Creek belongs to an honorable movie tradition, the slapstick comedy. It is superficial, obvious, vulgar, idiotic, goofy, sexy, and predictable. Those are all, by the way, positive qualities — at least, in an Undergraduate Slob Movie.”
Legacy
Up the Creek is a fun and entertaining film that captures the spirit of the 80s. It’s a perfect choice for a lighthearted watch, especially if you’re a fan of classic comedies and 80s nostalgia.
