Andrew Bergman’s comedy The Freshman , released in theaters on July 20, 1990, is a delightful blend of mob spoof and fish-out-of-water tale, most notably for its inspired casting of Marlon Brando in a role that playfully echoes his iconic performance as Don Corleone. The film offers a charmingly absurd look at New York City’s underbelly through the eyes of an innocent outsider.
The story follows Clark Kellogg (Matthew Broderick), a bright and earnest film student from Vermont who arrives in New York City for his freshman year at NYU. His plans for a quiet academic life are immediately derailed when his expensive lizard, a gift from his stepfather, is stolen shortly after his arrival. Desperate for money to replace it, Clark answers an ad for a job that seems too good to be true.
This leads him to Carmine Sabatini (Brando), the proprietor of the Gourmet Club who is a charismatic and seemingly benevolent importer with a striking resemblance to a certain famous crime boss. Carmine takes a liking to Clark and offers him a series of unusual jobs, starting with transporting a rare Komodo dragon.
Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick in The Freshman (Photo/TriStar Pictures)
Clark quickly finds himself entangled in Carmine’s eccentric world, which includes his loyal but volatile nephew, Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby), and his beautiful daughter, Tina Sabatini (Penelope Ann Miller), with whom Clark develops a budding romance.
As Clark delves deeper, he encounters a colorful array of characters, including the enigmatic Professor Fleeber (Paul Benedict), who is obsessed with exotic animals, and BD Wong as Edward, one of Carmine’s associates.
Frank Whaley also appears as Steve, Clark’s roommate. Clark soon realizes that Carmine’s “import-export” business might be a front for something far more illicit, forcing him to navigate a moral maze while trying to retrieve his lizard and survive his unexpected foray into the mob world.
Maximilian Schell also appears as Larry London, Carmine’s partner and the chef of the Gourmet Club.
Reception for The Freshman
The Freshman grossed $205,876 on its opening weekend, in limited release on 6 screens, where it grossed $34,312 per screen. The following week, the film went into wide release and pulled in $4.2 million.
The film would gross $21.5 million in its theatrical run in the midst of the summer of 1990’s blockbusters lineup.
Roger Ebert gave The Freshman three and a half stars in his review.
Legacy
The Freshman‘s legacy is largely defined by Brando’s performance, which is a brilliant piece of self-parody. He imbues Carmine with a warmth and humor that makes him both intimidating and endearing, playing on audience expectations with masterful subtlety.
The Freshman is a witty and gentle satire, avoiding the harshness often associated with mob comedies, and instead focusing on the absurdity of its premise and the endearing innocence of its protagonist. It’s a clever, feel-good comedy that remains a unique entry in both Brando’s filmography and the gangster genre, proving that even the most formidable figures can have a soft spot for a young man and his lizard.
