The Freshman1990
The Freshman (1990)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Buoyed by the charm of Matthew Broderick in the title role and Marlon Brando as a caricature of his Godfather persona, The Freshman benefits from solid casting, a clever premise, and sweet humor.
The Freshman Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Carmine Sabatini
as Clark Kellogg
as Victor Ray
as Tina Sabatini
as Steve Bushak
as Chuck Greenwald
as Arthur Fleeber
as Lloyd Simpson
as Dwight Armstrong
as Liz Armstrong
as Edward
as Larry London
as Himself
as Leo
as Lorenzo
as Maitre D', Gourmet Club
as Fr. Frank
as Aunt Angelina
as Hunter
as Gas Attendant
as Mall Mother
as Mr. Glassman
as FBI Man
as Waiter in Resturant
as Grand Central Station Booth Lady
as Student in Fleeber Classroom
as Student in Fleeber Classroom
as Student in Fleeber Classroom
as Student in Fleeber Classroom
as Mall Patron
as Mall Patron
as Mall Patron
as Mall Patron
as Mall Patron
as Mall Patron
as Mall Patron
as Mall Patron
Critic Reviews for The Freshman
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (3) | DVD (2)
Andrew Bergman's The Freshman is a charmed comedy, the kind of seemingly effortless movie in which everything falls neatly into place, as if ordained by nature.
Brando does a wonderful sendup of Corleone that manages to play off the Don's entrenched place in pop culture. But The Freshman is no copycat comedy.
Though writer-director Andrew Bergman sets up potentially funny situations, the payoffs aren't nearly as clever as they need to be. Many situations don't pay off at all.
Just when you've had it with the mistimed scenes and the clunky direction, writer-director Andrew Bergman comes through with an inspired piece of lunacy.
It's the kind of material that could easily fly apart into silliness, yet Brando and Broderick help the director to keep it anchored in a certain emotional reality, which is always the source of the richest comedy.
Marlon Brando returns to the movies with one of his funniest performances as, in essence, Don Corleone with a screw loose.
Audience Reviews for The Freshman
A clever plot that is only enhanced due to Brando's satiric presence, 'The Freshman' is an enjoyable film whose jokes may fall flat most of the time, but still exudes a charm that makes it worthy of our time.
Super Reviewer
Brando spoofs his Godfather role ... that's the draw in this light fah-gettahboutit comedy that has a small town yoot (Broderick, serviceable) visit da Big Apple for the first time --- as a film student at NYU. And what film are they studying? Try ta guess, or y'sleep wit' duh fishes, yo! Bruno Kirby is good as our tour guide, or else ... what could happen wrong? You could refuse dis offer but it wouldn't look good if you did, capeesh?
Super Reviewer
This is a zany adventure comedy with movie legend Marlon Brando and 80s teen cutie Matthew Broderick. Being a fan of both of them, I really enjoyed this movie. It's nothing new, but it is entertaining.
Super Reviewer
The Freshman Quotes
| Clark Kellogg: | I'm getting too old for this nonsense. |
| Victor Ray: | [hands Clark a fake passport] Is that a piece of work or what? |
| Clark Kellogg: | What is this? "Rodolfo Lasparri"? |
| Clark Kellogg: | What is this? 'Rodolfo Lasparri'? |
| Clark Kellogg: | You promise? |
| Carmone Sabatini: | Every word I say, by definition, is a promise. |
| Clark Kellogg: | It's a crime. |
| Carmone Sabatini: | Now you're speaking in generalities. |