Phys-ed teacher Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) is set to leave for Hawaiian vacation when he's forced to teach the remedial English summer school. He's even less motivated than the students. The class includes flirty Pam (Courtney Thorne-Smith),sleepy Larry (Ken Olandt),football jock Kevin (Patrick Labyorteaux),pregnant Rhonda (Shawnee Smith),geek Alan (Richard Steven Horvitz),sassy Denise (Kelly Jo Minter),giant black guy Jerome (Duane Davis),Italian transfer student Anna-Maria (Fabiana Udenio),horror fanatics Dave (Gary Riley) and Francis aka 'Chainsaw' (Dean Cameron). Mr. Shoop keeps flirting with fellow teacher Robin Bishop (Kirstie Alley) who is actually dating Vice Principal Phil Gills (Robin Thomas).

I love this movie and I don't care if it's critically panned. It's charming light fun with a little dig at the education system. I love all the characters. The kids are a fun group. Mark Harmon is perfect as a laid-back teacher. I think some critics are looking for something edgy from director Carl Reiner. These are slacker characters who find their inner voices. These are fun nice characters.

Spencer Tracy was once asked what he looked for in a movie script and he answered 'days off'. Gym teacher Mark Harmon had the same attitude toward teaching, summers free. But when director Carl Reiner wins a lottery he who was stuck with teaching remedial English he says goodbye to the profession and this southern California high school needs a Summer School teacher.

And it's Harmon who lands the assignment because he still hasn't got his tenure and because he wasn't fast enough out of the parking lot. It's unanimous that these underachieving kids as well as the teacher don't want to be in class for July and August.

Stuck with it they are though. These kids are quite the collection, ranging from a pair of brain dead fans of slasher flicks, to a pregnant girl, to a kid who sleeps all day in class, to an athlete who thinks football is all there is in life. There's even a foreign exchange student from Italy who just wants to improve her English a bit before regular school starts.

School psychologist Kirstie Alley is there who Vice Principal Robin Thomas is putting the moves on. He's also the one who stuck Harmon in Summer School. As Alley shows more interest in Harmon he looks to sabotage him.

It wouldn't seem possible, but Harmon actually learns to care for his charges and is genuinely interested in them improving their literacy skills.

Although this film is a comedy it also has a subtle message against illiteracy. I was once involved with someone who was unable to read beyond a second grade level and he faked getting by in his short life. It's a terrible prison the mind is put in.

I have to say that Dean Cameron and Gary Riley who seem to be a harbinger of Bill&Ted were quite funny as the lunkheads who like slasher flicks. The greatest film ever made according to them is The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Harmon shows it in class to get their attention.

Summer School is an enjoyable view by a comedy master Carl Reiner.

When the summer vacation comes, the gym teacher Freddy Shoop (Mark Harmon) is ready to travel to Hawaii with his girlfriend. However, he assigned by Vice Principal Phil Gills (Robin Thomas) to give English classes in summer to undisciplined and mediocre high-school students. When Phil promises to fire Freddy unless his students pass the test, he agrees to grant a wish from each student if they study the English lessons he prepares with the support of the history teacher Ms. Robin Elizabeth Bishop (Kirstie Alley).

"Summer School" is a funny and entertaining comedy from the 80´s and underrated by professional critics. This movie certainly would never be an Oscar nominated but it is hilarious and makes the viewer laugh. Mark Harmon´s procedures and deal with the class is very funny and Kirstie Alley and Courtney Thorne-Smith very beautiful. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Curso de Verão" ("Summer School")