Is the end in sight for college movies?
Dylan Polk/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: The Verge
Rogers said that since "Animal House," which is often praised as one of the greatest college movies of all time, college movies have evolved into a visual show of "one-upsmanship," saying each movie tries to be more shocking than the last.
Rogers said while the cost and risk involved in making these movies is low, the reward is high.
Rogers cited actor Ryan Reynolds as a prime example.
His role in "Van Wilder" helped Reynolds move on to star in more serious roles such as "The Amityville Horror" and "Definitely, Maybe."
"The people that go to see these movies don't really rely on critics," he said. "These movies have just one goal: to make money."
But these movies can't be viewed on the same level as other films, Rogers said.
Some critics disagree.
Chuck Koplinski, whose work has appeared in the Springfield alternative Illinois Times and CU Cityview in Urbana-Champaign, said the movies are poorly written and poorly acted.
"They're just bad movies," Koplinski said. "People just go there to waste 90 minutes and have a good time with their friends."
Koplinski said since "Animal House," the gags and pranks in college movies have alienated audiences more and more.
"Nowadays, the gags are mean-spirited," he said. "There's a difference between 'laughing with' and 'laughing at.' When you laugh with someone, you tend to care for them, but when you're laughing at someone you tend to care less about them."
Koplinski said the future for college movies looks grim and said the genre is on its proverbial deathbed.
Koplinski said every genre runs through its cycle, citing teen slasher flicks of the '70s and the horror revival of the '90s. Similarly, he said, college movies' prominence in the box office will eventually wind down to nothing.
"I don't see much of a future," Koplinski said. "They'll just stop being made."
If Koplinski is right - if these movies really are getting worse and worse - then it's just a matter of time before college movies cease to be shown in theaters and maybe suffer the curse of direct-to-DVD movies, then rise into the spotlight once again, restoring the genre John Belushi embodied.
Rogers said while the cost and risk involved in making these movies is low, the reward is high.
Rogers cited actor Ryan Reynolds as a prime example.
His role in "Van Wilder" helped Reynolds move on to star in more serious roles such as "The Amityville Horror" and "Definitely, Maybe."
"The people that go to see these movies don't really rely on critics," he said. "These movies have just one goal: to make money."
But these movies can't be viewed on the same level as other films, Rogers said.
Some critics disagree.
Chuck Koplinski, whose work has appeared in the Springfield alternative Illinois Times and CU Cityview in Urbana-Champaign, said the movies are poorly written and poorly acted.
"They're just bad movies," Koplinski said. "People just go there to waste 90 minutes and have a good time with their friends."
Koplinski said since "Animal House," the gags and pranks in college movies have alienated audiences more and more.
"Nowadays, the gags are mean-spirited," he said. "There's a difference between 'laughing with' and 'laughing at.' When you laugh with someone, you tend to care for them, but when you're laughing at someone you tend to care less about them."
Koplinski said the future for college movies looks grim and said the genre is on its proverbial deathbed.
Koplinski said every genre runs through its cycle, citing teen slasher flicks of the '70s and the horror revival of the '90s. Similarly, he said, college movies' prominence in the box office will eventually wind down to nothing.
"I don't see much of a future," Koplinski said. "They'll just stop being made."
If Koplinski is right - if these movies really are getting worse and worse - then it's just a matter of time before college movies cease to be shown in theaters and maybe suffer the curse of direct-to-DVD movies, then rise into the spotlight once again, restoring the genre John Belushi embodied.
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