Review of
Dead Man On Campus
Reviewed by Aaron Wilkens
Director: Alan Cohn
Starring: Tom Everett Scott ,Mark- Paul Gosselaar
I began this movie with an open mind, but by the completion it was left empty. By no means was I expecting an Oscar worthy film, but this movie was ridiculous. One would receive more mental stimulation at an all night smoke fest with Cheech and Chong. Dead Man on Campus is ninety-four minutes of complete nonsense, so in other words, most college students would love it.
The story is about a student who is sent to prestigious Daleman College on a full academic scholarship. Tom Everett Scott portrays Josh, the candid honor student. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, (“Zach” from Saved by the Bell), plays Cooper the “party crazed” dormitory roommate. After a while Cooper’s propensity for the good life causes Josh to sway from his normally diligent academic ways. Each of their grades slip, making it virtually impossible for Josh to maintain his academic scholarship (he needs to maintain a B+ average). After learning of a loophole - the “dead man’s clause”- they begin recruiting students with suicidal tendencies, since a roommate’s suicide equals straight A’s for the term.
In this movie even a bell couldn’t save the performances by Tom Everett Scott and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.
Gossleaar attempts to depict a “suave” partier, and at times he succeeds in doing so. For instance, at one point in the movie he invites about a dozen students into his dorm room and proceeds to serve them mixed drinks from a portable bar. Now in this scene in the movie he was suave, but it is hard for anyone to keep up this image without a nerdy sidekick named Screech and a buff spandex wearing jock named A.C. to assist you.
Tom Everett Scott adds virtually nothing to this film with his portrayal of Josh. His character is about as exciting as is reading a Playboy written in brail. None of the lines he was given were effectively humorous and his character was just altogether boring. Although, if you thought he played a good American Werewolf in Paris, then maybe you would enjoy his performance in this flick.
This is definitely an MTV Films production. I put it in the same league as Joe’s Apartment, though it was not quite that bad. It is pretty obvious that Dead Man on Campus is not one of my favorite movies of all time, although, I do have to say that if you are a student looking to get away from the everyday stresses of school, this movie might provide you with that escape. The movie does have a few amusing parts, and at no time will it cause you to exert any brain power… Oh yeah, and by the way, there is no such thing as the “dead man’s clause”, so don’t get any smart ideas.
