Fantastic!

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

As far as homages to / imitations of "Animal House" go, this has to rank as a pretty good one. It's got good characters, some amusing dialogue, decent satire of special interest groups, and a cool soundtrack. Its pacing is acceptable, its running time brief (81 minutes in total), and its spirit irresistible.Marking a rare directorial effort by actor Hart Bochner (who's best known as weaselly executive Ellis in the action classic "Die Hard"), "PCU" features Chris Young as Tom Lawrence, a clean cut, wide eyed "normal" sort of guy who is checking out Port Chester University to see if he'd like to go there in the fall. He gets caught up in the fervor of various "politically correct" activists, as well as the activities of the wacky guys and gals of The Pit, a student group known for their nonconformity.As you may guess from that running time, there's really not that much story here, but there are enough laughs to keep the movie watchable. Jeremy Piven contributes a charismatic star turn as "Droz", leader of The Pit. Megan Ward and Sarah Trigger supply appealing love interests for Young and Piven. Jessica Walter does fine as an easier-on-the-eyes version of Dean Vernon Wormer. David Spade is extremely well cast as the snooty and smarmy preppie McPherson. There are also engaging performances by actor / director Jon Favreau and Alex Desert. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic further spice things up with their appearance. The climactic party shows how sometimes people just need to lighten up and enjoy life a little more.With its well defined protagonists and antagonists, the end is appropriately satisfying, and overall "PCU" provides solid entertainment to those just looking to have a good time.Seven out of 10.

One of the best attempts at recreating the legendary iconography that is Animal House. This movie is full of quotable quotes and less than known actors at the time. Check it out if only for Jeremy Piven, Jon Favreau and Jake Busey in an amusing cameo as a stoner/ultimate Frisbee player. Favreau and Piven's interaction recalls old comedy schtick but in a very endearing way. The appearance of George Clinton makes the movie worth watching if only for the party scene. And if you didn't already think the soundtrack to hell was going to be Starland Vocal Band here in lies a scene to convince you otherwise. David Spade should not be overlooked in his role as a preppy frat boy wanna-be and his rant about all of the PC sects at the end of the movie is completely priceless. This movie though much overlooked is a cult classic and should be well recognized in the pantheon of college themed flicks.

I haven't written a message like this before. But then again, I've never seen a film like PCU before. After listening to the commentary, it created an even stronger reaction in me, so I just had to write. I suppose the critical mass for me as a viewer was when Hart Bochner noted (and then again later) that he was relieved that the film had finally found "its audience" in the video world; the insinuation being that his film is a good one that didn't hit on the 1st run because it/he wasn't given the right opportunity, the right marketing support, the proper studio backing, bla bla. The fact of the matter is that, for anyone other than a 13 year old boy, this film is painful to watch. It didn't do well theatrically because it sucks. It's like a train wreck, you keep watching because you're curious to see what disaster is going to come up next. It's kitsch, in the worst kind of way: bad acting (poorly directed), bad score (poorly directed), and terrible comedic timing (poorly directed). And so, it's unbearable to listen to Hart in the commentary make excuses for this and that, all the while thinking smugly that he's this "groovy director" who "made the actors feel comfortable." How about make them act! This has got to be Jeremy Piven's worst performance of his life! I once heard Tom Hanks on David Letterman forsake a film he did early in his career, BACHLOR PARTY. Shame on Tom Hanks for that – BACHLOR PARTY is hilarious. (HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE I could understand.) But poor Jeremy Piven – this debacle is going to be at the beginning of his long track record forever! He is fantastic in pretty much everything he's done. Somehow Hart managed to get him (and the rest of the cast save Cutter and Spade) to overact so badly only a 13 year old could bear it. Everyone else is tuning in for the same reason they tune into the WB on a Saturday afternoon. This is fine, so long as Hart isn't deluded into thinking he's done a groundbreaking film that speaks to this generation. (I can almost hear Hart now, "But they made me shoot a PG-13 film.") Give me a break. No one asked you to turn a script that I imagine is probably pretty funny, and turn it into a predictable, conventional, sloppy, boring, piece of waste-of-time. Little advice for Hart: stick to acting. You have no right wasting so many resources and cluttering up the universe with another clichéd (ANIMAL HOUSE) rip-off. And if you are able to use some connections or commit some crime passing yourself off as a director again, please don't make it worse by adding a commentary where you flaunt how much you don't know. It's too much to bear. Even for a 13 year old.Sincerely, An unsatisfied audience member.PS - I suspect there is a bump in the video rentals because word got out, like it got to me, that there is this film that is so terrible you have to see it to believe it.

Hit Me!!!Jeremy Piven really is impressive in this role, which frankly gained my attention. This really makes the film..... HE IS THE FILM, well almost.Is It For U?Hate over glossy hollywood productions? prefer smaller budgets and original acting?So....This is PCU, a college film unlike Road Trip or American Pie 1,2,3,126,5002, whatever... Some gloss, great acting(my god it really does make the film!), good setting, good script, no great script!!!However...Two points though... the plot is not the most complicated ever.... the characters are sometimes stereotypical and predictable... but thats college movies... how else can it be done..Trust me.... this made my year! BB