The Freshman (1990)
79%RT Audience Score: 61%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 2 nominations
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 is a classic comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish. Marlon Brando’s performance as a Don Corleone with a screw loose is absolutely hilarious, and the rest of the cast delivers some great comedic moments as well. The film’s plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the writing is clever and witty. Overall, The Freshman is a must-see for anyone who loves a good laugh and a great story. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
New Regency Productions, The Wolper Organization Warner Bros.,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Grand Central Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1990
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Stereo
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Italian, German, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 1990 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2001
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Matthew Broderick, Marlon Brando, Bruno Kirby, Penelope Ann Miller, Frank Whaley, Jon Polito, reviewed by John Hartl, Desmond Ryan, Jay Boyar, Peter Rainer, Dave Kehr, Gene Siskel, directed by Andrew Bergman, written by Andrew Bergman, produced by Mike Lobell, comedy, PG, box office performance, $20.7M, budget, 1h 42m, critic reviews, producer names, MPAA rating, Clark Kellogg, Carmine Sabatini, Victor Ray, Tina Sabatini, Steve Bushak, Agent Chuck Greenwald, Department of Justice Fish & Game Division, underworld, mafia boss, New York, mugger, authorities, robbery, job, charm, clever premise, sweet humor
Worldwide gross: $21,460,601
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $49,475,041
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,337
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,395,315
US/Canada gross: $21,460,601
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $49,475,041
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,076
US/Canada opening weekend: $205,876
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $474,624
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,424
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $27,664,672
Production budget ranking: 1,191
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,897,426
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,912,943
ROI to date (est.): 16%
ROI ranking: 1,313
Matthew Broderick – Clark Kellogg, Narrator
Bruno Kirby – Victor Ray, Carmine’s Nephew
Penelope Ann Miller – Tina Sabatini
Frank Whaley – Steve Bushak, Clark’s Roommate
Jon Polito – Agent Chuck Greenwald, Dept. of Justice Fish & Game Division
Director(s)
Andrew Bergman
Writer(s)
Andrew Bergman
Producer(s)
Mike Lobell
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (3)
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.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
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.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Desmond Ryan
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
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.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
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.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/5
Peter Rainer
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
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.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Marlon Brando returns to the movies with one of his funniest performances as, in essence, Don Corleone with a screw loose.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Where else in the universe can one catch Bert Parks offering covers of both “Tequila” and “Maggie’s Farm”?
January 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Marlon Brando delivers six-minute sonatinas of send-up and sincerity. He keeps things light but also from tilting over into something ephemerally broad like, say, “Mickey Blue Eyes,”a perfectly enjoyable comedy but a piffle next to this perfection.
October 8, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Nick Rogers
Midwest Film Journal
Bruno Kirby provides an added shot as Brando’s wiseguy right-hand man, and Paul Benedict practically steals the film as the over-opinionated film prof.
July 28, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
Without Brando, the movie would be all gags and surfaces. But the big guy’s self-parody is so charming that the whole picture resonates with his presence.
May 21, 2020
Bruce C. Steele
OutWeek
The Freshman is like no other comedy. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, it ambles away.
August 1, 2013
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Here’s a chance to see a mellow Marlon Brando in his greatest comedy performance.
August 1, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Tom Hutchinson
Radio Times…
Plot
Clark Kellogg is a young man starting his first year at film school in New York City. After a small time crook steals all his belongings, Clark meets Carmine “Jimmy the Toucan” Sabatini, an “importer” bearing a startling resemblance to a certain cinematic godfather. When Sabatini makes Clark an offer he can’t refuse, he finds himself caught up in a caper involving endangered species and fine dining.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Marlon Brando delivers a hilarious send-up of his iconic Godfather role in The Freshman.
Andrew-Bergman.jpg
