Review of PCU (1994) by Christa N — 08 Apr 2008

The funniest movie about college since Animal House, PCU is an updated take on John Belushi's hit movie about college life. This movie could very well be where Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane got his inspiration. It takes no sides, and no prisoners. It pokes fun at the wanna-be-hippies, the hardcore, mostly uninformed political student "activist" groups, and so much more. There are even jokes about the intramural psuedo-sports that college students play.

Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Serendipity, One Crazy Summer) does an impressive job in trying to channel the greatness that was John Belushi. Given, the two movies are from completely different eras. But that does not make PCU any less entertaining. Even Piven and his ragtag group of outcast, antiestablishment college students are lampooned themselves. They are shown as the group of students who want to live their life as they see fit, rather than live by the rules and standards of their university. Just like the wanna-be-hippies and neo political student groups, Piven and his friends exist on every campus in America. They are the slackers. The people who just barely get by. They are the ones who go out every night and get drunk and stoned, yet see themselves as the normal ones, as compared to everyone else. Yet in doing what they do, they are conforming to a certain standard, thus making them like everyone else in their own way.

Regardless of the era, PCU, just like Animal House, is a movie that every college student, both past and present, should see. It is a comedy, but it is relevant now, just as much as it was when it origianlly hit theaters.