Ski Academy

I saw this movie years ago, when I had no idea what was going on, and I loved it. I've just watched it again for an article I was writing and damn, it's trash!

But it's wonderfully sill trash and everyone with a silly 90's sense of humor will enjoy it. It's not as funny as it should be, and they miss so many tricks that I think are obvious, but hey, it's all easy in hindsight I suppose.

I won't write too much here as it'll ruin my article!, but it really is worth a watch if you don't take things too seriously!

As a teen in the 1980's and someone prone to watching all sorts of b, c and z-grade movie junk, I was somewhat surprised when I came across this 1990 title recently. Surprised as in wondering how I could not have seen or even heard of this flick before. I mean, as the proud owner of Hot Dog The Movie and Ski School 1 AND 2 (not to mention all the Police Academy movies), it almost seemed like a cinematic misdemeanor that I hadn't seen Ski Patrol.

I suppose I should say that had I saw Ski Patrol back in 1990, doubtless I would have shaken my head in contempt at how dumb and inept Ski Patrol was. And I wouldn't have been incorrect in thinking so. Then again, when the biggest names in your movie are Ray Walston and Martin Mull - and even those two are barely in the movie for all of 15 minutes - expectations shouldn't be set particularly high.

Even by that diminished standard, Ski Patrol is very lacking in several of the key areas that constitute the archetypal 1980's wacky teen boner comedy and despite being released in 1990, Ski Patrol is VERY much along the lines of a 1980's wacky teen boner comedy...albeit an inept one.

Ski Patrol DOES establish the Snobs vs. Slobs/Unlikeable Winners vs. Lovable Losers scenario, so at least that box got checked off. The problem lies squarely with the casting, in that the cast is chock full of non-charismatic, unfunny, amateurish actors doing non-memorable, unfunny things. It's just one of those deals with a comedy where if the comedy falls flat the movie falls flat. By that score, Ski Patrol is the equivalent of a can of soda opened and left sitting on a counter for several hours. A lot of second- and third-rate sight gags and scenarios that perhaps a kid of 6 years old would find mildly amusing. Which, I suppose is in keeping with the PG rating. Yep, Ski Patrol is rated PG. Now, why a movie is clearly trying to be a wacky teen boner comedy yet also attain a PG rating is a mystery to me. Not even a PG-13 with a brief glimpse of some side boob. Nope. A single 10 second shot of a couple of girls in some not particularly skimpy bikinis is about all the sensuality this flick has to offer.

What I will say Ski Patrol DOES have are some great sequences of people doing advanced skiing. No, really. I found the skiing sequences well filmed and exciting to watch. So, there's that, I suppose.

Even with all that said, though, it'd be a bit too easy to beat up on this 35-year-old failed comedy too much. And Ski Patrol really doesn't deserve to be beat up on that much, either. It's just this non-offensive, unfunny movie...a bit of a rip-off in terms of sort of representing itself as something it wasn't re: the boner comedy angle - since it was neither funny nor revealing - but hardly a crime against humanity. Something clearly designed back then to churn out a quick buck in a few theaters, a few more quick bucks in the video rental stores then be duly forgotten.

If you prefer movies that make you think and challenge your mind and opinions in ways you didn't think possible, stay away from this movie. If you like movies that are filled with political incorrectness and mindless fun, have at it.

This movie was made in a more innocent time when people could make a movie without worrying if someone would complain about being politically incorrect. The same time when most of my favorite movies were made. For some who are concerned about this type of thing, there are times when they poke fun at characters for different things (for example one of them being bothered by being short) but it's more of good natured teasing than spiteful attacks.

One of the most memorable characters would have to be an individual by the name of suicide who has a few screws loose and does some outlandish things while trying to feel a rush.

I saw this movie for the first time when I was 19, and it's remained one of my favorites of all time. Not because it has in in depth and compelling story, because it doesn't. It was made during a time when a movie could be about next to nothing and still be good. For example, Breakfast Club was about 5 kids in detention. This movie is good, light hearted fun that I can watch again and again.

At the Snowy Peaks Ski Lodge, wise cracking slacker Jerry Cramer (Roger Rose) works Ski Patrol with a group of other misfits who are under the command of tightly wound head Murray (Leslie Jordan). When land developer Sam Marris (Martin Mull) sets his sights on Snowy Peaks, Marris makes a deal with Ski School instructor Lance Finkmayer (Corby Timbrook) to sabotage Snowy Peaks safety requirements so the current lease holder, Pops (Ray Walston), will lose his claim and allow Marris to turn Snowy Peaks into resort town Marristown.

Ski Patrol comes to us from producer Paul Maslansky best known for his creation and curation of the Police Academy series. With grosses dipping with subsequent installments, Maslansky tried to revisit the formula and applying it to the world of skiing. Maslansky initially intended to expand Ski Patrol, much like Police Academy, with two sequels and a spin-off TV series, but when the movie only made $8 million that never came to be though supposedly there's been some talk of a Ski Patrol sequel/reboot with the team behind Workaholics. Ski Patrol isn't offensive or obnoxious, but it's yet another rehash on an overplayed formula that has long since worn out its welcome.

I will say that some of the cast do bring energy to their performances with T. K. Carter, Paul Feig, and Leslie Jordan bringing some decent smile worthy moments every so often, but aside from a decent long payoff joke involving Leslie Jordan's character taking "growth pills" there's a number of floundering gags such as Jordan repeatedly tripping over a dog named Dumpster (to whom he's also allergic) or a grating performance by Sean Sullivan as a character named Suicide whose schtick is he's part of a band where every member is him and two masks named Buried and Slaughter who he voices and lead to long drawn out ski sequences that aren't all that funny because they don't really have jokes and feel like visual noice that's been put in as a placeholder.

Ski Patrol takes the Police Academy formula and goes through all the expected motions you've seen since the first Police Academy movie and its sequels and rip-off in Moving Violations. It's hard to even muster up much feeling for this movie because it's not obnoxious or offensive enough to elicit any kind of visceral reaction and just feels like a tired entry in an equally tired formula.

It may not appeal to many viewers but I have always loved this film. To me it really captures the energy that being out on the slopes generates. There have been some awful reviews but its a comedy, its bound to be a little stupid & it gets my vote every time. There are many scenes that get me laughing each time & i've had the same VHS for years, since it was out in the video stores. My favourite if i had to choose would be the singing contest that Stanley and the ice man storm with their vibrant energy & hilarious attitude. I'm an art student and its a favourite of all my friends. My only complaint is that its not on DVD, all the out-takes, bloopers, interviews (there must have been some) and all the extras that everyone loves on DVD. Its a must see & don't compare it to conventional comedy thats now so old hat that its not funny anymore, this is a film that stands out on its own & deserves more respect than it had before. Re-release it on DVD please!