Student Exchange

When I was about 7 years old and this movie came on television my mother taped it and I would watch it over and over again, I loved it. I have over the years lost the tape and would love to get a copy of if anyone knows where I can find one let me know or if anyone knows if it ever comes out on video let me know. I thought that this movie was very entertaining and it helped me learn that people are not always nice and sometimes you have to do things to get where you want. I think that television was a lot better than it is today. I loved it when Disney put this movies on Sunday nights, our family gathered around to watch a nice clean movie.

My cousins came to visit one evening and brought this movie over they had taped off of television. My brother and I loved it SO much we asked to borrow it. They didn't think as much of it as we did, but though we are both grown with families of our own, we mention it occasionally. It's a great movie (although I haven't seen it since I was a kid!), and is every non-popular student's dream come true. Does anyone know where I can get a copy of this TV flick?

Caught this on afternoon television years ago, taped it by accident, and have kept on to that recording simply because I find this to be slight but very charming movie. Much can be attributed to the leads, Viveca Davis and Todd Fields (who has moved on to Academy Award Nominations for directing "In the bedroom"!!!). They are not high-power actors here, but give relaxed and captivating performances, especially the bright-eyed and energetic Davis. You DO care for these characters!

Fairy-tale story, of course, but done with conviction, charm and quite a few funny lines are sprinkled along the way. Looking back, it's also rather fun watching the clothes and hairstyles. The 80s really had some bizarre charm about it! :D Nice cameos by Wagner and Zappa also. My only complaint is the musical number at the end. It is just a little bit too much (like pouring sugar on top of icing on a cake).

An 80's time capsule, Student Exchange is evidence that teenagers looked like they were in their late 20's. The plot is very similar to a lot of late 80's high school dramas about not fitting in or changing your identity to fit in. Disney produced this diamond as part of their magical world of Disney selection that aired on Saturday nights during the summer. The Leads both show a striking resemblance to a George McFly quality from Back to the Future. Even without the glasses, it's obvious that these two represent the Geek population at this California based high school. The concept of being lost among your peers is present. The reality of this fear is showcased as the motivation to take on a new identity is hatched. A fun story that ends with a heartfelt moral. Although the setting is the 80's, the theme is universal. Holy large computers Batman. Student Exchange has withstood the test of time and has become a classic for what it is.

The closest Disney ever got to making a John Hughes movie. And it's a fun time.

It's basically Disney's take on Just One of the Guys. Just swap the gender-bending Terri with two uncool, invisible teens who decide to impersonate and rebrand themselves as mysterious foreign exchange students at their own High School. It sounds absurd but the film works, and their bad-girl / bad-boy Euro Beauty makeovers are a 10/10.

Obscure AF and underrated. Bellissimo!

I'd tie it with Not Quite Human and Rock and Roll Mom as the best Disney made-for-Television films of the 1980's. You can check it out on youtube, I believe.