Senior Trip

Senior Trip is a story of a group of seniors from a small town in Ohio trying to discover what they want out of life, While taking a trip to New York.Mickey Rooney has a small role as himself.

Roger Ellis (Scott Baio)a young man trying to get ahead in business at a young age.

Denise (Faye Grant) A young woman who has a hard time struggling who she wants to be in life.She has a lot of confusing times that just set her back a lot in growing up.

My favorite is Denise in this movie she reminds me a whole lot of how it was for a girl to grow up in a small town.And how easy it was to make mistakes along your way.Senior trip I rate a 9 of 10

I taped this CBS made-for-TV I guess back in 1981, not really knowing what it was about. I was so involved in trying to delete the commercial breaks, it was not until later I realized how good it was and not until about the fifth viewing that I realized Jason Alexander (later of Seinfield) was one of the Seniors. Like the song auditioned for Mickey Rooney, "One More Time", this movie gets better each time I view it. Since I goofed and let a few ads and station breaks slip in, I recently started a search for Senior Trip on DVD. No luck...and evidently it is not even available anymore on video. Scenes of New York include the now-gone World Trade Towers and great aerial shots of the city skyline and scope of Central Park. UPDATE: I found this title being shown this afternoon (Nov.28,2006) on Encore but unfortunately it had already started so I did not have a chance to record it on disc. Hopefully I can find the next showing and be ready.

This movie was a total bore, it was a strange mix of comedy drama musical and travelogue. I now feel I've been to New York City. It was a 75 minute TV movie dragged out to 96 minutes with drawn out shots of New York City, with no apparent reason other than to pad out the short story line. Not dramatic or funny enough to be interesting. Mickey Rooney as himself was pure Hollywood, I've met the man in person, and he's nothing like that. However if you were a teenager around 1981 you might find this mildly nostalgic, if you're a Scott Biao fan, he's got a total of probably less than 10 minutes in the movie. Watch it if you must, but you'll probably be bored to tears.

Senior Trip is definitely a candidate for "Bad Movie Night." When I am feeling extremely cruel and want to annoy my wife, I sing a line from the song "Going to the Big Apple", which was performed on the bus during the trip to NY. Woof.

There are many notable actors in this film, but not many notable performances. The best way to describe the screenplay, stale and bland. The only lasting impression from this film are from a few horrible scenes that haunt you years after you watch it.

Before you rent or (God forbid) buy Senior Trip, ask yourself, "Am I a glutton for punishment?"

The Review

I expected the usual sub-adolescent hi-jinks....anybody would, I guess, with that title.... and discovered instead a thoughtful little made-for-TV minor classic. I can recommend this heartily for its characterizations of a likeable and naive group of high school seniors, all together for the last time before setting out separately in the world, visiting New York all wide-eyed, and gaining insight into their soon-to-end adolescence and soon-to-commence responsibilities. Among the vignettes you'll see people you knew, or thought you did. And you might see yourself at that vulnerable age. An excellent study of a generation, and I highly recommend this generally-forgotten film which I never forgot.