Stewardess School

Judy Landers - Stewardess.

No, her career hasn't finally upturned. But it should have, thanks in no small part to "Stewardess School", which tries to be the "Police Academy" of airline training movies.

I'll let that sink in for a minute.

Ready? Okay, let's go on.

Not only does the bustier of the Landers sisters have a part in this fiasco, but so does Don "Donny" Most (Ralph Malph from "Happy Days"), Wendie Jo Sperber (Amy from "Bosom Buddies") and Mary Cadorette (Whatever-her-Name-Was from that "Three's Company" spinoff...you didn't know there was a "Three's Company" spinoff? All the sadder). It even had Sherman Helmsley (George Jefferson from "The Jeffersons"). If not for the nudity, crudity and language, this could have been one of those movies NBC makes for sweeps week. It had the talent (long, drawn-out throat clearing).

If you've seen any "Police Academy", you've seen "Stewardess School". And it ain't as funny, either. You didn't think "Police Academy" was funny? Then you may want to rent something a little funnier than this film. Like, say, "Platoon"?

One star. No redeeming laughs. No funny situations. No wonder Mary Cadorette hasn't done more films.

When are they going to learn you don't do these films without Leslie Nielsen?

"Stewardess School" is one of those movies you THINK you've seen because of the overly familiar title but you haven't. Much like the early "Airports" it's a spoof with a lot of former television actors you may have forgotten...but in this film they all give really good performances. That's why the movie shows up all the time on comedy cable stations. if you're not feeling like rushing right out and renting it, just wait, it'll be on a channel near you shortly. It's fun, innocent and funny but unfortunately got stuck with a title that makes it seem like something it isn't.. Like the nice girl in high school with the bad rep: "Stewardess School" is worth getting to know better.

Campy slapstick spoof with many familiar faces living it up while majoring courses in stewardess school (Does such a school really exist?). Although cheesy, it's become somewhat of a cult classic.

Kind of hard to find in video rental stores today but airs frequently on cable TV's Comedy Central station. Most notable for one of Donny Most's rare appearances outside of 'Happy Days'.

Yes, stewardesses have to go to 'school'. Most airlines typically have a months' long training camp where you have to room with other potential employees in which undesirable candidates are weeded out. For those not bright enough to remember all of the 3-letter airport abbreviations and other intellectually demanding tasks they receive the boot.

Anyway, this 'gem' I remember from cable TV days is a real diamond in the rough. The jokes are crude and lewd! What do you expect from a movie starring the one and only Judy Landers or even Don Most? This movie can provoke the same reaction as Recruits (1986) which is a sex comedy rip-off of Police Academy. I remember begging my mom to take me to see that movie thinking it was hilarious but my mom didn't agree with me for some reason. For those looking for a family friendly comedy you need to look elsewhere.

Assorted misfits train to become flight attendants at a special college and get up to mischief while living on campus in this curious attempt to cross 'Animal House' with 'Airplane!' and 'Police Academy'. Long unavailable on DVD, the film does not have the most positive of reputations, but it does have a small cult following and it easy to see why. The gags that misfire are absolutely groan-inducing (flatulence in an elevator; a zillion pratfalls), but the ones that work are highly memorable - the best of which being the way one very innovative stewardess 'relieves' a stressed-out claustrophobic passenger. Another memorable part involves a prank on the female change rooms gone awry. Juvenile as some of the gags are (a literal salami to hide), the chief pitfall of the film is the lack of well developed characters. The two main male characters do not have much in the way of charm and charisma, while the female characters are barely defined beyond what they were before becoming stewardesses: spoiled rich kid, prostitute, etc. The fact that there are no big name stars in the cast has probably also contributed to the film's descent into obscurity (though Wendie Jo Sperber is great as always). This is, however, a far more decent film than one might expect with some positive and affirming messages about the ability of outcasts and those in the periphery to band together and succeed as a team. It would be an overstatement to describe 'Stewardess School' as an inspirational film, but it is an offbeat testament to the power of teamwork at the very least.