With Honors (1994)

IMDb plot summary: Convinced his thesis will have him graduate with honors from Harvard University, a stuffy student finds himself at the mercy of a homeless man's demands when he holds the papers hostage.

Directed by Alek Keshishian. Starring Joe Pesci, Brendan Fraser, Moira Kelly, and Patrick Dempsey.

This movie leans heavily into Pesci’s fast-talking high-energy style – an early scene of him defending himself in a courtroom is clearly shooting for a My Cousin Vinny comparison – and it works fairly well here with Fraser as a foil for him. I’m not as charmed by any of this as they want me to be, though, and find myself classifying it all mostly as “harmless” rather than “good.” I do appreciate though how the film avoids painting Pesci’s character as an all-knowing sage sent to teach arrogant kids a lesson, at least in the latter half of the film. As we get to know him better, it’s clearer he’s just an average person in need of some help, especially as his physical health begins to dwindle. It’s not a stellar film, but it’s sweet, and it works all right.

How it entered my Flickchart:

With Honors > The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle

With Honors < Woman in the Dunes

With Honors < Being John Malkovich

With Honors > Little Women (2019)

With Honors < Rachel, Rachel

With Honors < The Tourist

With Honors > Serenity

With Honors < Captain America: The First Avenger

With Honors > Battle of the Sexes

With Honors < Palmer

With Honors < Sweet Charity

With Honors > Liberal Arts

Final spot: #1473 out of 3448, or 57%.