The farcically funny plot of THE FRESHMAN concerns a scam involving a naïve frosh (Matthew Broderick), a gang of exocentric weirdoes, a very expensive moveable feast, and, oh yes, an endangered, car sick-prone Komodo Dragon. The boss is an "importer- exporter" named Carmine Sabatini, who bears a more-than-passing resemblance to Don Corleone, The Godfather; and in fact, it's Brando doing a hilarious send-up of arguably his most famous role. In the midst of all the laughs are doses of sweet sentiment, such as Brando ice skating with a beautiful blonde to Tony Bennett music, and Broderick reciting to Brando a lovely little poem his deceased father had written. (Trivia note: I once met Bert Parks, who appears in the film. When I told him how much I liked him in his role, he said, grinning, "Gave Brando a run for his money, didn't I?")
THE FRESHMAN (1990)
High marks
The farcically funny plot of THE FRESHMAN concerns a scam involving a naïve frosh (Matthew Broderick), a gang of exocentric weirdoes, a very expensive moveable feast, and, oh yes, an endangered, car sick-prone Komodo Dragon. The boss is an "importer- exporter" named Carmine Sabatini, who bears a more-than-passing resemblance to Don Corleone, The Godfather; and in fact, it's Brando doing a hilarious send-up of arguably his most famous role. In the midst of all the laughs are doses of sweet sentiment, such as Brando ice skating with a beautiful blonde to Tony Bennett music, and Broderick reciting to Brando a lovely little poem his deceased father had written. (Trivia note: I once met Bert Parks, who appears in the film. When I told him how much I liked him in his role, he said, grinning, "Gave Brando a run for his money, didn't I?")
