If you thought your studying is going badly, here are some examples of how it could be going worse.
From losing an 88-page senior thesis mere days before it’s due in the film “With Honors” to taking some major risks on a entrepreneurial project in “Risky Business,” these fictional students deal with the kind of studying issues we hope we never have to face. Read, breathe and feel better about your own finals with these examples of procrastination at its finest.
“With Honors” (1994)
Directed by Alek Keshishian
Warner Brothers Studios
A computer crash the day before a paper is due is every college student’s nightmare. Having your senior thesis taken hostage by a squatter, played by Joe Pesci, living in the basement of Harvard’s Widener Library is something else entirely. As Montgomery “Monty” Kessler (Brendan Fraser) works to get each page of his 88-page thesis back, he’s forced to rethink his own way of thinking and jeopardizes his chance at graduating “with honors.”
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
Directed by John Hughes
Paramount Pictures
Playing hooky and checking out from school is a luxury that college students do not have during finals, and yet, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) remains an inspiration to even the greatest procrastinators. Bueller’s complete lack of guilt over missing class gets even his straitlaced friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to steal his father’s Ferrari. Along with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), they visit the Art Institute of Chicago, star in the Von Steuben Day Parade and make it home in time to fool the grouchy Mr. Rooney (Jeffrey Jones).
“The Breakfast Club” (1985)
Directed by John Hughes
Universal Studios
“Detention.” The John Hughes classic set on a single Saturday brings together representatives of the high school strata from popular jock to unknown loner. United in their shared punishment to write an essay of owning up to their respective misconduct, they plan an alternative assignment ““ a manifesto to their identity. Breaking stereotypes, they spend the day choreographing a line dance library shuffle and philosophically discussing life and their encroaching future ““ not far from a weekend in your dorm room engaging in the finest variety of procrastination.
“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989)
Directed by Stephen Herek
Orion Pictures
In the Southern California town of San Dimas, best friends, band mates and “dudes” Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) find themselves on the verge of failing out of high school unless they ace their upcoming history project. Their friendship is put to the test when Bill’s father also threatens to send his son to military school if he fails to succeed. The unlikely solution to their troubles: a time traveling phone booth and a mentor named Rufus. Together, the two wrangle up Socrates, Napoleon, Abe Lincoln and even bring back a few Renaissance ladies for a winning project and a history student’s dream.
“Risky Business”
Directed by Paul Brickman
The Geffen Company
Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise) takes the biggest risk of all with his business venture for the student group Future Enterprises. While the other students invest their chump change in the stock market and small businesses, Goodson finds himself running a full-on brothel out of his parents’ home. It is a sign that your end-of-the-year project is going badly when there is a pimp after you and your house has been taken over by high school boys looking to get some action.