Class (1983)

Class is the rare ’80s coming-of-age film that doesn’t just chase laughs—it leans into the messy, bruising confusion of growing up when charm outpaces judgment. Lewis John Carlino gives the story a glossy prep-school sheen and a surprisingly adult undercurrent, letting Rob Lowe’s effortlessly cocky Skip and Andrew McCarthy’s wide-eyed sincerity spark off each other with real warmth before the good times curdle into consequences. Jacqueline Bisset brings a poised, magnetic complexity that keeps the film from feeling like a cheap fantasy, and the Chicago-nightlife vibe adds a seductive, slightly melancholy atmosphere. It’s not for everyone—its sexual politics and underage premise can be uncomfortable—but if you want a provocative, well-acted snapshot of privilege, temptation, and friendship under strain, it’s compulsively watchable.

Class is clearly aiming for a slick, coming-of-age riff on The Graduate—mixing prep-school satire with a provocative older-woman affair and a friendship tested by betrayal. The problem is it can’t decide if it wants to be a raunchy comedy or a serious drama, so scenes that should sting or land as funny often just sit there, awkward and oddly flat. The sexual politics also haven’t aged gracefully: the movie leans into a “boys will be boys” fantasy that can feel misogynistic and uncomfortable, especially given the underage angle. Still, if you’re in the mood for early-’80s glossy melodrama and want to watch young Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy in their prime, there’s a certain time-capsule appeal—just don’t expect it to be as sharp, daring, or “classy” as it thinks it is.