Fraternity Vacation

I love going back and revisiting low budget films from the 80's and seeing someone who went on to become a big name. And since I've been talking a lot about college comedies, I thought I would go back and revisit one of Tim Robbins' first big roles in 1985's Fraternity Vacation.

The films main star is Stephen Geoffreys. Most people know him as Evil Ed in the original Fright Night. I've always liked Geoffreys. He is kind of like a poor man's Crispin Glover to me. And I mean that as a compliment. He has that similar, nervous, odd intensity that Glover has.

In this, Geoffreys plays Wendell Tvedt, a college outcast who is a pledge at the Theta Pi Gamma Fraternity. His frat brothers Mother, Robbins, and Joe, Cameron Dye let him tag along with them on spring break to Fort Lauderdale. In doing so, they promise Wendall's dad, Max Wright...yes the dad on Alf, that they will help make his son more of a ladies man in exchange for a hot tub for the frat house. They have their work cut out for them, but are able to hook up Wendall with Nicole, Amanda Bearse. She seem's to be perfect for him even though she has an overprotective dad, John Vernon...yes, Dean Wormser from Animal House, who happens to be the sherriff.

Mother and Joe also have another issue. They have placed a bet with their rival fraternity that they can bed a hot co-ed, Sheree J. Wilson...Walker, Texas Ranger's main squeeze, first.

Yes, this is a silly 80's teen sex comedy, but it's pretty funny. I think having Geoffreys as the star helps. He makes Wendall a sweet outcast that you root for. The supporting cast is really good too, especially Robbins and Dye. They could have been portrayed as horny frat boys, but they are pretty likable and are pretty nice to Wendall for the most part. Plus they have a nice report with one another. On a side note, Geoffreys and Bearse also appeared together in Fright Night. If you have an urge to see Robbins in a before he was famous role, you should check this out.Available on dvd.