PCU
Tags: satire

Plot synopsis:
Preppy pre-freshman (pre-frosh) Tom Lawrence (Chris Young) visits PCU (Port Chester University), a college where fraternities have been outlawed and political correctness is rampant on campus. During his visit, accident-prone Tom manages to make enemies with nearly every group of students, and thus spends much of his visit evading the growing mob upset with him.
During his visit, Tom also finds himself in the middle of a war between "The Pit" and "Balls and Shaft", two rival groups. Among the members of the latter is Rand McPherson (David Spade), who, with the other Balls and Shaft members, want the outlawed Greek system to return. Meanwhile, "The Pit", an unofficial group, runs the former "Balls and Shaft" frat house in a highly disorganized manner. Currently inhabited by seniors Gutter (Jon Favreau) and Mullaney (Alex Désert), mid-year Freshman co-ed Katy (Megan Ward), and led by multi-year senior James "Droz" Andrews (Jeremy Piven), The Pit is a party-centric house that rebels against the politically correct protests; their counter-protests and parties are a frequent source of complaint forms.
Other factions on campus include a commune-style house of pot users called Jerrytown that Gutter often frequents, a radical feminist group known as the Womynists, an Afrocentrist group suspecting the Pit of conspiring against them, and the college president, Ms. Garcia-Thompson (Jessica Walter), who is obsessed with enforcing "sensitivity awareness" and multiculturalism to an extreme. She proposes that Bisexual Asian Studies should have its own building, as well as a plan to change the campus mascot to a Whooping Crane instead of an offensive Native American character during their Bicentennial Anniversary. Garcia-Thompson conspires behind closed doors with Balls and Shaft to get the established residents of The Pit kicked off campus and give Rand control of the house. She provokes the Pit residents with a damage bill from their past semester. Left unpaid, the campus would seize their house, leaving them homeless and unable to continue attendance at PCU without getting jobs.
The Pit responds by throwing a party to raise the funds needed. The Womynists take offense to The Pit's flyers advertising the party, and hold a protest outside as the house residents conspire to steal alcohol and convince students to attend. The party at first appears to be a failure. However, a series of unlikely events results in George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic performing at the party. Students begin streaming in (initially to seize Tom for his prior mistakes) and the party successfully raises the funds to keep the house. Garcia-Thompson (after being locked in a room by Droz with the song "Afternoon Delight" playing on repeat), deciding to act on the many complaints against The Pit, shuts down the party and expels the residents of The Pit in spite of their fundraising efforts. Tom then informs Droz about an overheard conversation with the Board of Trustees: the President's politically correct changes are negatively affecting both their past legacy and media publicity.
At the bicentennial ceremony the following morning, Droz and former Pit residents succeed in liberating the Whooping Crane and provoking the other students into an impromptu protest against protesting (chanting "We're not gonna protest!"). The demonstration establishes that even with The Pit shut down, the President cannot control the student population, resulting in the Board of Trustees summarily firing her. Meanwhile, Rand complains about all the other student groups, unaware that Droz has surreptitiously used the podium microphone to broadcast his rant to the entire campus.
Later, Tom heads home having decided to commit to PCU as the Pit has moved back into their house. As he sits on the bus, he sees Rand, who is now in Tom's position at the beginning of the film: being chased by the students across campus.

Review: The appearance of George Clinton makes the movie worth watching if only for the party scene.
David Spade should not be overlooked in his role as a preppy frat boy wanna-be and his rant about all of the PC sects at the end of the movie is completely priceless.
The unfortunate thing about a movie like "PCU" is that the "Animal House" comparisons are inevitable.
"Animal House" is one take on college fraternities and "PCU" is another.
The characters and plot in this movie are in no way derivative of "Animal House." Jeremy Piven was a great choice for the lead.
He doesn't exactly provide the film's funniest moments, but he plays a moderately small role and doesn't get much of a chance to do any annoying shtick.In the DVD commentary, Jeremy Piven mentioned that the actors weren't allowed to improvise, and he was very disapproving of director Hart Bochner's choice to follow the script verbatim.
I liked the "Rush Hour" movies, but at times it's so evident that Chris Tucker was stepping out of character to make the audience laugh that there were parts where I was taken out of the movie.
The most memorable gag, in my opinion, is the one involving the sign language interpreter, who has to translate phrases like "butt pirate" and "pillow biter." No one can deny that gag was classic.Another way cool thing about this movie: the gorgeous Megan Ward.
The songs played over the opening and closing credits are both way cool, and plus you're treated to the great sounds of George Clinton during the film.
This is a movie that I can watch every year and always fully enjoy it.The George Clinton song at the end truly rocks and may be the first true foray into GC's funk that most suburban under 21's see and hear.
Funny college comedy in the "Animal House" vein, with Piven out to save his dorm from being turned over to the young Republican legion led by David Spade.
Above average laughs and sincerity for this kind of fare.I liked seeing George Clinton in the film, too; I'm a big fan so I'm sort of biased, but I thought he and the guys and gals of P-Funk brought a lot to the film.
While I find it very cool that the Wesleyan College people take credit for the film (in the same way that Dartmouth folk take pride in their own "Animal House"), I don't think you needed to have attended that school to identify with this one.
Very funny movie.But this film is much more than a spoof commentary on today's PCUs.
prefer smaller budgets and original acting?So....This is PCU, a college film unlike Road Trip or American Pie 1,2,3,126,5002, whatever...
I think Animal house is better overall, but I gave it a worse score because PCU just clicks with me.
If you are going to college these days you MUST see this movie, I think you will laugh even more then you do at Animal House!
A MOVIE TO WATCH IF YOU WANT TO LAUGHGutter and Droz will make you laugh and it doesn't need raunchy scenes to do it.
I only believe that there has been one college movie released before or after PCU that compares to it and that is Old School.As far as Animal House goes don't get me wrong, awesome movie.
So if you have seen it and love it vote and help up the rank so more people have more of an incentive to watch this great movie.-ding ding ding, Gutter tell her what she's won :).
The actors are sort of a mixed bag, but Jeremy Piven owns the movie with a charismatic performance as the token rebel.
The movie features an incredible cast with Jeremy Piven anchoring the lead role, and featuring David Spade in a usual tie-wearing, brown nosing politician egocentric.The movie from beginning to the end was fun and funny, yet doing their part to point out the vast political correctness and sensitivity society is in these days.
The fraternity on campus that causes problems for the university...the dean trying to run them out of the school...the alcohol...the parties and the dean's personal student monkey.But for those that could care less about originality...this movie is a must-see..
And that kind of restraint is admirable/refreshing, considering how many movies we're surrounded with now that are box office obsessed."PCU," much like "Dead Man On Campus" a few years later, was content to entertain.
I must have watched PCU over two dozen times back in the late 90s when Comedy Central was running it to death.
Absolutely the kind of film I would NEVER EVER think I'd like, but I watch it every time it's on.
As my friend from Boston said, this may be dismissed as only appealing to frat-boys, but I'm a 30 year old, vegetarian, English woman - and it made me laugh (hey you know what - good for them chucking a load of meat out the window - now no-one can eat it!) Oh, and please, who posted this comment  "I'm afraid that only those of us who attended Wesleyan University at the very start of the 90's are going to get it"   Get over yourselves.
PCU is a hilarious college comedy starring Jeremy Piven.
A pretty normal looking preppy dude goes to Port Chester University to decide if he wants to go there and ends up befriending the people who live at "The Pit", who are at odds with some of the PC groups on campus and a thorn in the side of the administration.
Jeremy Piven is a great and charismatic lead and even if he is pushing 40, he still is going to college.
Its pacing is acceptable, its running time brief (81 minutes in total), and its spirit irresistible.Marking a rare directorial effort by actor Hart Bochner (who's best known as weaselly executive Ellis in the action classic "Die Hard"), "PCU" features Chris Young as Tom Lawrence, a clean cut, wide eyed "normal" sort of guy who is checking out Port Chester University to see if he'd like to go there in the fall.
He gets caught up in the fervor of various "politically correct" activists, as well as the activities of the wacky guys and gals of The Pit, a student group known for their nonconformity.As you may guess from that running time, there's really not that much story here, but there are enough laughs to keep the movie watchable.
The climactic party shows how sometimes people just need to lighten up and enjoy life a little more.With its well defined protagonists and antagonists, the end is appropriately satisfying, and overall "PCU" provides solid entertainment to those just looking to have a good time.Seven out of 10..
Basically, PCU is Animal House updated for the very Politically Correct University of the 1990's.
Awesome Jeremy Piven, David Spade movie, great early 90's comedy, if you like Animal House check this out.
I'd just like to say that this isn't a direct comparison of Animal House but lets be honest there is only so much to do on a college campus film except pranks, drinking, party's, and all around obnoxious fun behavior.
This is definitely a must see for all fans of screwball college movies such as: Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds, Back to School and so on.
Jeremy Piven, David Spade, and George Clinton- what more could any movie need?
Bringing in the Nineties Politically Correct atmosphere, PCU delivers a humorous portrayal of college life amongst all the angst of the down-trodden minority groups.
Comedic actor Jeremy Piven as 'Droz' leads a great cast including an early appearance by a then-chunky Jon Favreau (star of Swingers) as 'Gutter'.
This movie was great fun, but I'm afraid that only those of us who attended Wesleyan University at the very start of the 90's are going to get it.
When my classmate and I saw it during the week or so it was in the theaters, we were the only ones in the room laughing (but we were rolling, that's for sure!).Wesleyan certainly didn't have a lock on the "P.C." movement that permeated college campuses all over the country, but several bits of the movie are based on actual events, so you'll miss most of the nuances if you weren't there.The film was shot at McGill University in Montreal, but pay attention to the opening sequence, which was shot on the Wesleyan campus in Middletown, Connecticut..
I am a huge fan of both Jeremy Piven and Jon Favreau, so I figured this would be a pretty good movie.
I myself was too young to be attending college in the 90's, so the whole satire on political correctness wasn't as poignant for me, leaving the movie to stand on the strength of its comedy and acting and whatnot.
And of course even worse the tradition of the hostile faculty and administration of the modern American University--they need a good kegger to clean out the uptight.But the movie can't bring itself to follow through, and in fact, actually caves in at the end and becomes PC itself.
The bad guys end up being the demonic frat boys in Blue Blazers and Khakis led by nerd extraordinaire David Spade--the absolute least PC group on campus, and hilariously exiled to a hideout basement, like the underground during the Nazi regime.Too bad--Animal House was unsparing in it's seventies skewering of stodgy tradition minded academics (though it takes place in the early sixties).
A lot of people call this movie a third rate Animal House.
It's a movie which wants to be Animal House in the 90's or maybe Revenge of the Nerds, except with slacker idiots instead, but really...
There is just not a funny line in the entire movie - but they try so hard, and that just makes it annoying.
I my opinion PCU is the coolest college movie.
It comments on our culture in a very clever way and it is just one of those movies that you can have fun while watching.When I first saw this movie I really thought that college was like the made-up Portchester University and I was a little disappointed to discover it wasn't.
College is, however , about having a great time with your friends and trying to discover who you are and what you stand for.
Jeremy Piven is one of my favorite actors and I do not think he gets enough work or credit.
The story does lack a lot of character development, but I would not watch this movie hoping to see the most amazing film ever made.
He was just one of those Preppy little punks no one likes, like in Droz's Memory, "Go Back to Bed, Go Back to Bed. This movie was great, it was realistic to what college life is really like.
They organize a party to pay the bill but Tom discovers that it's all a plot by a elite fraternity led by Rand McPherson to get their building back.This is an attempt to get an Animal House style film for the 90's.
There are some funny bits (like the various PC groups that are on campus, or the scene where Gutter imagines himself at a Clinton style congressional hearing into allegations of drug taking - `Yes, but I didn't exhale') but the majority is quite juvenile stuff.
Piven is far too old to be on campus and just plays the Belushi role - however he is actually quite cool and he seems to be enjoying himself, which makes him more enjoyable to watch.
Go watch Animal House instead - or better still, study for those end of term papers!.
I bought this movie at a discount store for several reasons: 1) The IMDb reviews give it nearly a "7"(???); 2) I LOVE Jeremy Piven, David Spade, Chris Young, et al; 3) I was NOT expecting a high budget, true "Animal House" experience for an indie film; and, 4) I genuinely love college comedies/spoofs if they are done well and have a heart/direction.
Nothing will touch "Animal House" on the originality scale but I appreciate people trying to put out a quality movie.
Honestly, for all the people who watched this movie (and I understand the story was over ONE weekend), were these based on any real students?
Jeremy Piven, Jon Favreau, Jake Busey, Alex Désert ( I loved this guy in the sitcom "Becker") and David Spade ( ditto for "Just Shoot Me") Boy, this was a huge disappointment.
Good college and high school movies are rare.
The main message in P.C.U ( telling young people they should enjoy their youth more instead of protesting for everything ) was worth a try but not good enough to build a whole movie on.
There are a few funny moments present in this film, but they are not worth sitting the whole movie through.
But then again, I've never seen a film like PCU before.
This may be one of the best comedies ever made.My dad attended college in the late 1960s, a few years after the film "Animal House" was supposedly set.
(Sometimes, I found some of the students turn the place into a kindergarten.)  (EQ vs IQ)  Anyway, this movie is a protest to the PC establishment, and is funny.
The problem with the last quarter, unlike Animal House, the movie wimps out, instead of having one very big prank at the ending.
Jeremy Piven is an extremely charismatic actor and if it wasn't for him, this movie would be a bomb.
This is a bit of a third-rate Animal House that panders to its hoped-for audience and almost gets there amid the usual party school antics and misadventures.However Jessica Walter is memorable as PCU's fascist president.There are some yucks and diversions for relatively youthful viewers.
This Movie has got your Basic:  Beer, Jeremy Piven, George Clinton and the Paraliment Funk-adelic,   David Spade, and Chris Young.
PCU was an attempt to make the Animal House of the 90's.
Not a great film, but it definitely struck a chord with me the first time I watched it.As someone who hates all of the political correctness that's infected this country and the ridiculous lengths people take to make everything so PC, that was the primary reason why I loved the film.
I was rolling on the floor laughing the first time I saw the scene where the raw meat was being dumped on the animal rights protest.Of course, what's unfortunate is that the very thing that this film is poking fun at is so true nowadays on every college campus and our society today.
Like many other users, I thought this movie was the "Animal House" of the 90's.
I've seen PCU probably 7 or 8 times and it's one movie I will never tire of..
No other film has the same effect in showing the struggle between the students and "The Man" at a University, and do it in such a great way.
Upon first hearing of this movie my initial thoughts were "not another sex-romp comedy in the vein of Animal House." Well, I guess once again I was wrong.
My friend said that this movie is very close to what campus life is like in the 1990's.
Upon seeing this movie I realised that the sex romp comedy has gone out of fashion now and college comedies are not going to be as stereotypical as they previously were.My friend's comment about PCU Pit Party being an accurate rendition of 90's campus life is pretty correct.
My friend who recommended this movie to me lived for a year in a college and his parents lived in the city as well.A pre-fresh comes to Port Chester University (PCU) just before the year ends so that he may see what campus life is like.
This movie is said to be a 90's version of Animal House, and the big thing in the 90's is political correctness.
The speech at the end, which is typical of such movies, has the main character plead to the students to put their differences behind them and to protest against the establishment.
One of the funniest college comedy movies ever!.
This movie has so many lines in it that I still love to quote after all these years.
Quotes like "We're NOT gonna protest!" or "Can you blow me where the pampers is?" (Followed by "Can you show me where the campus is?") or "Gutter is a Tool!" are really funny when well used around the right people.
The scenes with Gutter are hilarious!; from the problems getting beer to accidentally bringing back George Clinton to the frat house, to the attempt to people surf during the party at the end.
I was replacing my copy of Airheads but was only able to find a copy paired with this movie and to my dread needed to get it in order to get the movie I wanted and so I watched it...PCU is about a nice young man going off to get a look at the college he wants to attend, little does he know that he'll have the whole school out for his head.
During this time our potential new student must look to try and help a failing frat house maintain it's stance on campus.Well you know I typically look at this movie...and the fact that David Spade is in it, and say..."ugh, another Animal House ripoff" I was surprised to find the movie being fairly amusing.
Jeremy Piven plays the usual man with the plan college student who manages to be on top of everything and pretty much at that point the acting is at it's highest level.
Apparently this film is supposed to be about the repressive effects of political correctness on the college campus, however, as far as I could tell, it was about playing frisbee with Jake Busey, throwing meatballs out of windows, and..., well, that pretty much wraps it up.