“It’s not how far you go, it’s how go you far.”

Justin’s rating: A movie with the Lambada can’t be completely uncultured, can it?

Justin’s review: While I’m not the most practiced skier — something about hurtling down a mountain with the agility of a zamboni — I absolutely vibe on ski resorts as a whole. The cabins, the hot cocoa, the colorful outfits, the cozy winter scenes, all of it. It’s kind of like winter summer camp, especially when you dip into cinema’s take.

We’re not hurting for options in this regard (see: Better Off Dead, Out Cold, Snowboard Academy, and Ski Patrol for your starter pack), and today I’m going to add the hallowed Ski School to our hall of fame. Oh don’t you fret, little sequel, your day will come. Oh yes, it’ll come. Probably tomorrow.

The calendar might say “1991,” but this was filmed in ’89 and is purely a product of that era. Ski School wastes no time in setting forth its Shakespearean plot, which is summed up with the goofy slacker instructors of Section 8 butting heads with uptight bully instructors of Section 1at Whistler Mountain ski resort.

The good guys are led by Summer School’s Dean Cameron, who plays Dave, while the role of yuppie nemesis Reid is handled by Mark Thomas Miller. Section 8 ropes in dreamy John (Tom Bresnahan), a newbie who becomes their ace in the hole. He’s cool with it, too, probably because these dudes have a cool club room and majors in pranking on the side.*

Occasionally Ski School forgets that it’s a movie with a plot, falling down its own rabbit hole of slow-mo skiing montages set to sweet rock music. At least it’s all competently shot in some beautiful resort environments, so the eye candy is in full effect.

But when the plot does drift back into focus, there’s an equal amount of partying, hijinks, pranks, romances, nudity, the Lambada, subliminal messaging,** and ski races. It’s all as simple as these bright neon ski outfits are undoubtedly expensive. See, that’s another thing I loved about ski culture — the gear. I’d wear it in winter if I wasn’t worried someone might draft me to do some emergency slaloms.

Legend goes that this movie gave great leeway to the actors to improv, and if that’s true, then these are some quick-on-their-feet goofballs. I was impressed how personable and witty these Section 8 doofuses were, snarking right in the face of Reid and his muscle-bound Section 1 crew. Also, allegedly Tom Bresnahan got injured partly into this film, which is why Cameron and his mighty eyebrows had to step up to be more of a major role. It actually worked out pretty well.

Cameron also has amazing chemistry with his sidekick co-star Stuart Fratkin (Prehysteria!). Seeing these two guys bounce off each other makes me want to be their best friend too — and sad because all I can pull off are the outfits, not the moves. It really reminded me of the chemistry and high-spirited fun that the Pit pulled off in PCU a couple years later.

Ski School is not politically correct in the least, it’s like 65% party scene, and I have no doubt that you’ll see every plot beat coming from minute three. But dang it if I didn’t have a blast with this Animal House-on-skis even so. It’s just all well-handled, bundling into a well-paced crazy party/sports flick that doesn’t have any fat to it. If this was a last hurrah of ’80s sports comedies, it’s good to see that they gave it their all instead of putting out the bare minimum.

*Also they will happily toss a beer to anyone who hold out their hand.

**Seriously, it’s a major part of the plot.

Intermission!

• I did not know synchronized skiing was a thing
• “I’ve put into motion a diabolical plan to rid you and your satanic presence from this mountain forever.”
• ROUND SUNGLASSES ALERT!
• Helium makes Shakespeare that much more captivating
• “I’m simply helping a damsel in aerobic distress!”
• “I think I heard this song in my dentist’s office.”
• “Welcome to my kingdom! I will bed you all before the night is through!”
• AV nerds know hot to improve a party
• “You know what this means. Payback. Yes, I think so.”
• This movie remembers army men!
• “If you want to be the best, you must lose your mind.”
• Subliminal messaging works… some of the time
• “I could dance with the cows until you come home.”
• It’s the snowball vendor!
• SNOWBALL FIGHT!
• There’s a whole lot of beer tossing in this movie
• “You’re all a bunch of animals!” [off camera belch]
• The blonde girl in this movie was part of Griff’s gang from Back to the Future Part II
• Twister and romance go hand-in-hand
• The beer balloon
• THE BEER SLED
• “Don’t even think about it sign”