Keith Gordon (left) plays Rodney Dangerfield's troubled son in the 1986 happy-ending version of Romeo and Juliet, "Back to School"
"Warm and lovable," Judge Napolitano on Fox & Friends is saying re Rodney Dangerfield, who has died. And the judge's young, beautiful co-anchor Kiran Chetrey is saying that two generations later the man who "can't get no respect" was loved as well. We feel the same. For us, it was "Back to School," where a rough-around-the-edges business tycoon decides to attend college alongside his troubled son to lend moral support. After a string of TJLOL* misadventures, the old boy ends up winning the hearts and minds of students, faculty, alumni and -- most importantly -- the most desirable woman on campus, a soulful professor played by Sally Kellerman in one of her most endearing roles. We can never see it too many times. The Great American Love Story. Sort of a Romeo and Juliet for older folks but with a happy ending. Thinking about it now, here's what was so great, besides the script and the acting and the directing and everything else that was so funny and sweet and -- yes -- American about it. The earnest if flawed entrepreneur sticks it to the pretentious gasbag academic and walks off with the girl.
*Tummy jiggling, laughing out loud
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