Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Troubling, dated dramedy has violence, strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
School Daze
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SCHOOL DAZE tells about the students at the historically all-Black Mission College during Homecoming weekend of their senior year. There's Dap (Laurence Fishburne), the activist trying to get the college to divest from South Africa. His girlfriend Rachel (Kyme) is a strong, empowered woman, but she's conflicted about her desire to join a sorority. Fraternity honcho Julian (Giancarlo Esposito) opposes Dap and enjoys exerting authority and manipulating people. Jane (Tisha Campbell-Martin) is a fan of Julian's fraternity and pays a heavy price to be with him. These characters and many others highlight and explore a wide range of issues facing African Americans, and it's past time for everyone to wake up.
Is It Any Good?
This was Spike Lee's first movie with a multi-million-dollar budget, and he ran with it headlong into an exploration of lots of issues African Americans have faced and still face today. Unfortunately, School Daze takes on so much that very few issues are explored in any real depth. The storytelling is so disjointed that many scenes appear from out of nowhere without any apparent reason for being there. It tries to be too many things at once (a drama, a comedy, and a musical) so that it's never quite successful at being any of them.
Viewers who went to college in the '80s, especially African Americans, may enjoy it as a trip down memory lane, but for many it won't feel so much nostalgic as cringe-worthy, especially when it comes to gender roles. It's best for very mature teens and up, especially if you're willing to talk about the controversial issues raised after you watch it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong language in School Daze. How much is too much? Is it realistic, and does it matter if it is? What about the highly-charged "N" word and other racist name-calling? Are the characters "owning" those words? Are they still hurtful?
Is it accurate to call what Half-Pint did to Jane rape? Why or why not?
Have you seen any other Spike Lee movies? If you have, which one is your favorite? If not, would you like to now?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 12, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : January 31, 2001
- Cast : Laurence Fishburne , Giancarlo Esposito , Tisha Campbell-Martin
- Director : Spike Lee
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , African American Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Pictures
- Genre : Musical
- Topics : Activism , History
- Run time : 121 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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