Class

Class casts Andrew McCarthy as Jonathan, an inexperienced high schooler who begins a torrid affair with an older woman (Jacqueline Bisset’s Ellen) and is shocked to discover that she’s the mother of his roommate (Rob Lowe’s Skip). It’s hard to deny that Class gets off to a rather underwhelming start, as filmmaker Lewis John Carlino delivers a fairly routine, by-the-numbers opening half hour revolving around Jonathan’s efforts at adjusting to his new surroundings – although it’s equally clear that the movie benefits from the affable work of its various performers. (McCarthy and Lowe’s solid work here is matched by an enjoyably eclectic supporting cast that includes John Cusack and Alan Ruck.) There’s little doubt, then, that Class grows more and more compelling as it progresses, as Carlino does an effective job of establishing the central characters and the camaraderie between Jonathan and Skip – with the progressively watchable atmosphere heightened by an ongoing inclusion of engaging, funny sequences. And while the whole thing is probably a good 20 minutes longer than necessary, Class nevertheless (and ultimately) comes off as a far more intelligent and ingratiating endeavor than its salacious poster might’ve indicated.

*** out of ****