Detective School Dropouts is a slapstick comedy from 1986 that follows the story of Harry Petry, played by David Landsberg, and his friend Fred, played by Lorin Dreyfuss, as they try to become private detectives. The two friends get kicked out of the police academy and decide to open their own detective agency. However, they quickly realize that running a detective agency is not as easy as they thought it would be, especially since they have no experience.
The movie opens with Harry and Fred attending the police academy. They both have dreams of becoming police officers, but they end up getting expelled for causing chaos during a training exercise. Feeling lost and without any direction in life, Harry and Fred decide to become private detectives. They set up their own detective agency called Petry and Fatty's House of Gumshoes, and start advertising their services in the local newspaper.
Their first case involves a wealthy widow who wants to know if her late husband was having an affair. The two friends start investigating but soon find themselves in hot water when they accidentally set the widow's house on fire. They manage to escape without getting caught, but the widow decides to hire a real detective to investigate the case, which leads to more trouble for Harry and Fred.
The movie is filled with comical moments and slapstick humor. Harry and Fred are not the smartest private detectives around, and they often stumble into situations that are way over their heads. They also have a lot of bad luck, which leads to some hilarious outcomes. For example, they stumble upon a drug cartel while trying to catch a cheating husband, and end up getting chased through the streets by armed thugs.
As the movie progresses, Harry and Fred start to learn some detective skills and become more competent at solving cases. However, they still make a lot of mistakes along the way. For instance, they accidentally leak a story to the press about a corrupt politician, which ends up putting them in the politician's crosshairs.
One of the funniest parts of the movie is the relationship between Harry and Fred. They are complete opposites, and their personalities clash all the time. Harry is more serious and methodical, while Fred is more carefree and laid back. However, they both have a good heart and a desire to help people, which is what makes them such endearing characters.
The supporting cast in the movie is also excellent. Christian De Sica plays a suave Italian detective who Harry and Fred try to emulate, but they always fall short. There is also a love interest for Harry in the form of a beautiful news reporter who is investigating the corrupt politician. She provides some romantic tension in the movie, as Harry tries to impress her while also trying to solve the case.
Overall, Detective School Dropouts is a fun movie that will have you laughing from beginning to end. It's not a deep, thought-provoking film, but it doesn't need to be. It's just a lighthearted comedy that will leave you feeling good. David Landsberg and Lorin Dreyfuss have excellent chemistry, and their comedic timing is spot on. If you're looking for a movie to watch with friends or family and just have a good time, then Detective School Dropouts is definitely worth checking out.
Detective School Dropouts is a 1986 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4.
