With Honors

PG-13

1994

1 hr. 40 min.

Drama

Comedy

List

19%

26 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Academia meets street smarts when Monty Kessler (Brendan Fraser), a graduate student struggling to finish his program, loses his thesis and finds it in the hands of a homeless man named Simon Wilder (Joe Pesci). Though the two get off on the wrong foot, they become unlikely friends, with Simon teaching Monty some important life lessons. Although Monty's roommates, including his buddy, Everett Calloway (Patrick Dempsey), initially dislike having Simon around, they grow to appreciate him, too.

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Critics Consensus

While it's admittedly well-meaning, With Honors handles its themes in strictly remedial fashion.

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Jacqueline F

This is one of my favorite movies of both Joe Pesci and Brendan Fraser. They both fill a void in each other's lives, and in some way become father and son to each other. It's a great 90's film. I recommend it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

MARCELLO S

I'm a fan of this movie since the first time I watched. Great emocional history

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Michelle L

I just watched this film for the 1st time (Nov 2023), and I wish I had seen it years ago. It's the kind of movie that makes you think and cry. It's personally very moving. You go in, thinking it's a lighthearted flick (which in large part it is). But it's actually a Trojan Horse because it humanizes the dehumanized (maybe that explains the abysmally low scores from mainstream critics). "With Honors" is a movie that makes you think, laugh & cry - but more importantly, it makes you reevaluate how you see people. You watch how a homeless bum (Joe Pesci) is transformed into a human being in the eyes of a Harvard student (and those of the audience). It's easy to dehumanize the homeless by calling them bums and thus scapegoat them for all the ills of society. But when you watch this movie, you unfortunately realize how easily anyone can fall into living on the streets. (Given current inflation and housing crisis, this 1994 film still hits a societal nerve.)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

Lisa A

I am not sure why this movie has gotten bad reviews. It is one of my all time favorite movies. Everyone who has watched it with me, or watched after my recommendation, has absolutely loved the movie. I dare you to watch and not shed a tear.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

Full Review

Elizabeth C

For many, many years this was my husband's favorite movie. Both of us appreciate the character development of Brendan Fraser's "Monty" and the development of his relationship with a bum. Thought-provoking movie!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Chris M

I have no idea why critics pick on movies like this. I thought all four students were interesting, entertaining performances from everyone, especially Patrick Dempsey and Brendan Fraser. An interesting concept, and I did find the Walt Whitman and political discussion interesting. Entertaining and I really recommend it. It doesn't hurt that it takes me back to my college days.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

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Alek Keshishian

Director

Joe Pesci

Simon Wilder

Brendan Fraser

Montgomery "Monty" Kessler

Moira Kelly

Courtney Blumenthal

Patrick Dempsey

Everett Calloway

Josh Hamilton

Jeffrey Hawks

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Anderson Jones

Detroit Free Press

Keshishian has smoothly made the transition from fringe to commercial by taking a fairly ordinary story and crafting it into a highly entertaining drama.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 26, 2022

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Sean Collier

Box Office Prophets

While the film's schmaltz and occasional moments of aspirational Gen-X cool earned it a fond place in the memories of some ... With Honors is largely hackneyed.

Rated: 2/10

Aug 30, 2021

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

The brainiest of the current class of college comedies and dramas, but not quite high enough to qualify as a magna cum laude portrayal of a meeting of minds.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 10, 2018

Full Review

Austin Kennedy

Sin Magazine

This movie is predictable from scene one, though that wouldn't be a problem if it had a good script, good performances and solid direction. But it doesn't.

Rated: .5/4

May 23, 2012

Full Review

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Synopsis

Academia meets street smarts when Monty Kessler (Brendan Fraser), a graduate student struggling to finish his program, loses his thesis and finds it in the hands of a homeless man named Simon Wilder (Joe Pesci). Though the two get off on the wrong foot, they become unlikely friends, with Simon teaching Monty some important life lessons. Although Monty's roommates, including his buddy, Everett Calloway (Patrick Dempsey), initially dislike having Simon around, they grow to appreciate him, too.

Director: Alek Keshishian
Executive Producer: Jon Peters, Peter Guber
Screenwriter: William Mastrosimone
Production Co: Spring Creek Productions, Warner Bros.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 10, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.0M
Sound Mix: Surround

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