“National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” is a 1995 American comedy film directed by Kelly Makin and starring Matt Frewer, Valerie Mahaffey, and Lawrence Dane. The movie follows a group of high school seniors from Ohio who go on a field trip to Washington, D.C., but things quickly go awry when they accidentally get involved in a political scandal.
The film was produced by National Lampoon Productions and distributed by New Line Cinema. It received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office disappointment, grossing only $4.7 million against a budget of $13 million.
Despite its poor commercial performance, “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” has developed a cult following over the years, with many fans appreciating its irreverent humor and satirical take on politics and the American education system. The film also features a soundtrack featuring a variety of popular rock and hip-hop artists of the mid-1990s.
Cast
The main cast of “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” includes:
- Matt Frewer as Mr. McAllister, a high school history teacher who chaperones the field trip to Washington, D.C.
- Valerie Mahaffey as Principal Moss, the strict and uptight principal of Fairmount High School.
- Lawrence Dane as Superintendent Grimm, the corrupt superintendent of schools who is caught up in a political scandal.
- Tommy Chong as Red, a laid-back hippie who runs a marijuana farm.
- Tara Strong as Carla Morgan, a smart and rebellious student who is a love interest for protagonist Kevin.
- Kevin McDonald as Travis Lindsey, a nerdy student obsessed with statistics and numbers.
- Rob Moore as Reggie Barry, a jock who is the class president and leader of the senior class.
- Nicole de Boer as Meg Smith, a popular cheerleader who is Reggie’s girlfriend.
- Danny Smith as Bernard the Balloon Guy, a strange and eccentric street performer.
- Jeremy Renner as Mark “Dags” D’Agastino, a stoner student who befriends Kevin and the others on the trip.
There are also a number of notable cameo appearances in the film, including appearances by George Clinton, Barry Pearl, and Fred Willard.
Production
“National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” was produced by National Lampoon Productions and distributed by New Line Cinema. The film was directed by Kelly Makin and written by Roger Kumble, who went on to write and direct “Cruel Intentions” and “The Sweetest Thing.”
The movie was shot on location in Toronto, Canada, and Washington, D.C. The film’s production budget was around $13 million.
The soundtrack for the film features songs by a variety of popular rock and hip-hop artists of the mid-1990s, including The Offspring, Cypress Hill, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Despite the film’s lackluster performance at the box office, it has gained a cult following over the years, with many fans appreciating its irreverent humor and satirical take on politics and the American education system.
Reviews
“National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” received mixed reviews from critics upon its release in 1995. The film currently holds a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 15 reviews.
Critics generally praised the film’s irreverent humor and satirical take on politics, but criticized the plot and characters for being thin and one-dimensional. Many also felt that the film lacked the charm and wit of other National Lampoon productions like “Animal House” and “Vacation.”
Despite the mixed reviews, “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” has gained a cult following over the years, with many fans appreciating its offbeat humor and nostalgic appeal for those who grew up in the 1990s. The film’s irreverent take on politics and education has also earned it a place in the canon of political satire films.
Where are they now?
Here is a brief update on some of the main cast and crew of “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” and what they have been up to since the film’s release:
- Matt Frewer (Mr. McAllister) has continued to work as an actor and voice actor, with roles in popular TV shows like “Orphan Black” and “Altered Carbon.”
- Valerie Mahaffey (Principal Moss) has appeared in a variety of TV shows and movies, including “Desperate Housewives” and “Glee.”
- Lawrence Dane (Superintendent Grimm) retired from acting in 2007 and passed away in 2020.
- Tommy Chong (Red) has continued to work as a comedian and actor, most recently appearing in the TV series “That ’70s Show.”
- Tara Strong (Carla Morgan) has become one of the most prolific voice actors in the industry, lending her voice to popular animated shows like “The Powerpuff Girls” and “Teen Titans.”
- Kevin McDonald (Travis Lindsey) has continued to work as a comedian and actor, with roles in TV shows like “The Kids in the Hall” and “That ’70s Show.”
- Rob Moore (Reggie Barry) has largely retired from acting and now works as a chiropractor.
- Nicole de Boer (Meg Smith) has continued to work as an actor, with roles in TV shows like “The Dead Zone” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
- Danny Smith (Bernard the Balloon Guy) has gone on to become a writer and producer for the animated TV series “Family Guy.”
- Jeremy Renner (Mark “Dags” D’Agastino) has become a major movie star, with roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, among others.
Fun facts
Here are some fun facts about “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip”:
- The film was originally titled “National Lampoon’s Last Resort,” but was later changed to “Senior Trip” during production.
- The movie features a cameo appearance by George Clinton, the legendary musician and leader of the funk band Parliament-Funkadelic. Clinton appears as himself, performing a concert in Washington, D.C.
- The film was shot in Toronto, Canada, which doubled for both Ohio and Washington, D.C.
- “Senior Trip” was one of the first movies to feature future Hollywood star Jeremy Renner in a major role. Renner plays the character of Mark “Dags” D’Agastino, a stoner student who befriends the main characters.
- The movie’s soundtrack features a variety of popular rock and hip-hop songs from the mid-1990s, including “Come Out and Play” by The Offspring and “Insane in the Brain” by Cypress Hill.
- The film’s opening credits feature a cartoon sequence that parodies famous scenes from other National Lampoon productions, such as “Animal House” and “Vacation.”
- The character of Bernard the Balloon Guy, played by Danny Smith, was inspired by a real-life street performer that the filmmakers encountered in Toronto.
- The film’s director, Kelly Makin, has gone on to direct a variety of TV shows and movies, including episodes of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.”
Box office
“National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” was a box office disappointment, grossing only $4.7 million against a budget of around $13 million. The film was released in the United States on April 8, 1995, and ultimately only stayed in theaters for a few weeks.
The poor box office performance of “Senior Trip” was likely due to a combination of factors, including mixed reviews from critics and a lack of star power in the cast. The film was also released during a crowded time at the box office, with other comedies like “Tommy Boy” and “Friday” also in theaters.
Despite its poor commercial performance, “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” has developed a cult following over the years, with many fans appreciating its irreverent humor and nostalgic appeal for those who grew up in the 1990s. The film’s political satire and soundtrack featuring popular rock and hip-hop songs of the era have also earned it a place in the canon of cult classic films.
