Alright, fellow tapeheads, dim the lights, maybe crack open a beverage that came in a can with questionable 80s graphics, and let’s talk about a movie that practically screams “New Releases” shelf circa 1984: Up the Creek. This isn't high art, folks. This isn't even Police Academy trying to be high art. This is pure, unadulterated, early-80s campus comedy chaos, served up with a side of river rapids and a wink so broad it practically knocks over the camera.
Remember browsing those video store aisles, the slightly musty smell of plastic clamshells in the air, looking for that perfect Friday night flick? Up the Creek was exactly the kind of cover art that might catch your eye – bright colors, goofy faces, the promise of hijinks. It arrived squarely in that post-Animal House (1978) and Porky’s (1981) wave, where seemingly every studio was greenlighting scripts about hormonal college kids causing mayhem. And who better to headline this aquatic adventure than Tim Matheson, forever etched in our minds as Otter from Animal House? Here he’s Bob McGraw, the charismatic slacker ringleader from the fictional Lepetomane University – yes, Lepetomane, named after the famous French flatulist, setting the comedic bar exactly where you'd expect.
### From Faber to Lepetomane
The premise is delightfully simple, the kind scribbled on a napkin during a particularly long lunch. McGraw and his band of academic zeroes – including the lovable lug Gonzer, played by another Animal House alum, the late, great Stephen Furst (Flounder!), the nerdy Irwin (Sandy Helberg), and the perpetually horny Max (Dan Monahan, fresh off Porky's) – are facing expulsion from the worst university in the country. Their only hope? Win the annual intercollegiate raft race and bring glory (or at least avoid shame) to Lepetomane U. Standing in their way are the sneering, privileged preps from Ivy University and, more memorably, the hyper-disciplined, vaguely menacing cadets from Washington Military Institute, led by none other than John Hillerman (Higgins from Magnum, P.I.!), clearly having a blast chewing the scenery as Dean Burch.
What follows is essentially Wacky Races on water, punctuated by the kind of gags and situations that defined the era. Think elaborate cheating, romantic subplots (with Jennifer Runyon as the charming love interest, Heather), run-ins with eccentric locals, and, naturally, a healthy dose of T&A that feels almost quaint by today's standards but was par for the course back then. It’s interesting to note the film was directed by Robert Butler, a veteran TV director who helmed the pilots for classics like Batman (1966), Hill Street Blues, and Remington Steele. You can almost feel that TV efficiency here; the pacing is brisk, the setups and payoffs are clear, even if the overall narrative isn't exactly challenging.
### River Rapids and Retro Laughs
While not an "action" film in the traditional sense, the river sequences provide the film's main spectacle. You have to appreciate the commitment – these weren't CGI rapids. They stuck the actors (or their stunt doubles) in actual rafts on actual churning water, likely somewhere scenic like Bend, Oregon, which served as a primary filming location. There's a tangible quality to the splashing, the near-capsizes, and the increasingly desperate attempts by each team to sabotage the others. Remember how impressive even basic water stunts felt on a slightly fuzzy CRT screen? There's a certain charm to the raw, unpolished feel of it compared to today's slicker productions.
The script, co-written by Jim Kouf (who would later pen hits like Stakeout (1987) and Rush Hour (1998)) and Jeff Sherman (future creator of Boy Meets World!), delivers exactly what the poster promises. It’s a conveyor belt of jokes, some landing better than others. The Lepetomane crew's raft, cobbled together from junk, is a decent visual gag in itself. The rivalry with the military school provides some of the funnier moments, especially watching Hillerman’s sputtering indignation. It's not sophisticated, but it knows its audience – teenagers and college kids (and maybe their slightly older siblings) looking for easy laughs and escapism on a Friday night rental.
### Navigating the Nostalgia Stream
Watching Up the Creek today is an undeniable trip back in time. The fashion, the music (that theme song!), the casual attitudes – it's pure 1984. It earned a modest $11.6 million at the box office against its $5 million budget, suggesting it found its audience, likely doing even better business on home video where films like this truly thrived. Critics at the time? Mostly unimpressed, as you might guess, often labelling it derivative of its more successful predecessors. But did we care back then, searching for something fun on the VHS shelf? Probably not.
Does it hold up? Well, that depends on your tolerance for dated humor and predictable plots. Tim Matheson effortlessly channels his Otter charisma, Stephen Furst is genuinely endearing as Gonzer, and the supporting cast leans into the silliness. It lacks the sharp satire of Animal House or the surprising heart of something like Revenge of the Nerds (also 1984), but it delivers on its simple promise of goofy fun. I distinctly remember renting tapes like this, maybe not Up the Creek specifically every time, but its type – the slightly naughty, slightly dumb, but ultimately good-natured college romp.
Rating: 5/10
Justification: It hits the bare minimum requirements for an 80s campus comedy – familiar faces, silly premise, river race gimmick, predictable gags. It’s competently made for what it is, and the cast is game. However, it lacks originality, memorable standout scenes, or jokes sharp enough to truly elevate it beyond being a product of its specific time and trend. It's perfectly watchable nostalgia, but far from a classic of the genre.
Final Thought: Up the Creek is like finding that half-forgotten mixtape in the back of a drawer – undeniably of its era, maybe a little worn out, but guaranteed to trigger a specific, fuzzy kind of smile for those who were there. Paddle at your own risk, but expect gentle currents, not roaring rapids.