Nothing compares to the college experience. Sure, you spend a lot of your time studying, but when you’ve not got your head in a book, you’re free to go as crazy as you want. You might think all those movies set in colleges are just dramatized versions of reality, but that’s not always the case. Some films do a pretty good job of portraying college life, even if they are a little over the top.
Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde shouldn’t have been as successful as it was. That was the consensus from people who considered the film formulaic. However, there’s nothing wrong with a movie where the underdog proves everyone wrong, especially when they’re portrayed excellently by Reese Witherspoon. Her character of Elle Woods may have been a complete fish out of water at Harvard, but what college student hasn’t felt that way? Plenty of people think they don’t belong, or that everyone else is so much smarter than them. However, as time goes on, you start to fit in and find out who your real friends are.
Neighbors
There’s a reason frat houses have a particular reputation. While they might not all be extremely wild, their parties can certainly get out of hand. Neighbors did an excellent job of portraying that, as well as the brotherly bond that typically forms between guys in a frat. There’s a reason people who were part of fraternities and sororities often stay close with their brothers and sisters after they graduate. That’s because going through college and having those outrageous experiences together really connects them for life. If you want to see that in action, just check out the ridiculous antics of Teddy Sanders and the Delta Psi boys in this hilarious comedy.
The Waterboy
When it comes to Adam Sandler movies, they can typically be hit or miss. Critical reception towards his 1998 sports comedy film The Waterboy leaned on the negative side of things, but that didn’t make it a terrible movie. A lot of the criticism it received was similar to Legally Blonde in that it was referred to as a predictable storyline, albeit with questionable humor. However, much like Reese Witherspoon’s 2001 hit, The Waterboy showed a great representation of college life. From struggling to fit in to finally distancing himself from his mother, Bobby Boucher, Jr. was someone many students could relate to, even if he was in his thirties.
Pitch Perfect
College is the perfect place to get involved in extracurricular activities. You might not have been interested in them while you were a high school student, but things are different in college. You need as many friends as you can get, and shared interests are typically the best way to connect with someone. That’s what led Anna Kendrick’s Beca to join the Barden Bellas and find her calling as an a capella singer. Sure, the success her group had might be hard to recreate in real life, but that sisterly bond between the girls was genuine. Those friendships are what college is all about.
Whether you’ve been to college or not, you can live those experiences vicariously through these great movies.
