Crash Course

Crash Course

Year: 1988

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Oz Scott

Comedy

Summer driver’s‑ed class brings together cocky Riko, privileged but scared Chad, Vanessa whose over‑protective mother forbids her attendance, and spoiled foreign student Maria. The principal, eager for graduates, hires a tough instructor still reeling from his wife’s leaving and tries to push football star Maslanski through a special pass. A teacher uses the situation to expose the principal’s favoritism, forcing Maslanski to take a makeup exam.

Crash Course (1988) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Crash Course (1988) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a sun‑splashed suburb, a summer driver’s‑education class becomes the unlikely crossroads for a restless group of high‑school seniors. The course is a mandated rite of passage, but for many it’s a second—or third—attempt, turning the classroom into a pressure cooker of nerves, ambition, and the occasional swagger. The school’s atmosphere hums with the weight of district mandates, where graduation numbers are tied to the fate of a beloved football program, giving the whole affair a blend of urgency and teenage freedom.

At the helm of this uneasy experiment is a principal desperate to boost completion rates, who enlists the help of his ambitious assistant to bring in an outside instructor with a reputation for no‑nonsense discipline. The instructor’s arrival collides with the existing staff—a recently divorced, anxious teacher trying to keep his own life on track. Their clashing styles hint at a deeper power struggle, while the administrator’s subtle push to favor a star athlete adds an undercurrent of favoritism that no one can ignore.

The student roster reads like a microcosm of the wider school: Riko, cocky and used to taking the wheel of his own destiny; Chadley, a privileged but visibly scared teen longing for acceptance; Vanessa, whose bright demeanor masks an over‑protective mother’s lingering doubts; Maria, a lavish foreign exchange girl who jokes that “my father’s limo” owns the road; and Maslanski, the football‑eligible star whose eligibility hangs on an English exam. Each brings a distinct rhythm to the class, their personalities sparking both rivalry and fellowship as they navigate the rules of the road and the unwritten codes of high‑school life.

Through a mix of dry humor, earnest conversation, and the ever‑present hum of engines, the film paints a portrait of adolescents and educators alike trying to steer toward confidence and belonging. The tone balances the light‑heartedness of teenage antics with the genuine stakes of growing up, offering a snapshot of a community in motion, waiting to see who will find the right path.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:52

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Narrative Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Crash Course

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