Another classic about the joys of underachieving from the National Educational Association - no cast listing, but what a tale. If you allow yourself to make snide comments about the acting, scenario and what seem like blatant homosexual overtures, this was pretty hilarious. Mike's good natured but clearly backwards family is an embarrassment to him and that's before the titles. We watch a barely pubescent Mike struggle thru the 8th grade in 1955 with reading problems,joyously mussing other boys' hair, dragging his heels to the newly built school in his leather jacket. However, teachers at the school don't seem to care about Mike or any student when they get together to discuss "problems". They start talking about how to be better teachers (me me me me ME)but the conversation quickly rallies round the learning disabled(Mike), mostly because the script is structured to show concern. The school counselor, a good looking actor with a fierce widow's peak, stares a little too long at Mike for everyone's good (by today's standards) and he seems content to steer Mike into a tympani position in the orchestra and a career in electronics, as opposed to something that might need him to read. (Settle, Mike - why strive in '55?) Mike lands a job sweeping up the local radio/electronics store and his boss bats him aside when he can't figure out how to test radio tubes. The hilarity continues when Mike follows his "cool" friend to his ditch digging job and refers to the great times when he'll quit school and have a car just like his friend. They make no bones when Mike hangs around a bit too much at the pool hall with his "friends". Will Mike make the right decision and stay in school? The end leaves you thinking Mike might, for at least a semester, but with no clear plans for the future aside from playing tympani(his family is thrilled he can beat a drum in time - Yay for underachieving,Mike!). It's 50s propaganda and thus, easily mockable. Make this a fun party film and tell the guests to make the funniest comments they can... or... you put away the food and drink. It's that simple.