SummaryA new transfer student to St. Basil's Boys' Prep School tries to fit in while romantically pursuing a troubled young girl.
Directed By:Michael Dinner
Written By:Charles Purpura
Heaven Help Us
Metascore
Generally Favorable
64
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.5
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
64
75% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
17% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
80
This ensemble comedy, with its fine cast and clever writing, has more mass appeal than the conventional coming-of-age caper. The plot, though scattered, is tried and runs true. [8 Feb 1985, p.23]
80
A sharply observed rites-of-passage comedy set in Brooklyn in 1965.
75
This wonderfully touching and funny reminiscence of life in a Catholic boys high school in Brooklyn circa 1965 went mostly unnoticed by critics and moviegoers alike. HEAVEN HELP US is a refreshingly honest portrayal of teenagers. No character is stereotyped, and events turn out differently than expected.
70
It's an unambitious, derivative but engaging little comedy...It's hardly original. It's hardly deep. But, in contrast with much of its genre ("Porky's" and its progeny), it's a model of sophistication, decorum and even taste. It has crass moments and cheap shots, but it's still good: cleverly thought out and gracefully filmed by first-time film director Michael Dinner, who directed the PBS "Miss Lonelyhearts."
70
Very funny in spots and wonderfully evocative of Brooklyn, circa 1965, pic suffers somewhat by dividing its attention between outrageous pranks and realistic sketches of the Catholic school experience.
50
As directed by Michael Dinner from Charles Purpura's script, the movie combines the anti-Catholic satire of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You with the rowdy sexuality of Porky's and the stereotyping of every mediocre teen film ever made. [8 Feb 1985]
12
A hellishly bad film. [8 Feb 1985, p.9]
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.5
100% Positive
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Mar 30, 2020
8
Hilarious comedy set in a Catholic boys school in 1962. Well worth tracking down!
Jun 11, 2025
7
Solid comedy drama. Movie nicely captures the time, place, feel, and nostalgia of going to Brooklyn Catholic school in 1965. It pushes all the right emotional buttons, Equal measure schooling, bullying, pulling pranks, smoking, drinking , hanging out at the local diner, and teen romance, With dated Catholic teachings offering counterpoint to the social events. Populated by overall decent kids, a few kind and caring clergy, And one very abusive clergyman, And it was nice seeing all the young future movie stars, All scored to an early 60's soundtrack.
