Winners Forget They’re In A Race, They Just Love To Run

“With Honors” (1994) – movie review
Today’s review is for the collegiate dram-com “With Honors” (1994), starring Brendan Fraser as Monty Kessler (a Harvard senior clinging to academic perfection and emotional detachment), Joe Pesci as Simon Wilder (a homeless man with a past and a philosophy that challenges Monty’s worldview), Moira Kelly as Courtney (Monty’s quietly loyal friend and unspoken romantic interest), Patrick Dempsey as Everett (a DJ roommate with a flair for irreverence), and Josh Hamilton as Jeff (the fourth housemate hoping to be a doctor, earnest and slightly adrift).  The film explores the tension between intellect and empathy, privilege and poverty, and the unexpected ways wisdom finds its way into our lives — sometimes through a man living in a boiler room.
Background:  This is my first viewing of “With Honors”.  I was prompted to view it by a YouTube short and viewed it on Tubi (streamed for “free”, but with commercial interruptions).  I will be picking up a copy if the film is ever available at my price point.  The “short” led me to the preview, which pretty much explains the film premise — a thesis held hostage by a homeless man — but not the emotional arc.  Watching it now, I was struck by how much the film leans into sentiment without drowning in it.  Fraser plays Monty with restraint and vulnerability.  Pesci, known for his explosive roles in “Goodfellas” and “My Cousin Vinny“, dials it down here — offering a performance that’s more Socratic than streetwise.
Plot:  Monty Kessler is a senior at Harvard, obsessed with finishing his thesis on the U.S. Constitution and securing a future that matches his ambition.  When his computer crashes and he loses his only copy, he discovers that a homeless man named Simon Wilder has found it — and won’t return it unless Monty agrees to a deal:  one page for every favor.  What begins as a transactional nuisance evolves into an unlikely friendship.  Simon, who lives in the basement of the Widener Library, challenges Monty’s assumptions about success, failure, and dignity.  As Monty’s roommates — Courtney, Everett, and Jeff — become entangled in Simon’s orbit, the group begins to shift.  The film builds toward Simon’s declining health, Monty’s academic reckoning, and a final act of grace that reframes what it means to graduate with honors.
So, is this movie any good?  How’s the acting?  The filming / FX?  Any problems?  And, did I enjoy the film?  Short answers:  Yes;  solid and sincere;  modest but effective;  a few tonal slips;  yes — with warmth.
Any Good?  Yes.  “With Honors” is a film that wears its heart on its sleeve (and frequently – product placement – on a Harvard sweatshirt).  It’s not subtle, but it’s sincere.  The script leans into idealism, and while some scenes are engineered for emotional payoff, the overall arc is earned.  It’s a film about learning — not just in classrooms, but in boiler rooms, hospital beds, and late-night walks across campus.  It’s about the difference between being smart and being wise.
Acting:  Brendan Fraser plays Monty with a quiet desperation — a young man who’s built his identity on achievement and finds it crumbling under the weight of lived experience.  His transformation is gradual and believable.  Joe Pesci’s Simon is the film’s soul — part philosopher, part provocateur.  Pesci avoids caricature, offering a performance that’s layered with regret, humor, and dignity.  Moira Kelly’s Courtney is understated but pivotal — her scenes with Fraser carry emotional weight without saccharin melodrama.  Dempsey and Hamilton round out the ensemble with charm and texture.  The chemistry among the housemates feels authentic — a blend of friction, affection, and shared growth.
Filming / FX:  The cinematography is functional — Harvard’s campus provides natural gravitas, and the boiler room scenes are lit with shadow.  The pacing is steady, and the film’s emotional beats are given room to breathe and be shared by the viewer.
Problems:  minor.  The film tends to veer into preachiness — Simon’s monologues, while heartfelt, sometimes feel like political / societal sermons.  The supporting characters, particularly Jeff, are underdeveloped.  The romantic subplot between Monty and Courtney is hinted at but never fully explored until they end up together after a party.  The film critiques elitism, but it does so gently — never fully interrogating the systemic barriers that separate Monty from Simon.  Like I said, minor issues / problems.
Did I Enjoy the Film?  Yes.  “With Honors” is a film that reminds me of the value of listening — not just to lectures, but to lived experience.  It’s a story about humility, friendship, and the quiet revolution that occurs when we allow ourselves to be changed by someone we didn’t expect to matter.  Watching Monty evolve — from thesis-obsessed to human-aware — is both satisfying and melancholic.  The film doesn’t ask you to pity Simon.  It asks you to respect him.
Final Recommendation:  Strong recommendation.  “With Honors” is a character-driven drama that explores the intersection of intellect and empathy.  If you’re a fan of campus films, stories about unlikely friendships, or performances that blend humor with heart, this one’s worth watching.  It’s rated PG-13 for language and thematic elements.  The film offers something rare — a story that respects its characters and its audience.  I recommend you watch it.  Then ask yourself:  what would you trade for a page of your own story?
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Click here (27 November) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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