Mad Magazine Presents Up the Academy

The 1980 American teen comedy directed by Robert Downey Sr. follows four delinquent youths—Chooch, Ike, Hash, and Oliver—who are sent to the strict Weinberg Military Academy as punishment for their misbehavior. There, they encounter the sadistic and authoritarian Major Vaughn Liceman (Ron Leibman), who rules the academy with an iron fist. The arrival of Rodney, a pyromaniac expelled from other schools, adds further chaos to their lives. When Oliver learns that his girlfriend, Candy, has been transferred to a nearby girls' military school, the group devises a plan to meet her secretly. However, their scheme is uncovered by Liceman, who uses compromising photos to blackmail them. Suspecting Chooch of betrayal, the friends soon discover that Rodney is the culprit. In retaliation, they plan a counter-blackmail operation to obtain incriminating evidence against Liceman himself. The climax unfolds during a soccer match, where Rodney, experiencing a change of heart, launches a rocket that destroys Liceman's cabin. The film concludes with a comedic chase scene, as Liceman pursues the teens, shouting "play it again," emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.