The Freshman

The 1990 crime comedy film directed by Andrew Bergman tells the story of Clark Kellogg (Matthew Broderick), a young film student from Vermont who moves to New York City to attend New York University. Upon arriving at Grand Central Terminal, he encounters Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby), who deceives him and steals his luggage. Later, after spotting Victor again, Clark agrees to a job offer as compensation for his stolen belongings. Victor introduces him to his uncle, Carmine Sabatini (Marlon Brando), an influential and enigmatic figure reminiscent of Vito Corleone from "The Godfather." Sabatini assigns Clark a series of tasks, the first of which is to pick up a Komodo dragon from John F. Kennedy Airport and deliver it to a specified address. During this assignment, Clark discovers the existence of the clandestine "Gourmet Club," where wealthy clients pay exorbitant amounts to dine on dishes made from rare and endangered animals. Concurrently, Clark meets Sabatini's daughter, Tina (Penelope Ann Miller), who shows a clear interest in him, hinting at an impending marriage. The situation becomes more complicated when Clark is pursued by Department of Justice agents Chuck Greenwald (Jon Polito) and Lloyd Simpson (Richard Gant), who claim that Sabatini is a notorious mobster known as "Jimmy the Toucan," and involve Clark in their investigation of the "Gourmet Club." Throughout the unfolding events, Clark finds himself entangled in a series of comedic and perilous situations, trying to discern whom to trust and avoid legal troubles. The film received positive reviews from critics, particularly highlighting Marlon Brando's performance, who humorously parodied his iconic role from "The Godfather."