User Reviews

If you're looking for a fun ski comedy, go with Ski School. Ski Patrol is the lame red-headed stepbrother of ski comedies. It tries to be funny but it's anything but. Tries way too hard.

Now, I had actually never seen, much less ever heard about, this 1990 comedy titled "Ski Patrol" before now as 2022 is about to come to a closure. And thus I sat down to watch it, of course. I figured I would be in for a movie in the likes of the many slapstick comedies of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Writers Steven Long Mitchell, Craig W. Van Sickle and Wink Roberts put together a fair enough script here for director Richard Correll to bring to life on the screen. As it turned out, then I hadn't exactly been missing out of a comedy gem here. If you have seen any comedies from the late 1980s and early 1990s, then you know what you are getting here with "Ski Patrol", for better or worse.

Something that impressed me about "Ski Patrol" was the cast ensemble. There was a good handful of familiar faces on the cast list here, with the likes of Leslie Jordan, Paul Feig, George Lopez, Steve Hytner and Ray Walston.

For a comedy then there wasn't really all that much to laugh about throughout the course of the 91 minutes that the movie ran for. And on that account then "Ski Patrol" wasn't really an outstanding or memorable early 1990s comedy.

"Ski Patrol" was watchable, sure, but it is not a movie that I will ever return to watch again. There were far more entertaining and funny comedies from the same era, so this one sort of barely got by.

My rating of "Ski Patrol" lands on a five out of ten stars.

It may really suck but I loved it! Police academy type movie with ski patrolers instead of cops! I really loved the horrible jokes played on each other and the horrible 80's fashion. It really cracks me up! Then again, my parents were ski patrolers and I grew up around 'em. AND the first time I watched the movie was when i was 8 :) (that always makes a horrible movie into a good one!) Personally, I found this movie much more amusing than some current "dumb funny movies". Besides, there really aren't too many ski movies that aren't a "teenage party" movie- or at least that i've ran in to

I finally found a copy at Goodwill and I bought it! Now I finally have a copy and wont have to keep renting it at the video store.

Not sure what the hell I was thinking but I dug out an old rental tape of this movie that somehow wound up in my collection and watched it last night. Life is short, ninety minutes of one's existence may not seem like a long time but there will probably come a point in my life where I will regret having invested the time needed to let this movie play, though I may not remember the title.

The movie is an interesting study in failure, actually. There's some decent talent involved: Ray Walston out-classes everyone else in the film as "Pops", the owner of a ski resort that scurrilous Martin Mull tries to swindle away from him. Ubiquitous 80s "token black guy" actor T.K. Carter -- an effective presence in stuff like THE THING and SOUTHERN COMFORT -- puts on the Stepin Fetchit routine for a couple of musical numbers where he karaoke's along with a boom box system, aping black performers like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Little Richard ... One wonders if he was aware of the characiture he was manipulated into creating.

The oblique racist attitudes in the film continue with George Lopez doing a Rodney Dangerfield impersonation to amuse a young Latino tyke who doesn't get the joke until Lopez repeats it in Spanish. Then there is the family of vacationing Japanese tourists with their cameras who jabber excitedly to one another in their own language & snap pictures of the same things. There's also a "little person" ski patrol supervisor who's diminutive stature is the butt of several potentially cruel jokes. Perhaps one of the redeeming qualities of the film is that it's a repository of the innocently offensive pre-political correctness era. There's even a PETA baiting sequence where mice are somewhat callously handled on screen before being released en-masse to disrupt an awards banquet.

There were a couple of unintentionally funny moments like the bad guy "preppie" ski patrol members decked out in their intricately patterned fashion sweaters during a fireside discussion scene, as well as a climactic trashing of a giant wiener mobile on skis. I'm not sure they were meant to be funny but they provided the sole bright spots in the film, which to me looked like a colossal waste of talent, time, and money. The budget for the film was modest but could have been used to feed starving 3rd worlders or maybe build a school for disadvantaged American kids crowded into classrooms staffed by ineffectual teachers. Instead, someone bankrolled this movie, which quickly went out of print.

If you read the other comments posted here one theme is shared by those with a favorable opinion of the film, which is nostalgia. Most of them encountered the film as kids or as home video rental choices, which is really the only purpose I can see for the film even existing in the first place. Then again if the plug line "From the creator of POLICE ACADEMY" doesn't make you cringe with disdain there's probably nothing that could dissuade you from wasting your own time watching it. For the most part the movie is a harmless waste of time that probably won't win over any new converts and as an out-of-print video title unavailable on DVD still provides some curiosity value.

What's most curious, however, is the apparent enthusiasm that most of the cast displays while on-screen. Nobody behaves in a rational or realistic manner, everything is all gonzo, hyperactive and unreal, festooned with a sheen of late 1980s fashion sensibilities that make one wonder what the hell we were collectively thinking back then. SKI PATROL is thusly a repository of out of date ideas, fashions and values that hopefully won't ever be revisited by our culture, though it is always great to see Ray Walston owning some hotshot covered with spilled mustard.

3/10

At the Snowy Peaks Ski Lodge, wise cracking slacker Jerry Cramer (Roger Rose) works Ski Patrol with a group of other misfits who are under the command of tightly wound head Murray (Leslie Jordan). When land developer Sam Marris (Martin Mull) sets his sights on Snowy Peaks, Marris makes a deal with Ski School instructor Lance Finkmayer (Corby Timbrook) to sabotage Snowy Peaks safety requirements so the current lease holder, Pops (Ray Walston), will lose his claim and allow Marris to turn Snowy Peaks into resort town Marristown.

Ski Patrol comes to us from producer Paul Maslansky best known for his creation and curation of the Police Academy series. With grosses dipping with subsequent installments, Maslansky tried to revisit the formula and applying it to the world of skiing. Maslansky initially intended to expand Ski Patrol, much like Police Academy, with two sequels and a spin-off TV series, but when the movie only made $8 million that never came to be though supposedly there's been some talk of a Ski Patrol sequel/reboot with the team behind Workaholics. Ski Patrol isn't offensive or obnoxious, but it's yet another rehash on an overplayed formula that has long since worn out its welcome.

I will say that some of the cast do bring energy to their performances with T. K. Carter, Paul Feig, and Leslie Jordan bringing some decent smile worthy moments every so often, but aside from a decent long payoff joke involving Leslie Jordan's character taking "growth pills" there's a number of floundering gags such as Jordan repeatedly tripping over a dog named Dumpster (to whom he's also allergic) or a grating performance by Sean Sullivan as a character named Suicide whose schtick is he's part of a band where every member is him and two masks named Buried and Slaughter who he voices and lead to long drawn out ski sequences that aren't all that funny because they don't really have jokes and feel like visual noice that's been put in as a placeholder.

Ski Patrol takes the Police Academy formula and goes through all the expected motions you've seen since the first Police Academy movie and its sequels and rip-off in Moving Violations. It's hard to even muster up much feeling for this movie because it's not obnoxious or offensive enough to elicit any kind of visceral reaction and just feels like a tired entry in an equally tired formula.

Why is Ski Patrol not on DVD??? It is a true classic of the perhaps cheesy and clichéd, but wonderfully fun and endearing genre group of 1980s/early-90s B-Comedies.

This movie is pure, silly, unironic fun - it's hard to find a movie like this these days. George Lopez is great in his first acting role - And everyone needs to see Paul Feig's MJ-inspired dance sequence. He tears it up! As well as his onstage performance with 'Iceman' to win the talent show and thus save the Ski Patrol from the evil young blond yuppie Lance and his devious developer boss. Intrigued? That's what I thought - Ski Patrol is the ultimate B-Comedy cult film, the genre that the DVD format was made for!! Let's see a release soon, eh? - taste death, live life!

I saw the movie when it first came out...I was a kid so of course it was hilarious. Now it just has it's moments. It was the original Out Cold. Same plot, different actors. Only to me Out Cold was more fun. The best thing about it this movie to me is that some of the music used in the movie is by Steve Morse Band. Being a huge Steve Morse Band fan you could put a song by them in the worst movie of all time and I'd watch it just to hear Steve Morse Band. Overall I'd say give it a chance because there are a few funny scenes. I caught it on satellite and had a few laughs but not like when I was a kid. But if it's between this and Out Cold (2001), I'd go with Out Cold if you want a funny movie.(Unless you're a SMB fan!)

If you prefer movies that make you think and challenge your mind and opinions in ways you didn't think possible, stay away from this movie. If you like movies that are filled with political incorrectness and mindless fun, have at it.

This movie was made in a more innocent time when people could make a movie without worrying if someone would complain about being politically incorrect. The same time when most of my favorite movies were made. For some who are concerned about this type of thing, there are times when they poke fun at characters for different things (for example one of them being bothered by being short) but it's more of good natured teasing than spiteful attacks.

One of the most memorable characters would have to be an individual by the name of suicide who has a few screws loose and does some outlandish things while trying to feel a rush.

I saw this movie for the first time when I was 19, and it's remained one of my favorites of all time. Not because it has in in depth and compelling story, because it doesn't. It was made during a time when a movie could be about next to nothing and still be good. For example, Breakfast Club was about 5 kids in detention. This movie is good, light hearted fun that I can watch again and again.

Those goofy comedy movies like SKI PATROL still get on my nerves real bad! It's not funny at all, and just to prove it, the same old formula used in other comedies of this type gets ultimately tiring. Every time, we're bombarded with the lame jokes, endless runs of classic 50s / 60s oldies tunes, and too much horsing around. I had not gotten a single laugh out of this one. There are far better movies than SKI PATROL, and because they don't duplicate the same old formula thousands of times over. For Comedy Central lovers only!

It may not appeal to many viewers but I have always loved this film. To me it really captures the energy that being out on the slopes generates. There have been some awful reviews but its a comedy, its bound to be a little stupid & it gets my vote every time. There are many scenes that get me laughing each time & i've had the same VHS for years, since it was out in the video stores. My favourite if i had to choose would be the singing contest that Stanley and the ice man storm with their vibrant energy & hilarious attitude. I'm an art student and its a favourite of all my friends. My only complaint is that its not on DVD, all the out-takes, bloopers, interviews (there must have been some) and all the extras that everyone loves on DVD. Its a must see & don't compare it to conventional comedy thats now so old hat that its not funny anymore, this is a film that stands out on its own & deserves more respect than it had before. Re-release it on DVD please!

one of my favorite movie memories as a child was this movie i would watch this movie over and over again. it was pure comic genius to me as a ten year old boy. nineteen ninety was a good year for me in cinema i got ski patrol and mad house in the same year. how can you beat that but this is also coming from a guy at 10 who also loved RAD and ultra man well i changed my views in movies since then but i still love the hell out of ski patrol. i just watched it the other day on some movie channel and it still had the same charm for me as it did when i was ten. there is no doubt my classics are my classics. lest we forget about willow either. which is still on my all time top 10 list

This movie didn't score well at the Oscars and there's no doubt why. It is a stupid movie but I did laugh at one scene. It's when Murray, a short ski-instructor, who's about 5'4" is given some growth formula from his intructees. They switch the hem on his pants and lower the height line on his wall to make him believe that he's actually growing. One night at a bar Murray decides to go off at how tall he is and that's when the guys really get him. Murray awakes to find that he's too big for his own bed. He bursts through the ceiling of an Elf's Dorm beside a Santa display screaming as the jokers take pictures of him. This ONE scene almost saves the entire movie.

Ski Patrol (1990) is a movie I rewatched for the first time in a long time in Prime. The storyline follows a ski mountain resort that someone wants to sabotage so they can swoop in and purchase it for pennies on the dollar. The resorts only hope is a band of misfits who serve as the ski patrol on the mountain for the resort.

This movie is directed by Richard Correll (Perfect Strangers) in his directorial debut and stars Roger Rose (Friday the 13th Part VII: Jason Lives), T. K. Carter (The Thing), George Lopez (George Lopez Show), Ray Walston (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Yvette Nipar (Robocop), Martin Mull (Clue), Leslie Jordan (The Help) and Sean Sullivan (Wayne's World).

The storyline for this is fairly cliche and straightforward and reminded me of a lesser "Revenge of the Nerds." I will say the "Two-Face" character was creative and very well executed. Carter's impressions at the opening of the film was good and I also liked the use of the rubber band at the end. However, the majority of this film is more cheesy than good. It's too bad because there was a pretty impressive cast to work with.

I would score this film a 5/10 and only recommend watching it if nothing better is on.

Some ideas were great but didn't work on film. Old hacky bits never work. The plot we have all seen in Police Academy type flicks. What I liked were all the actors who made a career for themselves. Paul Feig has become a known producer director and was responsible for my favorite Freaks and Geeks. Classic Ray Walton, Bannya from Seinfeld, George Lopez, and Leslie.scene stealing Jordan. Awful writing and directed but again, such a quintessential movie for the time. Today is the land of reboots and sequels to comic films mostly. We need silly movies like this - think the last time there a comedy at the movies was Something about Mary. And the hair and wardrobe!! Haha c'mon!! Those sweaters?!? I had one of those 🤣🤣

I saw this movie years ago, when I had no idea what was going on, and I loved it. I've just watched it again for an article I was writing and damn, it's trash!

But it's wonderfully sill trash and everyone with a silly 90's sense of humor will enjoy it. It's not as funny as it should be, and they miss so many tricks that I think are obvious, but hey, it's all easy in hindsight I suppose.

I won't write too much here as it'll ruin my article!, but it really is worth a watch if you don't take things too seriously!

After over a decade of searching for this movie... I have finally found it available on DVD. I am letting you know the website only because I know there are many people who value and cherish this movie, and will do whatever they can to help others who have been searching over the years. I do not know much about the company, but I received (2) copies within 2 weeks of placing the order. The video quality is rough, but it matches the 80's style of the movie anyway.

Ski Patrol is the true cult classic for any 1980's skier who idolizes Glen Plake, the glory of the 215cm straight skis, and the power of Neon at its prime.

check it out at classic time video dot com;)

"Live life, taste death"

The Second Best Comedy Ever Made.

The first of course is, "It's a Mad, Mad, World".

This comedy is not stop hilarious. It's even more funny if you've actually been skiing. My favorite character is the guy with, "rocket skis".

If you like the movie, "Airplane" or, "Animal House" you will also like Ski Patrol.

It's sort of the good guys versus bad guys done in a very comical and wintry way.

Everything about this movie is over the top. I highly recommend it. It's great having this movie in my Blu-ray collection.

This movie is stupid. I usually like stupid movies (Dumb and Dumber, Police Academy, Plan 9 from Outer Space), but this, takes the stupid cake. This movie is so bad, only Dan Quale on NyQuil could remotely figure out. I wanted to like it, but it's just Police Academy on skis. And it gets dumber every time I see it. Some fun, but it comes as slow as a turtle walking while eating a quailude. C- (C- because it's so bad, its sometimes good).

I saw Ski Patrol for the first time as roughly a fifth grader in about 92 on one of the premium channels at a friend's house who had an old school projection television. Those circumstances set the scene for the innocence and nostalgia that comes to mind when I see this film again as a working professional. Perhaps without having seen this excellent movie under said circumstances, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much considering the early nineties fashion and overall cheesiness of the film. Ski Patrol is dated, but really good. It makes me wonder why Police Academy had several sequels yet Ski Patrol had none. The answer is box office take, I guess. Anyway, I love this movie! All audiences could take away great enjoyment from it. There is a camaraderie that is present in the Ski patrolers that will capture you. Cool ski stunts interwoven into the storyline will keep your attention. Genuinely funny comedic situations will make you laugh. Breathtaking scenery of the snowy mountains of Utah will capture your eye and make you wish you were there. Let's not forget that skiing makes winter worth it. That is a principal that this film will teach you whether you are a skier or not.

This movie is so bad. They don't even try to cover up the blatant sexism and racism.

This may be one the finer films I have seen in many years. It will keep you on the edge of your seat for the full 90 mins.

Many scenes are quite suspenseful, as skiers appear to be skiing out of control, but Jerry is a hero.

Must watch! I am waiting for the second and third films to be released, I cannot wait!

It's no wonder that the sport of skiing has become the joke it now is when films like this come out. The gags are lame and the overall story line is idiotic. I got the impression that the film maker was trying to make a picture to somehow promote the sport but it obviously didn't produce that result. It wouldn't have been half bad had the slapstick been decent but that all was downhill as well.