richspenc "Plain clothes" is an overlooked 80s flick. Nick Dunbar (Arles Howard (who reminds me of Allen Covert)) is a young 24 year old cop who's partner is Seymour Castle in a funny role himself. Nick constantly is given undercover assigments working around kids. "I hate kids!" Nick complains to his captain. "It is g****mn unAmerican to hate kids!" his captain yells back. "But kids and I never got along!" Dunbar replies. Captain yells back "I don't care! Deal with it!" That's exactly what Nick does. More than he'll ever know. Then, Nick finds out how his brother Matt Dunbar is accused of stabbing and killing one of his teachers, Mr. Bradwood. Nick knows his brother is innocent but he doesn't have enough proof. His next assignment: to go undercover to highschool posing as a highschool student. This idea has definitely been done before, such as 80s highschool film "Hiding Out", and late 90s film " Never been kissed" with Drew Barrymore. Nick goes to school posing as a student to look for more clues to try and prove his brother's innocence. Seymour poses as his dad. When in school, he encounters the usual highschool cliques. Since he can't go with his last name Dunbar, or people will know he's Matt Dundar's brother. He goes under the name Nick Springstien. "Any relations dude?" kids ask him. "Distant" Nick replies coyly. The bully Kyle Kerns is just another typical 80s highschool movie bully, just like in "Karate kid", " Just one of the guys", "Teen wolf", " The heavenly kid", " Like father, like son", etc. The hot girl Dawn Marie is another typical 80s highschool movie hot girl such as, well every movie I just listed pretty much has one. Nick must talk to these kids to try and find out what he can about exactly what happened the day Mr. Bradwood was killed. But getting straight answers from these highschool kids isn't easy because they just wanna act like, well highschool kids. And Nick cannot ask anything too directly so no one finds out he's a cop. Nick encounters several teachers too. Diane Ladd as the impatient front desk secretary. Suzy Amis as the young attractive English teacher, who kinda likes Nick's mature persona (such as Nick's metaphor in class) little knowing it's real. Robert Stack as the principal, who we see in a humorous "visit to the principal's office" scene after Nick accidentally chucks him in the chin thinking he was one of Kyle's bully friends coming up behind him during a confrontation with Kyle. I didn't know principals were still using the paddle in the late 80s. Then there's Abe Vigoda who's an old teacher who's constantly walking down the hallway with notes (such as 'party naked') on his back, and is impressed with Nick being polite since none of the other kids are. Then there's George Wendt as the shop teacher/school counsler who needs Nick to help finish his sentences while talking to Nick. And at least one of these people has some darker secrets about them, but I won't say who just in case anyone reading this review has not seen the movie yet. Oh, and listen to some of the funny comments made during the principal's constant ramblings over the school intercom.

lost-in-limbo Arliss Howard (looking at home) stars in this enjoyably offbeat mystery comedy, which he plays a cop who goes undercover at his brother's high school when he's accused of stabbing a teacher. Because how young he looks no one believes he's a cop, so why not go back to school to figure who committed the murder and helping is his partner (a terrific Seymour Cassel) who pretends to be his father. But there's no escaping the daily grind of high school.Kind of surprised this is not more well known, bestowing an excellent ensemble cast (George Wendt, Diana Ladd, Suzy Amis, Larry Pine and Robert Stack) giving decent performances by presenting an odd assortment of characters and sharing great chemistry (especially Howard and Cassel). The story moves between trying to connect the dots throwing out possible leads and red herrings (in predictably daft way), while also adjusting to school life. These are the usual things (bullying, popularity and crushes), but it remains charming, authentically atmospheric and lightly humorous. There's a certain mock seriousness attitude abound and there's neat running gag involving amusing quips over the school PA system and a memorable little poetry reading to explain the word metaphor. It has snappy energy and frequent humour, while low-key it does balance out nicely against its murder mystery angle.Pleasing under-the-radar late 80s comedy.

Pepper Anne 'Plain Clothes' is not great comedy, though it does, at least subtly, attempt stupid humor (such as the running gags with the school announcements and the Springsteen jokes). And, as a b-comedy with a relatively unknown cast leading with Arliss Howard and Seymour Cassell (who is great, but doesn't often act in the mainstream circuit), this may be one obscure 80s comedy that could only really be best enjoyed by us fans of obscure 80s movies. Familiar, name-escaping faces, a different story, high school in the 80s, it just might have what you're looking for.Plain Clothes is the story of a babyface young cop (Arliss Howard) who's younger brother is prime suspect in a teacher's unusual murder at his high school. Convinced that his brother is telling the truth when he claims to be innocent, the cop goes undercover as a high school student to investigate. Only, what he discovers is much more than just a murder. You have your typical 80s teen movie elements, since this does take place in a high school and our main character does pose as one of the more interesting students. Love triangles and social scuffles mixed with the suspense/action of the cop story angle. It does quite a bit of shifting and does, as another viewer commented, culminate in a rather confusing climax.For this bit of narrative game playing and mild comedy treatment, this movie is perfect for just a certain kind of audience (if you love obscure b-80s movies) and a certain kind of day (lazy weekend noons are probably best). By the way, Max Perlich fans should not miss him in his trademark leather jacket and buzz cut when he shows up (briefly) as Carter, one of the kids who befriends the undercover cop.

80's guy i love this movie!yes some corny-ness,nothing major,,,no major stars,,,but cast has energy to make this a great 80's teen movie.george wendt,robert stack,harry shearer,,abe vigoda....very charming movie,.