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[penultimate24]

While I am not currently TT, I hope to be one day. I am wondering if anyone has viewed the Luke Wilson (2010) film called _Tenure._

I am a huge fan of Wilson in general and this film was utterly hilarious to watch when familiar with the process.

Has anyone else watched it? Thoughts? LOL Moments?

I find it fairly true to life (in a goofy way)--based on what I have seen and heard--and I wanted to get other peoples' opinions.

This is one of those movies that many of my peers have not heard of...and after I arm wrestle them into watching it...they say, "better than I thought it would be."

In Inside Higher Ed a while back there was a piece about the film, before it was released, with some seasoned academics noting that they doubted their tenure pursuits would be 'funny.'

What do you think about it?

PS I found myself relieved when Wilson rebuffs a flirtatious student. I really hate how so many films showcase college profs (usually English Dept) hitting on students.

[terminalmfa]

I watched this film and found it completely lacking in any understanding of how the tenure process works (much less academia in general).  I wouldn't have been bothered if it got a few details wrong, but it got the entire process wrong, so it was hard to find any humor in any of it because all the humor was based on things that were not at all like reality.

[penultimate24]

term,

that is interesting to hear. I noticed the focus on writing/publishing, good teaching evals, service (poetry club) and the dept. politics. it seemed pretty right on to me! of course, there was a lot of goofy interplay with his friend from anthropology, so that was not related to tenure pursuits.

wow! surprised it seemed to be out of left field! anyone else watch this?

[oldfullprof]

I thought it was funny, but can barely remember it now.  Very innacrurate, however. 

[crowie]

I started it but I couldn't continue it after about 20 mins due to finding the idea of Luke Wilson as a person who had completed a Ph.D. in history and secured a tenure track job too implausible a premise.  This is the same guy who played the everyman who turned out to be the smartest person in the world in a future of dramatically stupid people in "Idiocracy"--in that role he was much more plausible.  I don't begrudge others' enjoyment of "Tenure," but I was not a fan.

[marigolds]

I'd buy Luke Wilson as a history PhD a million times over Jessica Alba as an astrophysicist in Fantastic Four.

I love Luke Wilson.

[infopri]

Wow, you people take movies way too seriously.  I know lawyers who don't like legal films and TV shows because they aren't accurate enough, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that academics want academic films to be more realistic.

But, of course, if films/TV portrayed either academia or the practice of law as they really are, most people wouldn't bother to watch.  Let's face it, folks, most of what we (or lawyers) do simply isn't that compelling as entertainment, until Hollywood tweaks the reality out of it and replaces it with typical Hollywood devices.

I hadn't heard of this movie, but I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for it!

[bcohlan1]

I tried to watch it one time (with beer) as a way of curing the job search blues.  I couldn't get through the first five minutes. I seem to remember it being inaccurate enough to be depressing (when you're out there dying on the market and feeling like a total loser, and then you try to watch a movie that makes academia look easy, well...yeah).

[spork]

Wow, you people take movies way too seriously.  I know lawyers who don't like legal films and TV shows because they aren't accurate enough, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that academics want academic films to be more realistic.

But, of course, if films/TV portrayed either academia or the practice of law as they really are, most people wouldn't bother to watch.  Let's face it, folks, most of what we (or lawyers) do simply isn't that compelling as entertainment, until Hollywood tweaks the reality out of it and replaces it with typical Hollywood devices.

I hadn't heard of this movie, but I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for it!

I found Wonder Boys to be extremely realistic.

The classroom scene in Evolutionis also good.

[luckychance]

Just saw a 2 min preview on Youtube. It looks ridiculous.

[penultimate24]

I actually found the movie uplifting because Wilson (as a Literature PhD) is floundering. I could relate. He can't get published, can't earn colleague's respect, is broke, and adrift. Of course, his one strength is teaching, but the central theme of the movie is...this is not enough to secure tenure. (I understand why it could be depressing to some, but his journey is NOT easy, especially given the choice made at the end of the film).

What I found odd was he was at a private school and was in competition with peers for tenure (looking like only one person could earn it!) At my State U, this is not the case, and more than the Dept makes the decision.

But other than those issues...I am stymied as to why most folks hated it. Maybe this is why it received little to no press.

[busyslinky]

Just saw a 2 min preview on Youtube. It looks ridiculous.

Yeah.  The preview made it look like a frat house farce. 

[imawakenow]

I actually found the movie uplifting...

I think that's great, but that's also a different topic than your original post, which asked for opinions about the movie as well as your assertion that you found it "fairly true to life."

I watched the youtube trailer that luckychance referenced, and I had the same reaction: ridiculous and not at all "true to life." I liked the campus shots, though.

[nekolove]

I watched this as a green job-hunter, hungry for any and all information about being on the TT. I found the movie goofy, but wasn't in a position to really know how true to life it might be. All the stuff about the anthropologist and big foot was a bit much for me, but I did like the side story about Luke Wilson's character and his father (who had also been a professor) and his sister.

I'd give it a "meh".

[txgalprof]

I liked it... but I generally like movies that no one else does...

The best part was the part about the toilet... this was so true of my current institution... we actually got an email from our chair one time concerning guidelines for using the restrooms.