MovieChat Forums > Kicking and Screaming (1995) Discussion > Is Max an English Major, or a Philosophy...

Is Max an English Major, or a Philosophy Major?

posted 19 years ago by Nat-Hansen
10 replies | jump to latest

I've got a trivia question for fans of this movie:

Is Max an English major, or a philosophy major?

During the opening party scene, when Max is sitting at the table with Grover, Skippy and Miami, he says (I'm paraphrasing here): "Five minutes ago I was Max Belmont, English major, college senior. Now I'm Max Belmont who does nothing."

Then, when everyone is sitting around the Penguin and Skippy is talking about re-enrolling in school, he says, "Max, you're a philosophy major, you'll be interested in this...I'm taking personality...Scandinavian Lit..."

Max doesn't correct Skippy, so I always assumed that there was an internal inconsistency in the movie. Is there any other evidence anyone knows about that might settle this issue one way or another?

Of course, an easy resolution would simply be that Skippy was mistaken, and Max didn't bother to correct him.

But I'm inclined to think it's a mistake, because Skippy's error doesn't seem to serve any purpose (however insignificant) in the movie.

[–] theflowerpress 19 years ago

Yeah, I noticed that inconsistency too. Max also gets a job in the English Department at the college (I think, I haven't watched it recently), so I assume it was a goof on the part of editing. Or maybe he was a double major.

[–] melissajray 19 years ago

He actually gets a job in the philosophy dept.

[–] erinlibbyisaduck 18 years ago

maybe he's a double major...

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

bar patron.

Where there's smoke, there's barbecue!

[–] BeaArthur5-49 18 years ago

I noticed this in my most recent viewing...I chalk it up to Skippy being the lovable goof who is often mistaken about lots of things.

[–] karpfd 18 years ago

I always figured he was a double major. It can't just be Skippy, b/c then why would an english major take a job in the philosophy department?

[–] slburkert 18 years ago

Because it is a job and there was a recession in 1995.

-a writing/photo major who waited tables from 94-96.

[–] Lunarose-1 18 years ago

That was my take on it too -- and that the fact that Skippy doesn't really know the difference between one or the other major in a real way is part of his problem, and part of why he goes back to school.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Flora_Poste 10 years ago

Max? He does nothing, my friend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE8Vj9LypkM

At one time, however, before the story in the movie begins, he was probably a double major in English and Philosophy.