Bluffing It (1987 TV Movie) User Reviews

You really feel this poor man's pain.

[dtucker86 · 12 September 2003]

Dennis Weaver talked with great pride about his role in this film. He plays a blue-collar factory foreman with a loving wife and family, who has a terrible secret, he is totally illiterate. There is one painful scene at the very beginning of the film that made me angry, it shows him as a child being tormented by his classmates as "stupid" because of his illiteracy. What amazes me about this film, is how well he was able to hide his disability and the various methods that he used. He eats at the same diner all his life where he knows the menu and uses symbols on a notepad. The most pathetic scene in the film is where he accidentally goes into the ladies room because he cannot even read the sign and almost causes a fatal traffic accident because of his disability. Weaver really makes you feel sorry for his character, he is a very decent, proud man who just cannot admit that he needs help. I remember what made me angry about this film is that his son was such an ass when he finally admitted his problem. He wasn't supportive towards his father at all and was angry at him. I felt that was so wrong. Its appalling that we live in a country of such amazing technological advances, and yet there are people who cannot even read a job application. Students are often passed through high school who cannot even read at a grade school level. To me this is an indictment of both our society at large and of our educational system. This movie very tastefully and sensitively explores this subject. It is a message that needs to be heard. Dennis Weaver should have gotten an Emmy for his fine and touching performance. SPOILER ALERT!!!!!This movie had such a wonderful happy ending where his character is learning to read and it shows him reading a menu at a restaurant and realzing that he has been living on hamburgers for years and where he is reading a bedtime story to his little grandaughter. I thought that was a very nice touch.

Adult literacy

[jimb101 · 10/10 · 24 March 2019]

This is the movie that prompted me to become an adult literacy tutor after I retired. I have worked with one of my students for more than 15 years and facilitated her learning from a 4th grade reading level to taking and passing college classes. She has the same desire to learn and determination to succeed as Dennis Weaver's character displays in the movie.

Pride goeth before a fall

[jilljohnson-80359 · 6/10 · 7 May 2024]

The world leaves you far behind when we lack basic skills. I do feel for him I am computer illiterate nursing got tougher some of it was (to me anyway) like mathematics go fig!! Notation. I still stand by a cursive signature computers get viruses, hackers etc.

Now the show I was that child in class only first grade. Hostile is as hostile does you ain't gonna learn squat. Teacher should take charge at school I was teased lots arithmetic class was when it ended like he did book closed lesson over with me "I don't give a damn if I ever learn it!" That was too bad too because I wanted to learn so badly. This man is prideful in his situation it makes him feel less a man. His behavior towards his family is inexcusable. He insults his son never praises him just criticises. His wife is loving and patient he should have told her right off. Still wears his letter man jacket I guess that was the highlight of his life. How could the school not notice that? Dumb question. Schools were just as inept then as now. I feel for him but yet he gets irritating with his stubborn pride. That accident was horrific thank god he didn't kill anyone. He needs to get over himself as difficult as s it is for him. He does overcome and takes the bull by the horns!