Original artwork, not a still
Chlorophyll? More like bore-ophyll!
— Billy Madison · 1995
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Billy treats a biology lecture the way a ten-year-old treats any word with a funny sound, and the pun is aimed at the one subject he is meant to learn. The joke is that it is both terrible and perfect; then the film lets him fail to charm anyone. Fans use 'more like' as a stock mocking formula, and this line is the best-known example.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Billy MadisonShow the scene
In Billy Madison (1995), Billy has been sent back through the grades to prove he can run his father's company, and he arrives in a high-school biology class. The teacher is explaining photosynthesis, with the cell's pigment chlorophyll caught between other molecules. Billy cracks a joke at the plant pigment's expense, turning the word into a mock-boring name, then looks to his classmates for a laugh. A girl in the class wants to make out with him, which he loudly refuses in front of the class. Chris Farley and Norm Macdonald also appear in the film.
Sources (3)
- Springfield! Springfield! transcript: billy madisonBiology-class passage with the chlorophyll joke and the classmate who wants to make outReference checked
- Wikiquote: Billy MadisonDialogue section: the chlorophyll joke and the make-out refusalReference checked
- Wikipedia: Billy MadisonLeadReference checked
Context reviewed
