Movie Review: Three O'Clock High

There are underrated movies, dear readers, and then there are underrated movies, the kind that for some inexplicable reason have nimbly avoided working their way into the modern pop culture vernacular. Naturally, some of these so-called "misunderstood films" are entirely worthless, supported only by a feverish group of Internet fanboys who think their taste in cinema is so much cooler than those who spend way too much time munching popcorn alone in darkened theaters on sunny Saturday afternoons. It's okay to dismiss these clowns with a wave of your hand, but rest assured they're laughing hysterically behind your back as you waddle away.

Then there are films such as Phil Joanou's bizarre 1987 high school comedy Three O'Clock High, pictures that have been unfairly ignored by the public at large. And while you may initially consider tossing this admittedly pretentious review directly into the Fanboy Rant wastebasket on your wonky Windows Vista desktop, you simply cannot deny the fact that this truly underrated nerd fantasy remains an unheralded cinematic classic amongst those who worship blindly at the altar of John Hughes. Besides, Buddy Revell could literally mop the floor with John Bender any day of the work week.

Recognize, punk.

Casey Siemaszko stars as the hopelessly dopey Jerry Mitchell, school supply store manager and campus newspaper journalist extraordinaire. After waking up late to a buzzing alarm clock and an unexpected flat tire, Mitchell has the sneaking suspicion that it's just going to be one of those days. To further illustrate how bad a loser's luck can be during those tumultuous high school years, Jerry makes the unfortunate mistake of touching the intimidating Buddy Revell, a notoriously troubled student our hero is supposed to interview for the school paper.

Deeply offended by this unwelcomed physical exchange, Buddy challenges poor Jerry to an old fashioned fist fight in the parking lot after school. Weak, wimpy, and thoroughly overwhelmed, Mitchell keeps his eyes glued to the clock as he desperately searches for a way to resolve this deadly situation without getting his lights permanently punched out. Students hoping for a typical melodramatic high school outing should report immediately to the principal's office.

To those born during or after the decade of excess, Three O'Clock High may seem like a relic, one of those corny old movies your Devo-loving parents simply cannot get enough of. Everything about this film screams "I was made in 1987," be it the soundtrack, the clothes, or the hideously dated high school lingo. However, Richard Christian Matheson and Thomas E. Szollosi's super snazzy script has the rare ability to transcend generations if one can look past the awful hairstyles and the dodgy Tangerine Dream soundtrack. After all, brutal tales of bullies and their spineless victims are as ancient as that weird Jesus fellow and those trippy Romans guys. I read about them in a Holiday Inn once.

Article Author: T. Rigney

T. Rigney was specifically designed for the mass consumption of B-grade cinema from around the world. His roughly translated thoughts and feelings can be found lurking suspiciously at The Film Fiend, Fatally Yours, and Film Threat. …

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