07/09/06 Three O'Clock High

Three O'Clock High (1987), directed by Phil Joanou

watched w/ Leslie (partially); DVD rental (Netflix) @ home; suggested by James U.

Alright, the moment has finally come James. This, for those of you who may be regular subscribers to the Challenge site or are just scoring at home, is the film that won the outright Father's Day poll & a chance at landing one autographed photo of Steve Guttenberg (he's not in the movie, don't worry). James suggested this one, he won...but through many attempts on my part before leaving on a road trip, I couldn't find a copy of it. Netflix sent me a cracked disc, and no one is fortunate enough to carry it locally on video rental store shelves. They should start to based on my following review...I'll go ahead and call it a "diamond in the rough." This is a prime example of why 80's comedies work on so many levels...they cater to a demographic that is looking for quick (yet slightly, and only slightly intelligent) humor, the fashions are always so laughable, they usually take place in or around a high school, and they stick to a successful mantra of everyday tangible themes that play out in a ridiculously complicated scenario. I love it! All we have here is something that probably happens on schoolyards even to this day, the bully vs. the nerd. The nerd is lead man Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko, who also played the goon 3-D in the "Back To The Future" series), and the bully Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson, who also played the sleaze-ball criminal father in "Kindergarten Cop"). Jerry is having an average day of running the school supply store, making good grades & no friends, pining over the cute girl in school, and getting giddy over what new brand ballpoint pen is coming out. All it takes is for his friend to tap him for writing a piece in the school paper on juvenile delinquent Buddy, who's thug behavior has had him kicked out of schools & put on probation...oh, and he's got a thing about people touching him. Needless to say, bumbling Jerry taps him on the shoulder...prompting Buddy to lose it, slam him into a bathroom stall, and challenge him to a fight in the parking lot after class. Jerry's day has suddenly become very darkly complex...and it begins a hilarious downward spiral into his imminent demise on the blacktop. Soon the whole school finds out, is placing bets, and rushing to the scene for the fight (brings back memories when people would throw down in the halls in high school, huh?). I won't tell you who wins, but there is brass knuckles involved and lots of self-reflection. Enjoy.

3 out of 5 stars