Movie Students,
Last week we watched a movie so memorable that I forgot to do a write up for it. It had been on the list… since the beginning I think! It’s one of those movies that you’re sure you’ve seen but you can’t remember any part of it. Now I know why. It’s just by the book and not very memorable.
Plot!
Jerry Mitchell is a non threatening dork who lives in Anytown USA (Utah) and he’s just trying to get by in Anytown Senior High School. But on this day there’s a new kid in town Buddy Revell, the leather jacket wearing tough guy transfer from over in Shelbyville.
Jerry wakes up in the morning when the alarm lets out a warning and he doesn’t think he’ll ever make it on time. He barely has time to microwave his underwear and pick up his platonic female companion. But he does make it on time, but he is not saved by the bell, that bell tolls for thee Jerry.
As Jerry works at the school store, rumors swirl about the new kid. About how he mutilated and abused people at the other school, totally normal stuff that wouldn’t get you sent to jail or anything.
Jerry is working at the school newspaper when he’s assigned a ‘welcome to school NEW KID’ piece by the editor. He just happens to run into him in the bathroom and accidentally touches him on the shoulder when he’s talking to him. This is a cardinal sin, BECAUSE HE HAS A TOUCHING THING.
Buddy says THEY GON FIGHT! at 3 O’Clock after school. Jerry freaks out and DOES NOT WANT. This is basically the whole movie. Jerry tries to get out of the fight.
Speed Round!
- Jerry plants a knife in Buddy’s locker and tries to get him kicked out. this plan backfires.
- Jerry Pays a football player $400 to beat up Buddy, he gets this money by stealing from his job at the school store. This does not go well.
- He tries to get detention by seducing a teacher through his pornographic book report. This goes very well for him, but he does not get detention.
- He tries to give Buddy $300 to lay off him. But Buddy says that he’s a pussy and Jerry changes his mind and wants to fight. Cause 80’s
The students pour out in front of the school, the principal tries to break up the fight before it happens, but he touches Buddy’s shoulder and GETS KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT.
THEN THE FIGHT BEGINS!
Buddy and Jerry are trading Rocky level punches and almost getting knocked out. Buddy even has brass knuckles. I think Jerry gets the knuckles and KNOCKS BUDDY OUT winning the fight. not real sure, don’t really care.
He also turns down the hot 80’s babe and kisses his platonic friend girl, WHO COULD HAVE POSSIBLY SEEN THAT COMING!
After the fight, Jerry still has to recover from all the shitty life decisions he has made. Mostly they focus on the fact that he stole $400 from the school bookstore. All the nerds in the school come in and donate money for him to pay it back.
Random Thoughts!
- none of this is plausible in modern high school setting
- Buddy would be in a special school, or jail.
- This movie has all the plot points but none of the style or other 80s movies.
- Nobody learns a lesson
- $400 in 1987 → $887.46 in 2018
- Buddy is such a flat character, I really thought there would be more to him.
- This is the Ogden Utah of 1980’s teen comedies.
- There are a ton of bit players that were in other things. including LARGE MARGE as the school nurse.
- Why is Yeardley Smith in this for just the beginning and the end? weird stunt casting?
OK, well we got through this one and on to the next!
I’m trying to add more people to the movie night. Lets see if they make it.
8:30 Thursday
-Mark
Three O'Clock High is a 1987 American teen film directed by Phil Joanou. The script, about a meek high schooler who is forced into a fight with a volatile new transfer student, is based on screenwriters Richard Christian Matheson and Thomas Szollosi's high school experience. It was shot in Ogden, Utah.
source : wikipedia