Nerdy Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko) has a bad day. His parents are away. His little sister Brei Mitchell (Stacey Glick) is more put together. His best friend Franny Perrins (Annie Ryan) has a spirit guide Ethan. Infamous Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson) is new to their school who supposedly hates to be touched. His friend Vincent Costello (Jonathan Wise) wants a story done about Buddy in the school paper and Jerry is assigned the story. While at the urinals, Jerry tries to talk to Buddy but it goes horribly wrong and Jerry touches Buddy. Buddy orders him to fight at 3:00 in the parking lot. Mr. Rice (Jeffrey Tambor) runs the school store. Karen Clarke is the school hottie. Duke Herman is the overly aggressive security guard. No matter how hard he tries, he can't stop or escape the fight. He steals money from school store to pay for Buddy to be beaten up and detective Mulvahill (Philip Baker Hall) is called in to investigate.
I love the fun comedic manic style. The editing style from director Phil Joanou reminds me of Edgar Wright. It's got that fast snappy cuts. I fell in love with Annie Ryan and her wacky character. The main problem is that Casey Siemaszko is too old and not necessarily that funny. Although he's very good at being a pathetic guy. I actually like the fact that he's not the nicest or a simple good guy. Richard Tyson is great as the strong threatening bully. He really sells the character with very few words. Sure it makes no sense that the library could be trashed and nothing happens. It's best not to get stuck with the logic of it all.
Three O'Clock High
1987
Action / Comedy
Plot summary
The nerd Jerry Mitchell is responsible for the student store at the Weaver High-School. When the troublemaker delinquent Buddy Revell is transferred from a continuation high-school, one teacher assigns Jerry to write an article about the notorious Buddy Revell to the school newspaper. Jerry stumbles upon Buddy in the bathroom and touches the shoulder of the bad boy that schedules a fight with Jerry at three o'clock at the parking lot. Along the day, Jerry tries to find a means to avoid the fight.
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fun high school comedy
Before the Three O'Clock Bell
The nerd Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko) is responsible for the student store at the Weaver High-School. When the troublemaker delinquent Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson) is transferred from a continuation high-school, one teacher assigns Jerry to write an article about the notorious Buddy Revell to the school newspaper. Jerry stumbles upon Buddy in the bathroom and touches the shoulder of the bad boy that schedules a fight with Jerry at three o´clock at the parking lot. Along the day, Jerry tries to find a means to avoid the fight. Will he succeed?
"Three O'Clock High" is a silly comedy about a nerd that spends the day of class trying to avoid a fight with a bully delinquent. The plot has funny moments but is also stupid many times. In the end, entertains without being special. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Te Pego Lá Fora" ("I Catch You Outside")
How 'Three O'Clock High' ever escaped through the 80's crack is beyond me
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Should I be ashamed to say this? Probably. And let me just say by 'best', that's about 50 or so odd films, at least, all of varying genres. So, let's just say in terms of comedies, it's one of teh best. As far as 80's films? Totally underrated. I've watched this film about 30 times, several of them in my teens on Showtime or whatever, and the theme song, "Something to Remember Me By" is no top 40 hit by any stretch of the imagination, yet I used to hum it all the time (until finally tracking down the soundtrack CD). What is the lasting appeal of this film? Beats me. Technically, it's brilliant: lots of fluid camera work, music video-y filming that's somehow less MTVish than the current crop of teen films, and an amazingly zippy pace that careens one from plot point to plot point while somehow never seeming rushed or jumbled. As for the film itself, it's typical teen stuff (a teenage 'hell day,' essentially),but done with so much panache that any child of the 80's can't help not loving it. 'Don't ---- this one up, Mitchell!' Jerry's unorthodox book report. The Tangerine Dream score. Cooking pop-tarts in the microwave with fresh-from-the-washer clothing. 'At 3:00, you and I are gonna fight out in that parking lot and there's nothing you can do about it'... Long live this film!