Review of Three O'Clock High (1987) by Chrissy S — 03 May 2011

Three O'Clock High is not cinematic excellence, the acting is decent but not great, there are no bells and whistles. But there is something about it that immediately transports you back to your teenage years and for that alone the film is worth a watch.

Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko) is your average high school student, neither too cool or too nerdy, he runs the school store, and has a slightly annoying younger sister. One average day he cross paths with Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson in his debut film) the school bully, a huge and menacing newcomer who threatens students and teachers alike. Jerry upsets Buddy by innocently touching him on the arm so Buddy challenges Jerry to a fight. At 3 o'clock. In the school parking lot. The rest of the film revolves around Jerry doing everything and then some to try and extricate himself from certain painful beating as the clock ticks down.

There are certain plot lines in Three O'Clock High that don't quite work, you might expect things to play out one way but they don't and it isn't satisfying. But the film does capture the fear and confusion of adolescence very well, including the episode that every kid has of facing the school bully, and it does so without pandering to the genuine feelings that teenagers have to go through while growing up. All in all, an enjoyable watch that doesn't condescend and will transport you back to high school.