Filled with high school clichés, this teen comedy is a bit more high brow and more aimed at post grads in college than actual teenagers still attending high school. We follow the high-school adventures and misadventures who crosses paths with the local tough guy who's been to several schools with the goal of merely finishing off school. Not really a bully, but just your typical average tough guy who's learned to be though through a history we don't know about. Regrettably for our protagonist he becomes the unwilling champion of the school and school system who have confronted and had to deal with said tough guy throughout the years.Like I say, it's a bit smarter than your usual teen-comedy romp, which usually has a lot of body function humor and sex gags, if not actual sex in some way, shape or form in and of itself. The audience is for the slightly smarter student who's had to confront the school tough guy in some way shape or form. It's a fairly smart film with lots of high energy shots and few comedic bits to keep it light in spite of the impending confrontation as the title suggests. I remember the promos, but missed it when it hit the theatre, and instead was guided towards it by people I knew. I caught it on HBO, and the rest is history.It's not really a film I connect with on any level, but it's got a certain charm to it that makes it watchable. See it once.

Sophomore helmer Phil Joanou made an entertaining, occasionally exciting, and often suspenseful little high school "Three O'clock High" with Casey Siemaszko and Richard Tyson. When trouble making, rebel student Buddy Revell (Tyson) arrives at his new high school, the school newspaper asks our hero, Jerry Mitchell (Siemaszko), to write a story about him. Jerry tries to interview Buddy, but in the process touches him. Buddy has a phobia about being touched. Hechallenges Jerry to a fight at 3 P.M. in the parking lot. Desperately, Jerry pays another student from the till of the student store to beat Buddy up so he won't have to confront him. Guess what? The big, strapping dude that Jerry hires, Craig Mattey (Mike Jolly), is decked in a second by Buddy. This scene occurs in the library, and Craig slams backwards into the book shelves. When Craig topples one book shelf, he set off a domino effect. Our beleaguered hero tries to flee the campus, but Jerry discovers that his mom's car no longer has an engine. When he tries to leave on foot, Jerry runs into a school security officer, Duke Herman (Mitch Pileggi of "Gun Shy"), and Duke confiscates a switchblade knife from him. Joanou does a terrific job of staging the action and milking it for all the suspense he can muster. Richard Tyson is exceptional as Buddy with is go-to-hell cool. Siemaszko scores as the miltquoast student who struggles to elude Buddy. When the school principal tries to intervene, Buddy decks him, and Jerry is tries to fight him. Jerry is a terrible pugilist but he tackles Buddy. The Security Officer tries to take down Buddy, but Buddy takes him down. Jerry finally faces off with Buddy while his classmates cheer him on. Jerry gets in a punch or two. Buddy pulls out his brass knuckles and moves in to polish Jerry off. Jerry friend interferes and keeps Buddy from slamming the brass knuckles down his throat. Jerry gets Buddy's brass knuckles and drops the big lout. This movie was a lot of fun.

"Three O'Clock High" was one of those 80's films that dealt with high school students against each other. Released in 1987, it went un-noticed because of all the other 80's nerd films like Revenge of the Nerds, Lucas, Some Kind of Wonderful. This film was a bit more original in my opinion.It was the day in the life of Jerry Mitchel, a not so popular student whose main high school contribution was to either the school paper or running the student school store. On this day, he wakes up and tells himself that it's going to be one of those days. The kind of day when you realize your out of clean clothes and that your wash was left in the washing machine. Your car has a flat and your stuck taking your mom's station wagon to school. Just an ordinary day.Just an ordinary day until student legend Buddy Revell starts his first day at his new school. He is a legend because of his short temper which had gotten him kicked out of many schools due to fights and pulling weapons out. When Jerry encounters Buddy in the bathroom, he makes the fatal mistake of touching Buddy Revell. Revell does not liked to be touch. Revell challenges Jerry to a fight, after school, in the parking lot.The rest of the film is following Jerry throughout his day trying to get out of the fight. Hour by hour, the day gets worse for Jerry up until the fight.The film is funny and is shot really well. The story, simple yet original, works because the actors are very believable in their roles and the scenarios are just a bit over exaggerated. If you like 80's films, you like comedies, or you just like trying out a new film, check this one out. I think you will enjoy.

Having seen this movie hyped in lists of top ten 80s teen movies, I decided to give this movie a chance. The verdict: it is maybe not on par with the top of 80s teen movies like Breakfast Club, Ferris, Last American Virgin, etc. There's something clumsy in the overall production that is hard to nail, but nevertheless on the whole it is enjoyable. I also like the way it doesn't give all the answers straight away to the viewer. E.g. the character of the bully, Buddy Revell, is given depth and mystery through subtle hints - he spends his breaks reading in the library, he is good at math, he returns the money Jerry gave him. Also, it is never explained why he doesn't like being touched, even in a friendly way such as what Jerry did, which adds to the mystery of his character. Another example of the movie not giving answers straight away is the ending where Jerry is hailed as the hero and several ladies - plus the book club teacher! -approach him/invite him to go with them. Jerry's decision of who will be his choice is not shown to the viewer. Not only subtleties in the plot but also neat tricks with the camera work make this movie enjoyable enough to watch.