High School High Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A rich teacher goes to a poor school to prove something to his dad, and ends up in a chicken race.

🍿 High School High: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Teacher’s Ambition

Richard Clark, a dedicated teacher at the prestigious Wellington Academy, seeks a more challenging and fulfilling role. Defying his father’s expectations, he decides to teach at Marion Barry High School, a notoriously underperforming inner-city school. His goal is to inspire the struggling students and make a real difference in their lives.

Facing the Reality of Marion Barry High

Upon arriving at Marion Barry High, Richard quickly realizes the immense challenges he faces. The school is plagued by crime, gang violence, and apathetic students. He meets Victoria Chapell, a fellow teacher who captures his heart, and Griff McReynolds, a student trying to escape his past. Richard is determined to make a positive impact, despite the odds.

The Road to Redemption

Richard uses unconventional methods to engage his students, facing numerous obstacles along the way. He navigates gang rivalries, academic apathy, and the machinations of Principal Doyle, who seems more interested in maintaining the status quo than improving the school. As Richard struggles to inspire his students, he also finds himself falling for Victoria, adding another layer to his already complicated situation.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Richard Clark (Jon Lovitz): An idealistic teacher who leaves a prestigious academy to inspire students at a rough inner-city high school.
• Victoria Chapell (Tia Carrere): A fellow teacher at Marion Barry High who becomes Richard’s love interest and helps him connect with the students.
• Principal Evelyn Doyle (Louise Fletcher): The stern and unconventional principal of Marion Barry High with a hidden agenda.
• Griff McReynolds (Mekhi Phifer): A former juvenile delinquent trying to turn his life around and excel academically with Richard’s help.
• Paco Rodriguez (Guillermo Diaz): A gang leader who pressures Griff to return to a life of crime and opposes Richard’s positive influence.
• Thaddeus Clark (John Neville): Richard’s father and headmaster of Wellington Academy who doubts Richard’s ability to succeed in a challenging environment.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Principal Evelyn Doyle: “Around here, they call me ‘Mr. A.’” – The principal states this when Richard is shocked to find out she inherited the business from her late husband.
• Principal Evelyn Doyle: “I inherited the business from my late husband.” – She explains how she became the principal, highlighting her no-nonsense approach.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $8 million
• Domestic Gross: $21,302,121
• Worldwide Gross: $21,302,121

💥 High School High Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, ‘High School High’ isn’t winning any awards, but it’s a fun, silly movie. I remember laughing a lot when I first saw it. Jon Lovitz is great as the clueless but well-meaning teacher. The scene where he tries to relate to the students by rapping is hilarious! It’s a lighthearted comedy that doesn’t take itself seriously, perfect for a casual movie night. It is definitely a time capsule of mid-90s humor.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Jon Lovitz”
  • “Viewers who enjoy spoof comedies”
  • “Those who appreciate parodies of high school dramas”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Suggestive content”
  • “Some drug references”
  • “Brief partial nudity”
  • “Implied threat of sexual assault”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “High School High is a decent spoof comedy written by comedic geniuses Pat Proft and David Zucker. You recognize all these ordinary high school dramas. Also you can enjoy performance of Jon Lovitz. His character Richard Clark isn’t clumsy but just naive.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “Although Jon Lovitz tries, High School High is a comedy that never quite takes off. It doesn’t deliver enough consistent laughs to be memorable.
• AllMovie: “The talented cast of High School High can’t elevate the film beyond its limitations.

Audience Reactions

Jon Lovitz’s comedic performance was praised.: Most viewers enjoyed Jon Lovitz’s portrayal of the naive teacher.

Some found it unfunny and reliant on stereotypes.: Some viewers considered it an unfunny and predictable spoof, full of stereotypes.

Overall Consensus: A hit-or-miss spoof with some funny moments, but not consistently hilarious or memorable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is dedicated to Elisabeth Leustig, the film’s casting director, and Lexie Bigham, who played Two-Bags, both of whom died in automobile crashes shortly after filming was completed.”
• “The school’s name, Marion Barry High, is a reference to the controversial former mayor of Washington, D.C.”

🖥️ How to Watch High School High?

As of October 26, 2023, “High School High” is available for purchase or rental on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for streaming availability, as it may vary by region. Unfortunately the movie is not available on subscription based streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed High School High, you might like these similar films:

• Dangerous Minds (1995): Direct comparison, as ‘High School High’ is a spoof of the ‘inspirational teacher in a tough school’ genre, with ‘Dangerous Minds’ being a prominent example.
• Airplane! (1980): Similar style of humor and rapid-fire gags, characteristic of the Zucker Brothers’ productions.
• The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988): Another Zucker Brothers film known for its slapstick comedy and absurd situations.
• 21 Jump Street (2012): Modern equivalent that combines action and comedy within a high school setting, offering a similar lighthearted take on serious themes.

🛒 High School High Related Products

• High School High [DVD]: The classic 90s comedy on DVD, perfect for revisiting the film’s humor. An Amazon exclusive!
• Jon Lovitz: The Best of SNL: A digital compilation of Jon Lovitz’s most memorable sketches from Saturday Night Live. Great showcase of his comedy.
• Dangerous Minds [Blu-ray]: The movie that parodies High School High. See Michelle Pfeiffer.
• Stand and Deliver: The movie that parodies High School High. A story of an East Los Angeles high school teacher.

🎧 Soundtrack

High School High features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Top Of The World” – performed by The Carpenters
• “Gangsta’s Paradise” – performed by Coolio

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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