Three O’Clock High Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A nerd accidentally violates a touch-me-not clause with the school psycho and has the worst day of his life trying to avoid a scheduled beatdown.

🍿 Three O’Clock High: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Assignment

Jerry Mitchell, a student responsible for the school store, is assigned to write an article about the new student, Buddy Revell. Buddy has a reputation for being a delinquent and troublemaker. Jerry’s task sets in motion a chain of events that lead to a high-stakes confrontation.

The Challenge

While attempting to interview Buddy, Jerry accidentally touches him. Buddy, who is known for disliking being touched, interprets this as a challenge and schedules a fight with Jerry for three o’clock after school in the parking lot. This sets the central conflict and ticking clock for the film.

Desperate Measures

Throughout the day, Jerry tries desperately to avoid the fight. His attempts include trying to get detention, offering money to someone else to fight Buddy, and even trying to seduce his English teacher. Each attempt hilariously fails, making his situation worse as time ticks down to 3 PM.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko): A mild-mannered high school student who gets challenged to a fight by the school bully and spends the day trying to avoid it.
• Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson): The quiet and intimidating new student who challenges Jerry to a fight after being accidentally touched.
• Franny Perrins (Annie Ryan): Jerry’s close friend who offers support and advice as he tries to navigate his predicament.
• Brei Mitchell (Stacey Glick): Jerry’s younger sister, who provides both comedic relief and occasional insights into his situation.
• Vincent Costello (Jonathan Wise): Jerry’s friend who initially pushes him to write about Buddy, inadvertently setting off the conflict.
• Mr. Rice (Jeffrey Tambor): The manager of the school store, who becomes involved when Jerry attempts to steal money.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Buddy Revell: “You and me, we’re gonna have a fight – today – after school – 3 O’Clock – in the parking lot. You try and run, I’m gonna track you down. You go to a teacher, it’s only gonna get worse. You sneak home, I’ll be under your bed. You and me… 3 O’Clock.” – Buddy delivers this menacing ultimatum to Jerry after Jerry accidentally touches him, setting the central conflict in motion.
• Mr. O’Rourke: “Don’t fuck this up, Mitchell!” – The principal shouts this at Jerry, highlighting the high-stakes, no-nonsense attitude of the school administration.
• Jerry Mitchell: “I’m gonna die.” – Jerry says this in a distraught manner several times during the film, as he tries to figure out a way to get out of the fight.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $3,685,862
• Worldwide Gross: $3,685,862

💥 Three O’Clock High Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching this movie as a kid and feeling this immense tension. The way the clock ticking was incorporated was brilliant, adding to the overall sense of dread Jerry was feeling. It really captured the anxiety of high school and the fear of facing a bully. I love how Jerry tries everything to get out of the fight, from seducing his teacher to trying to steal money. The ending was satisfying, but I always felt a bit sorry for Buddy. What a cool movie!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 80s teen comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy dark humor”
  • “People who like underdog stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild language”
  • “Teenage violence”
  • “Bullying”

Professional Reviews

• WeAreMovieGeeks.com: “A vastly underrated film, Three O’Clock High bears little resemblance to typical 80’s teen archetypes, instead presenting a purely plot-driven experience with radical cinematography and a superb cast that sticks in one’s mind. The enigmatic Buddy Revell is a wonderful creation.
• JoBlo.com: “Another little-known, rarely mentioned film that for unknown reasons fell between the cracks. One of the more enjoyable elements of this film is the photography… Barry Sonnenfeld, of Coen brothers fame, and makes for some highly stylized cinematography. Check it out.
• IMDB: “This is a teen comedy from the 1980s, every bit as good as anything made by John Hughes in those days (Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, etc.). The story is full of the usual parodies of teen-aged stereotypes, but they are somehow more believable and human than the characters in most films of this genre.

Audience Reactions

The unique cinematography and the ticking clock added to the tension and made the film memorable.: Most viewers appreciated the film’s dark humor, the stylized direction, and the relatable teenage angst.

Overall Consensus: Three O’Clock High is a cult classic 80’s teen comedy praised for its unique visual style, suspenseful plot, and relatable themes of bullying and anxiety.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Steven Spielberg was the executive producer but asked to have his name removed from the credits after feeling the film was too different from what he envisioned. He reportedly wanted something more akin to ‘The Karate Kid’.”
• “The film was shot at Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah, which served as the fictional Weaver High School.”
• “Director Phil Joanou was heavily influenced by Martin Scorsese’s ‘After Hours’ and ‘Raging Bull’ in his approach to the film’s style and tone.”

🖥️ How to Watch Three O’Clock High?

As of today, ‘Three O’Clock High’ is available for purchase or rent on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability as it may change.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Three O’Clock High, you might like these similar films:

• My Bodyguard (1980): Another teen movie where a bullied kid seeks help against a much larger aggressor, although with a more dramatic tone.
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986): Shares a similar comedic tone and follows a high schooler’s chaotic day, but with a focus on skipping school rather than avoiding a fight.
• Napoleon Dynamite (2004): Shares the quirky humor and underdog theme, appealing to fans who enjoy awkward and unconventional high school comedies.
• Kick-Ass (2010): Shares the theme of a nerd gaining some unlikely confidence and using unorthodox methods to fight. While darker in tone, it has similar appeal.

🛒 Three O’Clock High Related Products

• Three O’Clock High [Blu-ray]: Relive the 80s with the ultimate high school showdown in stunning high definition.
• Retro 80s Three O’Clock High T-Shirt: Show your love for the movie with this vintage-style t-shirt featuring iconic imagery from the film.
• Three O’Clock High Movie Poster (Reprint): A high-quality reprint of the original movie poster, capturing the essence of 80s teen angst.
• Three O’Clock High: The Game – Retro Beat ‘Em Up: Inspired by the movie! Play as Jerry trying to avoid Buddy Revell on the way to 3 o’clock or battle other notorious bullies and find useful items!

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Something to Remember Me By” – performed by Jim Walker
• “Theme from Three O’Clock High” – performed by Tangerine Dream

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

TOP 5 SCHOOL FIGHT SCENES IN MOVIES – NO MUSIC – MOVIE NAMES

Ever wondered how the fight scenes in Three O’Clock High stack up against other classics? This video breaks down the top school brawls, and honestly, it’s cool to see our movie get the recognition it deserves. Check it out!

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