What a botch! THREE O'CLOCK HIGH had all the makings to be the anti-John Hughes film during the decade of Hughes teen fantasy films. But despite the directorial pyrotechnics of Phil Joanou and a mostly appealing cast headed by Casey Siemaszko, it stagnates about half way through. Yes, all the standard clichés are here: the geeks (headed by Siemaszko); the jocks; the popular girls; the freaky girl (who consults a spiritual adviser!); the class psycho, etc. A real shame considering the extra touches the filmmakers insert throughout(when's the last time you saw cult favorite Shirley Stoler playing it straight?). Mostly, however, it's over-directed, under-scripted and predictable. One is left with a sad feeling of "is that all there is?" Seek out BETTER OFF DEAD or ONE CRAZY SUMMER for similar, though far funnier and more subversive, teen comedies of the 80s.
Review of Three O'Clock High
