ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610280125
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
"High School High" is a forgettable formula parody that doesn't measure up to the producer's earlier efforts, the "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" series.
Admittedly, the primary source material - earnest films about noble inner-city teachers - doesn't have as much to offer as either disaster or action flicks. But this one's still an uninspired effort that's more than a little dated. The single funniest sequence is based on "Rebel Without a Cause," a movie that's almost a half a century old!
Clark (Jon Lovitz) arrives at Marion Barry High School full of hope and enthusiasm, and quickly falls for Victoria (Tia Carrere), secretary to the hard-bitten principal (Louise Fletcher). The kids, led by Griff (Mekhi Phifer), are won over in record time, and are soon actually opening their books and studying.
Co-producer/writer David Zucker's earlier comedies have worked through quick pacing that piles one joke on top of another so rapidly that the bad ones are lost in the mix. Here, he and director Hart Bochner (``PCU'') let the pace plod along. And the sight gags are so laboriously set up that they're not particularly funny either.
On the positive side, some of the slapstick works well. In a long comic fight scene, Tia Carrere and her stunt double do some very funny stuff. That, however, is a lukewarm recommendation, at best.
Expect to see "High School High" in video stores and on cable TV very soon.
High School High *1/2
A TriStar Pictures release playing at Crossroads Mall Cinema USA and Valley View 6. 86 min. Rated PG-13 for violence, strong language, some sexual and drug humor.
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB